Spartanburg-based fitness chain Pure Barre has announced the opening of its 400th studio.
The company hit the milestone with the studio in Garden City, N.Y., and said its presence has grown to 42 states, as well as Toronto and Vancouver, Canada.
“Our 400th studio is an exciting milestone and humbling reminder of how many lives our studio owners impact each day,” said Michelle Kluz, chief executive officer for Pure Barre, in a statement. “We look forward to inspiring more women to reach their personal best through our innovative and proprietary technique.”
Pure Barre said it has opened 43 studios this year. The company said it is the largest barre concept in the nation, having three times the number of studios as its nearest competitor.
Carrie Rezabek Dorr, a dancer, choreographer and fitness expert, founded Pure Barre in 2001. Dorr opened her first studio in the basement of an office building in Birmingham, Mich.
In October 2012, Spartanburg-based private investment group WJ Partners recapitalized the chain. WJ Partners, founded in 2008, includes George Dean Johnson Jr., Jaime and Ben Wall and Mark Blackman.
Shortly after the transaction, WJ Partners moved Pure Barre’s corporate office from Denver to the One Morgan Square building in downtown Spartanburg.
The company has a corporate studio and training center on Magnolia Street across from its headquarters that attracts prospective franchisees from across the country to downtown.
In May 2014, Pure Barre announced it had received another growth capital investment from the Connecticut-based private equity firm Catterton.
For more information, visit www.purebarre.com.
