City Barre plans to open in Scott’s Addition this spring. (Mike Platania)
A city neighborhood known for its breweries and bar-arcades is about to get a “barre” of a different sort.
City Barre is preparing to open this spring at 1404 Belleville St. in Scott’s Addition.
The fitness studio will offer barre classes – workouts that feature a combination of Pilates, yoga, ballet and calisthenics.
Behind City Barre is Gretchen Stumpf, a Richmond local who’s been teaching at other studios in the area for years, including the former Richmond Barre Studio in the Libbie-Grove corridor and most recently at Boho Cycle Studio.
Stumpf, whose fitness roots are in running and high-intensity interval training, said she was initially resistant to the idea of trying barre.
“I was like, ‘Barre? Is it stretching? What goes on in there?’” she said. “But I tore my hamstring a few years ago, so I slowed down on running and had a friend who convinced me to go to a barre class. I tried and after the first class I was like, ‘Yes, I get it now.’”
Stumpf’s professional background is in finance and supply chain management. She began planning to open her own barre studio about a year ago. After looking around the Fan and some other neighborhoods, she opted for Scott’s Addition.
Gretchen Stumpf
“I saw the need for a dedicated barre studio in the city, and obviously Scott’s Addition was a no-brainer,” Stumpf said of the fast-developing neighborhood.
The 1,600-square-foot studio will have a main workout area, lounge/coffee bar area, changing room, office and outdoor patio accessed through rear garage-style doors.
“It’s an old warehouse being renovated and repurposed,” Stumpf said. “It’ll be a cool vibe. We’ll kind of glam it up a little bit.”
Fultz & Singh Architects is the designer on the project, with Method Woodworking & Design signed on as the builder and Annie Frankfort assisting with interior design. PermitZip is handling the electrical drawings. Ann Schweitzer Riley of One South Commercial represented City Barre in lease negotiations.
Stumpf said she plans to begin with about 20 classes per week and add to that based on demand. She will lead classes along with other instructors.
City Barre adds to a growing fitness community in Scott’s Addition. Along with gym chain Crunch Fitness, the neighborhood is home to several smaller fitness studios such as Turn Cardio Jam Studio, The Yoga Dojo, Crossfit Full Circle and Pure Phit RVA.
Other barre-based studios can be found in the Richmond area. Last year, national franchise The Bar Method opened at Village Shopping Center in the West End.
City Barre plans to open in Scott’s Addition this spring. (Mike Platania)
A city neighborhood known for its breweries and bar-arcades is about to get a “barre” of a different sort.
City Barre is preparing to open this spring at 1404 Belleville St. in Scott’s Addition.
The fitness studio will offer barre classes – workouts that feature a combination of Pilates, yoga, ballet and calisthenics.
Behind City Barre is Gretchen Stumpf, a Richmond local who’s been teaching at other studios in the area for years, including the former Richmond Barre Studio in the Libbie-Grove corridor and most recently at Boho Cycle Studio.
Stumpf, whose fitness roots are in running and high-intensity interval training, said she was initially resistant to the idea of trying barre.
“I was like, ‘Barre? Is it stretching? What goes on in there?’” she said. “But I tore my hamstring a few years ago, so I slowed down on running and had a friend who convinced me to go to a barre class. I tried and after the first class I was like, ‘Yes, I get it now.’”
Stumpf’s professional background is in finance and supply chain management. She began planning to open her own barre studio about a year ago. After looking around the Fan and some other neighborhoods, she opted for Scott’s Addition.
Gretchen Stumpf
“I saw the need for a dedicated barre studio in the city, and obviously Scott’s Addition was a no-brainer,” Stumpf said of the fast-developing neighborhood.
The 1,600-square-foot studio will have a main workout area, lounge/coffee bar area, changing room, office and outdoor patio accessed through rear garage-style doors.
“It’s an old warehouse being renovated and repurposed,” Stumpf said. “It’ll be a cool vibe. We’ll kind of glam it up a little bit.”
Fultz & Singh Architects is the designer on the project, with Method Woodworking & Design signed on as the builder and Annie Frankfort assisting with interior design. PermitZip is handling the electrical drawings. Ann Schweitzer Riley of One South Commercial represented City Barre in lease negotiations.
Stumpf said she plans to begin with about 20 classes per week and add to that based on demand. She will lead classes along with other instructors.
City Barre adds to a growing fitness community in Scott’s Addition. Along with gym chain Crunch Fitness, the neighborhood is home to several smaller fitness studios such as Turn Cardio Jam Studio, The Yoga Dojo, Crossfit Full Circle and Pure Phit RVA.
Other barre-based studios can be found in the Richmond area. Last year, national franchise The Bar Method opened at Village Shopping Center in the West End.