3rd Ward Brooklyn
| Company type | Privately held company |
|---|---|
| Industry | Art, education, coworking, event management |
| Founded | 2006 |
| Founder | Jason Goodman, Jeremy Lovitt |
| Defunct | October 2013 |
| Headquarters | Brooklyn, New York , United States |
Area served | Brooklyn, New York; Long Island City; Philadelphia |
Key people | Jason Goodman (CEO) |
| Products | Studio rentals, instructional workshops, community gatherings, coworking spaces, event space |
| Revenue | $3.6 million (2012) |
3rd Ward was an art-centric enterprise located in East Williamsburg, Brooklyn, established by Jason Goodman and Jeremy Lovitt in 2006. Functioning as a privately held firm, it generated $3.6 million in revenue before shutting down in October 2013. The organization blended aspects of an artist collective, a modern art facility, a coworking environment, and an event space. It also provided educational initiatives aimed at creative entrepreneurs, frequently characterized as a finishing academy for the Etsy community.
The core of 3rd Ward's business strategy was delivering studio rentals, instructional workshops, and community gatherings that supported artists and creators, thereby influencing Brooklyn’s creative sector. Despite its pioneering model and broad range of services covering art, education, coworking, and event management, financial difficulties ultimately led to its closure.
Founding
In 2005, Jason Goodman and Jeremy Lovitt founded 3rd Ward with the goal of creating affordable, multidisciplinary creative spaces inspired by their time at the School of the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston. Both were emerging artists working in construction who recognized a lack of accessible resources for creatives. Their approach integrated skill-sharing classes with access to gallery spaces, wood and metal workshops, dance studios, digital media labs, photography and recording studios, as well as office areas—offering economical solutions tailored to creative professionals.
To cover rent for their expansive 30,000-square-foot facility at 195 Morgan Avenue in Brooklyn, Goodman and Lovitt hosted large-scale events reminiscent of Burning Man and liquidated personal belongings. They also obtained equipment donations and discounts from multiple contributors. The venue officially opened on May 1, 2006, operating without a formal business plan but driven by a mission to foster a community-oriented creative workspace.
2006–2008
Starting primarily as an artist workspace, 3rd Ward rapidly evolved into an educational center providing hundreds of courses in disciplines such as woodworking, graphic design, fashion, and even niche crafts like chocolate sculpting. Revenue streams were diversified through events including holiday markets, pig roasts, festivals, and literary fairs alongside coworking memberships and gallery shows featuring artists like Dick Chicken. By the end of its first year, membership had reached 200 individuals and attracted notable performers such as Japanther and TV on the Radio.
In 2007, 3rd Ward partnered with promoter William Etundi Jr. to co-found Artists Wanted, launching widely attended art competitions and free online portfolio services designed to enhance artist visibility. Collaborations with manufacturers like Lie-Nielsen Toolworks and MakerBot further enriched their product lineup. Additionally, the founders developed GroundedNYC.com to promote artist studio rentals through email marketing.
Capitalizing on its Brooklyn setting, 3rd Ward connected manufacturers, landlords, creators, and consumers—bolstering its influence within the DIY culture and contributing to the borough’s cultural revitalization. The company transitioned from hosting large-scale parties toward focusing on sustainable expansion within creative industries while preserving strong community ties.
2009–2010
In 2009, the founders extended 3rd Ward’s presence to 573 Metropolitan Avenue in Brooklyn, creating a combined live-work environment tailored for artists, educational workshops, and band rehearsals. The following year, Goodman introduced "Good," a dining establishment housed within a 1946 Spartan trailer located at the intersection of Lorimer Street and Metropolitan Avenue. This venue included delivery services and an outdoor garden with seating for 35 guests but ceased operations after ten months. On October 15, 2010, safety violations prompted the New York City Department of Buildings to evict fifty occupants. Some tenants claimed that Goodman and Levitt vacated earlier without notifying others; however, Goodman maintained that they never received an eviction notice and were instead presented with a buyout offer under the 2009 Loft Law Amendment. Around this period, Levitt was bought out, resulting in Goodman assuming the role of CEO.
2011–2012
In 2011, 3rd Ward broadened its retail offerings by launching "Shopbox," a high-end vending machine installed inside a shipping container that enabled purchases through text messaging. The company also expanded its operations to Long Island City, organizing pool parties featuring pools constructed from dumpsters on property leased from Rockrose Development Corporation. By the close of 2012, 3rd Ward reported revenues totaling $3.6 million. Goodman forecasted that by 2018 the brand would achieve widespread recognition.
2013
Following 3rd Ward’s blueprint, competitors appeared in the market, including former students who started "Brooklyn Brainery," a more affordable skill-sharing platform. Toward the end of 2012, new investors came aboard; Joanne Wilson—spouse of venture capitalist Fred Wilson—joined the board of directors, and billionaire Tony Hsieh committed several million dollars to establish a Las Vegas branch. Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz awarded Goodman a $1.5 million grant designated for developing a kitchen incubator in partnership with Jonathan Butler, founder of Brooklyn Flea, at 1000 Dean Street in Crown Heights. This incubator was planned to open by October 2013. Additionally, 3rd Ward expanded into Philadelphia’s South Kensington neighborhood with a second facility spanning 27,000 square feet that included coworking areas and educational classes; developers provided a custom-designed space to support this growth.
Despite these advancements, financial difficulties arose due to rapid expansion and multiple simultaneous ventures. A fundraising effort aimed at securing $1.5 million managed to collect only $375,000, with no capital drawn from investors. Suddenly, on October 9, 2013, 3rd Ward ceased operations without prior warning to its members or staff and failed to issue refunds.
Subsequent evaluations attributed the closure to several causes: anticipated funding from merchant bank Next Street was diminished and used as leverage for layoffs and increased fees; aggressive expansion strained immediate cash flow; and some critics pointed to mismanagement by founder David Goodman as a significant contributor to the company’s financial collapse.