A green wall that reads "Connection Space" with a bookshelf to the left.
Connection Space at 879 Park Ave. West celebrated its grand opening on July 11. Jeff and Patty Schultheis own the coworking and event space.

MANSFIELD — Jeff Schultheis opened Connection Space with the goal to offer Mansfield something seen more frequently in larger cities.

“I travel a decent amount to Columbus or Cleveland and I wanted to bring some of that here because we really deserve it,” he said.

“My goal is to elevate the city. When people come into Richland County, they’ll see the best we have to offer and not just what they have in their minds.”

Connection Space offers monthly memberships starting at $79 a month for access to the coworking space, conference rooms and event hosting opportunities. It also offers day passes.

“I really wanted to cater an affordable workspace for small businesses, startups and young professionals,” Schultheis said in a press release.

“ As remote work gains momentum and businesses evolve, Connection Space provides modern, inviting spaces ideal for meetings, networking opportunities and events.”

The coworking and event space at 876 Park Ave. West hosted a ribbon cutting Thursday afternoon.

“Thanks for investing in Mansfield and Richland County in the many ways you have done over the years,” said Mayor Jodie Perry. 

“So much has changed in the working world in the last few years … Working from home is fine, but you miss that connection, so I love what you’ve named it and wish you the best of luck.”

Jeff and Patty Schultheis both said the patio might be their favorite part of the space. The outdoor seating also has shade from the sun, and art by Allison Pence. 

“I’m a big outside person,” Patty said. “You can feel kind of confined in an office at work, so I just love being able to work or host our there.”

The couple runs the JS Realtor Team and the recent Senior Transition Pros. They also own the Bellville Car Wash and an Airbnb in Mansfield. Jeff Schultheis founded CONNECTED Mid-Ohio in 2022.

Connection Space also offers virtual address and mail service, including the option to open and scan mail to customers. Gold level members have the option to host one “life event” per year included in their fees, or can book the space separately.

“We’ll do birthday parties, graduation parties — anything people want to host here,” he said. “We will have online booking coming up soon too. There’s a lot of great things you can do for a reasonable price.”

Connection Space includes a full kitchen, complimentary coffee, soundproof booths for private calls, and high-speed fiber internet. Operating hours are from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., with 24/7 access available to members.

There is a continuing education class that has already booked the space and the owner said he has received interest from people outside of the Richland County area.

For more membership information, booking a conference room, or hosting an event at Connection Space, contact 567-307-1333 or visit connectionspace.work

Ball State journalism alumna. Passionate about sharing stories, making good coffee and finding new music. You can reach me at grace@richlandsource.com.