In 2021, Savannah Hopps decided to blow up her comfortable, familiar life in Alcoa, Tennessee, for an opportunity she couldn't ignore. Despite being a self-described risk-averse eldest daughter, Hopps traded her five-year career at her local food bank for the chance to bring NEIGHBORHOOD barre to Durham, North Carolina.

The risk paid off. Within a year, Hopps built one of the brand’s top-performing studios—even after opening under mask-mandates and welcoming newborn twins at home in year two. Her success didn’t come from following a corporate playbook. It came from a consistent focus on building real connections within the community. That started years earlier, when she was still a client, working in the Knoxville studio’s childcare room to help cover the cost of her own membership.

Hopps is now back in Tennessee. After selling her Durham location to an instructor, she’s settling in Hendersonville to open a second studio. She’s always believed owners should be present and involved locally, not operating from a distance. In her case, that approach has shaped how she’s grown the business - balancing expansion with day-to-day life at home.

Hopps sat down with 1851 Franchise to discuss her transition from NEIGHBORHOOD barre client to owner and why she will never stop teaching her own classes. Here’s what she had to say:

1851 Franchise: Frame your personal story for us. What do you want us to know?

Savannah Hopps: I’ve been with NEIGHBORHOOD barre for more than 10 years. I started as a client in Knoxville, worked in the childcare room to pay for my membership, became an instructor in Maryville and eventually an owner. I’ve lived the brand and along the way, I moved 250 miles to a city where I knew no one, opened a studio in a mask-mandate and had twins in my second year of business. If you love the method and the community, you can handle just about any curveball small business life, and life in general, throws at you.

1851: What did you do before franchising, and how did you decide franchising made sense for you?

Hopps: I spent nearly five years working for an incredible local food bank. I loved the mission, but I was tired of being behind a desk and didn't see a trajectory that excited me. During the pandemic, I had that existential crisis a lot of us had, and I realized I already had the skillset to run a studio. I was already selling memberships and teaching classes! It just made sense to take a brand I already believed in and run with it.

1851: What was your perception of franchising prior to becoming a franchisee, and what do you want people to know about franchising now that you are in it?

Hopps: Honestly, I didn't have this grand vision of franchising. I just wanted to own a NEIGHBORHOOD barre studio. But what I’ve learned is that franchising forces you to create systems that let you have a life. When I found out I was going to be a new mom, and not only that, but having twins,I had to make my business bus-proof so it wouldn't all ride on me. I want people to know that franchising doesn't mean you're an invisible owner. It gives you the structure to actually step away for maternity leave without the lights turning off.

1851: What made you pick this brand? What excites you most about this company?
Hopps: I picked NEIGHBORHOOD barre because I was a fan first. I’ve only ever taken one other brand of barre and that was on my bachelorette trip in Austin, but that’s it! What excites me most is that this brand is genuinely built by its members. My first class was with the founder, Katy, and now I’m an owner alongside women I used to teach with in Maryville. It’s this cycle where the clients become the instructors and the instructors become the owners, so you know everyone in the room cares deeply about the method and believes in it, too.

1851: What do you hope to achieve with your business? What are your plans for growth?

Hopps: My goal is to be smart and strategic. I want Hendersonville to be as successful as my Durham studio was, but I’m not going to steal from Peter to pay Paul to make it happen. I want every location to pay its own bills. I’d definitely consider a second or third location in Middle Tennessee in the next three to five years, but it has to be at a pace where I can still be present in my current studio. I will always teach. I love these classes and the connections. I refuse to grow to a point where I become an invisible owner.

1851: Is there anything else about your story you want us to know?

Hopps: People see the top revenue stats now, but that success came from being on the ground every single day. Before I even opened my first doors in NC, I was hauling equipment to 19 different pop-up classes at breweries, cider houses, universities - wherever I could teach a class - because I wanted to meet the community where they were. I care deeply about noticing the small details and creating an environment people feel loyal to.

1851: What advice do you have for other people thinking about becoming franchise owners?

Hopps: Just ask the question. I casually mentioned to my husband and best friend that I wanted to own a studio, and they were the ones who told me to just ask if it was possible. You don't have to have it all figured out, but you do have to be willing to do the work. Also, realize that every market is just different. What works in a city like Durham might not work as quickly in other areas, so you have to be ready for a heavier lift depending on where you are and what phase of life you’re in.

About NEIGHBORHOOD barre:

Founded in 2011 by Katy Richardson, NEIGHBORHOOD barre delivers a fresh, modern approach to fitness, one that is welcoming, effective, and rooted in community spirit. With studios across the United States, NEIGHBORHOOD barre combines low-impact, high-result training with an inclusive atmosphere that empowers clients of all fitness levels. For more, please visit www.neighborhoodbarre.com.