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In 2021,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/savfielderhopps/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=savannah-hopps-neighborhood-barre-hendersonville-tennessee-2732057" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Savannah Hopps</a> 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&nbsp;<a href="https://neighborhoodbarre.com/franchise/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=savannah-hopps-neighborhood-barre-hendersonville-tennessee-2732057" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">NEIGHBORHOOD barre</a> 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&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/extraordinary-brands/info">NEIGHBORHOOD barre</a> 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:&nbsp;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:&nbsp;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:&nbsp;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:&nbsp;What do you hope to achieve with your business? What are your plans for growth?Hopps:&nbsp;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:&nbsp;Is there anything else about your story you want us to know?Hopps:&nbsp;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:&nbsp;What advice do you have for other people thinking about becoming franchise owners?Hopps:&nbsp;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 <a href="www.neighborhoodbarre.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">www.neighborhoodbarre.com</a>.

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Savannah Hopps Raises the NEIGHBORHOOD Barre in Hendersonville

1851 Franchise

After turning a North Carolina studio into a top-performing location, this former non-profit professional is returning to her Tennessee roots to build a community-centric fitness empire.

How Super-Fan Savannah Hopps Is Raising the (NEIGHBORHOOD) Barre with a New Hendersonville Studio

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Why This Hospital System VP Walked Away from a CFO Promotion to Build a 10-Year Fitness Legacy with CycleBar

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<a href="https://www.cyclebar.com/franchise">CycleBar</a>, the leading indoor cycling brand under the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.extraordinarybrands.com/">Extraordinary Brands</a> umbrella is celebrating two of its franchisees achieving a full decade of wellness in their communities. Their starts in the franchise world looked different, but their experiences share the same core: a genuine care for people, the grit to push through tough times, and a firm belief that boutique fitness is here to stay.<h2>A Leap of Faith Turns Into a 10-Year Legacy in Beachwood</h2><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/cyclebarjoe">Joe Purton</a> changed course 10 years ago. After nearly two decades in healthcare finance, where he had worked his way into leadership and toward a chief financial officer path, he decided to leave and build something of his own.“I had worked for the organization for close to 20 years, and it really gave me the opportunity to do some soul searching,” Purton said. “I decided that I didn't want to spend the rest of my life behind a desk. I wanted to do something I enjoyed, something I was passionate about, and I wanted to own my own business.”That passion led him to open one of the earliest&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/extraordinary-brands/why-invest-now-2731440">CycleBar</a> studios in the country (just the sixth location systemwide) in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cyclebar.com/location/beachwood">Beachwood, Ohio</a>.From the outset, Purton chose franchising. “When I decided to start my own business, I knew I didn't want to start from scratch,” he said. “I wanted something that was more of a plug-and-play type model… something where I could start with a road map that already existed.”Purton’s studio now has around 500 active members, and many have stayed with it since the beginning. As the business has moved through corporate transitions, changes in the category and the strain of the pandemic, he has stayed focused on building and protecting that sense of community.“They really didn't talk a lot about the community that would come out of opening a CycleBar,” he said. “That's one of the most fulfilling and great things that have come out of all of this.”That sense of community proved critical during the pandemic. “We rented out all of our bikes in the studio. People took them to their homes, and then we would film classes every day,” he said. “We kept everybody together while apart.”Now, as he looks ahead, Purton is focused on continued growth and working more strategically within the business. “We're already around 500 members and we want to surpass that,” he said. “I think we could easily get to 700.”Purton was direct about what it takes to make the model work: “Don't expect to be passive. You have to be willing to get your hands dirty and work hard… It will be successful if you put effort into it.”<h2>Revitalizing a Studio and Rebuilding Momentum in Berkeley</h2>While Purton built his studio from the ground up,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/morningstarryan">Ryan Morningstar</a> took a different path — acquiring and revitalizing an existing CycleBar location in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cyclebar.com/location/berkeley">Berkeley, California</a>.After spending 15 years in the tech startup world, Morningstar was ready for something new. “I've been an operator and an entrepreneur in the tech space, growing operational units and teams, so I really care a lot about people, management and culture,” he said. “I felt it was the right time to take on something of my own.”The chance came in 2023, when Morningstar acquired a struggling CycleBar studio. Since taking over, he has lifted revenue 20% year over year and nearly doubled membership.For Morningstar, success starts with a people-first philosophy — something he credits as the foundation of his growth. “Every single time you come to our studio, everyone tries to know your name and what your goals are to serve you to the highest degree,” he said.That focus extends to both members and staff. “Spend time, energy, and focus on your people — everything from hiring to nurturing,” he said. “You have to be a person and care about people and their growth as a whole.”Morningstar also sees franchising as a powerful model for scaling local businesses while maintaining individuality. “It provides this umbrella that has a lot of the tools you need to be successful,” he said, “but it allows you to operate on a micro-level in individual communities.”As the Berkeley studio approaches its 10-year anniversary, Morningstar is thinking ahead to expansion. “I'm already looking now at other opportunities and I think I'll start the next two locations myself,” he said.<h2>A Brand Built on Community, Ownership and Longevity</h2>Beachwood and Berkeley tell a similar story. In both markets, the studios have lasted because their owners stayed involved and built strong local ties.“I’m a big believer in the power of fitness to change lives,” said&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/loriklein">Lori Klein</a>, president of CycleBar. “I also believe in the power of this business to sustain both the entrepreneurs who invest and the communities they serve. As a leadership team, we remain committed to ensuring our franchisees have the strongest possible foundation to build thriving businesses in the boutique fitness space.”For more information on franchising with CycleBar, visit&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/extraordinary-brands">https://1851franchise.com/extraordinary-brands</a>.

Franchisees Joe Purton and Ryan Morningstar reflect on the power of community, resilience and hands-on ownership in building lasting fitness businesses.

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How Super-Fan Savannah Hopps Is Raising the (NEIGHBORHOOD) Barre with a New Hendersonville Studio

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