Check Out Rita House’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Rita House.

Hi Rita, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
Our story begins in 1926, when our building was first constructed as a Prop Design Studio for the film and television industry. Over the years, it served many purposes, including a violin factory, before becoming the creative studio of our namesake, Emmy Award-winning costume designer Rita Riggs.


Rita was a true pioneer, nurturing a community of industry professionals from her shared office space. When she passed, she entrusted the building to our founding partners, Scott Strumwasser and Tash Rahbar, who were architects and friends that had been renting an office from her. In 2017, in honor of Rita’s legacy and her commitment to fostering a creative community, they officially turned Rita House into a proper coworking, film, and event rental space.


In the past year, we have been thrilled to expand our offerings with the addition of a full-service podcasting studio in collaboration with Operation Podcast. This makes Rita House a true one-stop-shop for all things entertainment, allowing us to continue our mission of supporting the creative community here in Los Angeles.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Building a community is never without its challenges, and our approach has always been to allow it to grow organically. While this process has presented obstacles, the strength of our community has allowed us to overcome them and ultimately thrive. We believe these challenges have only made us more resilient and our community even stronger.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
What we are most proud of, and what we are certain our namesake Rita Riggs would be most proud of, is the diverse and electric energy of the people who come through our doors. Our community is made up of everyone from industry veterans and accomplished artists to rising stars and community leaders. The seamless mix of talent and generations is truly unique, and it creates a palpable, inspiring energy in our space. This special atmosphere is what sets us apart, and it is a direct reflection of our history and our core value of honoring the artistic community.

Because our building’s legacy is rooted in creativity, it only made sense to become a “jack-of-all-trades” for the artistic community. We’re known for our unique blend of coworking, event and film rentals, and our in-house podcasting studio. We also produce our own signature Rita House events, including our quarterly art shows, murder mysteries, micro-theater immersive plays, game nights, panels, and networking mixers. It’s this versatility and our commitment to bringing people together that allows us to support and celebrate so many different areas of the creative industry.

Before we go, is there anything else you can share with us?
For as photogenic as our space is, there is an invisible magic that truly sets it apart. The best way we know how to describe it is that the house is a magnet for serendipitous connections. It is not uncommon for guests to discover a remarkable coincidence or a shared history with someone they just met. It’s a positive, almost mystical energy that you can’t quite put your finger on, and it’s the one thing you can only truly understand by experiencing it in person.

Pricing:

• Coworking Day Pass: $35
• Coworking Floating Monthly Membership: $275
• Coworking Permanent Monthly Membership: $375
• Conference Room Rental: $65 an hour
• Event Space Rental: Starting at $225 an hour

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.ritahouse.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ritahouseon3rd/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/rita-house/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@ritahouseon3rd
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/rita-house-los-angeles
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@ritahouse

Image Credits
Image credits: Kosta Potamianos / Kikuye Sugiyama