National woman-focused workspace shutters all of its locations after six years of controversy

The Wing, a national woman-oriented co-working space that billed its facilities as a respite for women from male-dominated industries, shuttered all its locations permanently this week, the company announced abruptly in an email. 

Citing "the backdrop of the Covid pandemic and increasing global economic challenges," the company said in a message to members that "all of The Wing locations will be closing permanently" and that "members will no longer have access with immediate effect.”

The company's locations included spaces in New York, San Francisco, Chicago and Los Angeles. Company leadership had reported plans to open more locations in Europe by the end of this year. 

The Wing had initially launched as a woman-only workspace, though it was eventually forced to begin accepting men in order to comply with nondiscrimination codes. 

The company has dealt with criticism over its brief six-year experience ranging from its alleged stringent working conditions as well as a reported unwillingness to address racist behavior by members on its premises. 

One of its founders and its then-CEO, Audrey Gelman, resigned in 2018 amid sustained criticism of her leadership and handling of controversial issues in the company's meeting spaces.