11/27/2022
THE HISTORY + FUTURE OF THE BAR[RE] ... “Leap and the net will appear” Is a saying I’ve really lived by wholeheartedly the past 5 or so years.
I moved to CT in May of 2017 and I taught my first class as THE BAR[RE] at Rhythm N Sync Dance Studio that June. Before moving here, I felt like boutique fitness was really missing from the scene of the industry in Central CT. I was excited when I told people I wanted to teach barre fitness that a lot of people weren’t familiar with it, it made me feel like I was bringing something new to the area. Introducing something so new would feel scary to some but it really was motivation for me. “Leap and the net will appear”, right? I used friends as models and shot all of my own marketing to promote my two classes a week. I incessantly reached out to established small businesses to create opportunities to host events. Anything that would get THE BAR[RE] name out there. Classes grew rapidly and a family friend suggested that I search for additional space to have more classes. The space we’re currently in was once a dance studio and then another fitness studio. I met with the owner that September, she was excited to bring barre to her studio and was gracious enough to even put the barres in for me. I told her during that meeting that when I was able to, I had every intention to open a space of my own one day.
Now, unless you’ve been an instructor at the studio, here is a part of my story you may not know. A part of my story I’m really proud of and also a part I would never suggest to anyone. I had started shopping around for a store front of my own that winter. However, on February 17, 2018 the former owner called a meeting for her instructors and others who held classes in that space. She let us know that she was given an opportunity to end her lease.. in 11 days. What this meant for me was all of the momentum I had built in 8 months was going to promptly be put to a halt. During that meeting I had said, “What if I took it over?” I met with the landlord that day and he told me I could have it but I would have to take it over March 1… in 11 days. “Leap and the net will appear”, right? Tyler was working over nights at this time and I was driving up to my parents for the weekend. I remembered when he called when he woke up from working the night before and I told him, “I think I have a studio of my own”.
I spent the weekend crunching numbers and going over scenarios on why this is a great idea and why this could be an absolute disaster. My past job experience included administrative work in an ER and dental office, instructing technique classes for competitive dancers and a brief stint in professional dancing. I didn’t graduate college and I had absolutely zero experience when it came to running a business. What I did have was an amazing work ethic, a hunger to create an empowering community for women and the drive to figure out anything I didn’t know how to do. That Monday I signed the lease and I would become the proud renter of the space we now call THE BAR[RE] on March 1. In just 9 days.
The former studio owner really gave me a huge gift. I was stepping into a studio that had already been running for 7 years prior. As crazy as the circumstances were, I never would have been able to confidently step into that role if that had not been the situation. I had the following from what I was able to build over those 8 months and I communicated to the instructors that wanted to remain on board that I would run business as usual until we officially transitioned to THE BAR[RE] that July. When we officially closed the former studio, Tyler and I went in and over the course of 10 days we transformed the space into THE BAR[RE]. We still talk about how we’ve never been more exhausted than we were during that week but everything we did during that time will always serve as a labor of love and fond memories for the two of us.
THE BAR[RE] took off. On top of teaching 10+ classes a week and running the studio, I was working another job. I was non-stop but I loved the grind and the creative outlet the studio gave me. For 3 years, we had a really steady build and around the fall of 2019 the studio was practically running itself. It was about this time I began to think, “what’s next?” It was in February of 2020 I signed the lease for our sister studio, Hot 11 Yoga. “Leap and the net will appear”, right? Well, at that time, THE BAR[RE] was the net.
We all know the set of challenges we faced next in 2020 but what I will say about this time though is I’m really proud of myself and my team for how quickly we pivoted. While other studios paused for weeks or months, THE BAR[RE] closed for in person classes on March 16, 2020 and started streaming classes on March 17. I’ve been pretty transparent about how COVID has drained me and has knocked the wind out of my entrepreneurial sails. Owning a small business isn’t for the faint of heart.
When I found out I was pregnant this past Summer, Tyler and I were over the moon and so excited to start the family we always dreamt of but I couldn’t help but think what that meant for the studios. THE BAR[RE] is my first baby after all and I like to think owning the studios has really prepared me to be a mom. It’s an interesting position to be in as a woman to even be put in the mental space of feeling like you might have to choose between motherhood and your passion. I envy the women that have created that balance for themselves but with two studios that I manage on my own and motherhood just around the corner, I know myself well enough to know I can’t. (If only we could get my mom to move to CT and live out her dream of working the front desk!)
All of this brings me to where I am today… I will be closing THE BAR[RE] studio space as of December 31, 2022. For awhile this decision felt so disappointing and like I had failed. THE BAR[RE] space has served as such a special place for me, others and even all who occupied the space before us. The good news is, knowing how much both of the communities mean to instructors and students, it really has motivated me to find a way to make this all continue. I’ve met with instructors from both studios, collectively and separately, and with their support as I enter into this new chapter, we will host all classes from THE BAR[RE] out of the Hot 11 Yoga space beginning in 2023.
Some might be asking, “If you’re continuing classes in a different space, what’s with the history lesson?” Although we’re continuing in a different space, it still feels really bittersweet and I know those that have been with us since the beginning will agree. This is the best case scenario for all of us to continue to move together and for my new family. A huge ginormous heart felt “thank you” to our existing staff. They have heard me and it really is with their support that we’re able to make this happen. It is my hope that we’re all able to take this next leap together
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