Former Flight Attendant Trades the Runway for the Studio, Opens Neighborhood Barre in Kernersville, North Carolina

Angela Lewis loved being a flight attendant, but the commute, long hours and unpredictable schedule gave her plenty of reasons to want something different. Underneath that, she had always wanted to run her own business, an itch that goes back further than her years in aviation. It’s not hard to see where it came from. Her grandfather, Harold C. Eanes, was an inventor who built a textile manufacturing company in Stoneville, North Carolina, and growing up around that kind of drive left a mark on her.

Fitness was the other piece that had been there all along. Lewis danced for most of her younger life, and barre, yoga and Pilates have stuck with her ever since, running through much of her family as well. So when she finally started looking at franchises in earnest, she was not starting from scratch. She already knew what kind of business felt like hers. For Lewis, Neighborhood Barre ultimately brought those interests together. Now, her youngest daughter Evelyn is joining in on the venture as a Barre instructor.

Lewis opened her doors in Kernersville on Sep. 14 and has set a grand opening for Oct. 16. 1851 Franchise spoke with her about her career pivot. Here’s what she had to say:

1851 Franchise: Tell us your story in one sentence.

Angela Lewis: After years of giving away my time in an industry I loved, I finally built something of my own around the community and passion for fitness that had always been part of my life.

1851: What was happening in your life that made you realize it was time to make a change?

Lewis: I have been a flight attendant for many years, and I've always wanted to own my own business. I've always been interested in fitness as well. Everything just came together, and it was time.

Getting to work was a job in itself that you're not getting paid for. Once you get to work, you have to get there an hour and a half early, and you're still not getting paid. Passengers come on the plane, and you're still not getting paid until the door shuts. You would sit for three to four hours between flights, and you're not getting paid. It's a fabulous job, and I'm so glad that I was able to do it. But there's a lot of wasted time, and I know I'm worth more than this time I'm wasting.

1851: Why did you choose this franchise over every other opportunity?

Lewis: I looked at a ton of them and talked to a ton of people. Then I spoke with Katie, the founder of Neighborhood Barre, and she resonated with me. I liked her story, and that's why I went with Neighborhood Barre.

I was looking at Pilates and barre studios because I danced throughout my younger life, my daughters danced their whole lives, and I've been doing barre, yoga and Pilates forever. My sister is a yoga instructor, my nephew is a yoga instructor, my oldest daughter also teaches yoga and Pilates, and it just fit into my lifestyle. I like the boutique fitness atmosphere, and I like the workout.

1851: What is it really like owning a Neighborhood Barre franchise?

Lewis: I really enjoy it. They are very supportive of franchisees. They don't just send you off into the wilderness. They are there holding your hand and helping you.

I really like getting to know different people I would never meet otherwise because our paths would never cross. A lot of my clients are my age. Some of them are a lot younger or older, and they're people I would never mingle with in everyday life. Not long ago, I ran into one of my clients at a grocery store 20 minutes from the studio, in a completely different part of town. I just liked the way that felt, seeing somebody where you wouldn't expect to see them.

1851: How has owning this franchise changed your life?

Lewis: It's definitely a passion that I've had for a very long time, and it's kind of been fulfilled. It's exhausting, but in a good way rather than being exhausted from overwork and being overused. The exhaustion comes from everything that I put into it, and I know I will reap the benefits of everything that I'm putting into it for myself and my family. Owning my franchise has allowed me to grow as a person.

Also, my grandfather, Harold C. Eanes, was an inventor and owned a textile manufacturing company in Stoneville, North Carolina. He was a very entrepreneurial person, and I've always admired that about him. Opening my own business has made me feel like I'm carrying a little piece of that with me. I honestly feel like I've made my grandfather proud, and that means a lot to me.

1851: If your best friend had enough money to buy this franchise tomorrow, what would you tell them?

Lewis: I would say do it. If you're interested, they help you the whole way. It's not something that you have to figure out on your own, which I feel like probably a lot of other franchises are.

1851: What's the one thing you wish someone had told you before you bought this franchise?

Lewis: Interviewing people and finding employees is much more challenging than I ever thought it would be. The people I have are fabulous, and I'm very blessed to have them. But some people seem like they want the job, then don't show up for an interview. They never even have the decency to say, "Hey, I'm not coming."

They told me the steps, but not necessarily in depth. You really have to do it to understand it, so I don't think I would have known without living it.

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.