Pure Barre to open at The Forum

A new fitness franchise will soon be making waves in the Wilmington market.

Pure Barre will soon occupy 1,800 square feet of retail space in The Forum, 1125 Military Cutoff Road. The center is now more than 90 percent occupied.

Brokers Nicholas and Bernadette Silivanch with Team Silivanch of Wilmington-based Coldwell Banker Commercial Sun Coast Partners represented Pure Barre during the long-term lease transaction. Alex Thorpe, a broker with Wilmington-based Swain & Associates, represented the landlord – The Forum.

Pure Barre, which is planning expansions throughout North Carolina, including new locations in Cary and Winston-Salem, is a total body, 55-minute workout that uses a ballet barre to perform small isometric movements set to music.

Katelyn Lippert and Alexandra O’Rourke, owners of Wilmington’s new Pure Barre, said they chose to open a franchise in the Port City because of the emphasis residents place on their health. 

“Wilmington is a fit community,” Lippert said. “This is a women’s-only gym, and we feel it’s a great workout and a great addition to the community.”

O’Rourke said she and her business partner hope to open the new venue by early fall. She said the venue would be open seven days a week and offer classes at various times of the morning, afternoon and evening.

“We are still working on a time and price schedule for this location,” Lippert said. “But we will start signing people up the week before we open.”

O’Rourke said upon opening the new franchise, they also plan to offer student discounts and one-day classes for men called, “Bring on the Men.” 

“It’s a fun way for the women to let their spouse or boyfriends experience the workout firsthand,” she said. “They’ll find that it can be intense, but by the end of the workout, some of them are having a fun time.”