Owner Stories
STUDIO OWNER STORIES: LAUREN COOK & ALICIA SOKOL, BARRE3 DC-14TH STREET
The b3 Blog sat down with barre3 DC-14th Street founding instructor and new owner Lauren Cook, who purchased the studio from founding owner Alicia Sokol in October 2023. Read about how Lauren and Alicia first found barre3, how Alicia knew it was time to sell her studio and how she handled the sale with her community, and what inspired Lauren to purchase the studio and what still excites her about ownership today.
B3: Thank you both for sitting down with me today. Let’s start with Lauren. Can you tell us about how you were first introduced to barre3, and how you became a founding instructor at barre3 DC-14th Street?
LAUREN: I learned about barre3 for the first time when I was at a friend’s birthday party just around the corner from the DC-14th Street Studio, which was not yet open at the time. Someone I’d met at the party told me she was going through barre3 instructor training, and she invited me to one of her classes. I went the next day and loved it. I had done other barre workouts before barre3, but those classes were different. At other studios, I felt like I needed to be “in the know” to feel successful in class. I loved that barre3 wasn’t like that. During my first class, the instructor I’d met at the party, Margo–who is still a friend today–did a wonderful job of welcoming me and making me feel successful. Two months later, Alicia–the studio owner at the time–reached out to me to ask if I was interested in becoming an instructor. I got certified in July of 2016 and the rest is history.
B3: Alicia, how were you introduced to barre3 and what inspired you to become a studio owner?
ALICIA: I started taking classes at barre3 in Georgetown in January 2012 when the studio first opened. What led me to barre3 initially was that, as a runner, I started to have pain in my knees and hips. I wanted to find different ways to move that felt good in my body. Walking into a new studio was very awkward for me. I was worried that I wouldn’t know what was going on or I would look silly. I loved that when I walked into barre3 I immediately felt at home and felt a sense of calm, peace, happiness, and belonging.
I was then approached about becoming an instructor. I decided to jump in, and quickly realized that being a barre3 instructor was the best job I’d ever had–it’s still the best job I’ve ever had! I’ve been instructing for over 11 years. Soon after becoming certified, I realized I wanted to create a space of belonging for others, so I decided to open a studio of my own closer to where I live [in March of 2016].
B3: That’s great! If we could fast forward a bit, could you tell us how you knew it was time to move on as the owner of barre3 DC-14th Street?
ALICIA: It started with identifying that I was no longer the right leader for the studio. During the pandemic, a lot of things shifted for me–as they did for everyone. The needs of my family changed, and I suddenly found myself giving more of my energy and time to them. It occurred to me that if I wanted long-term health and sustainability for the studio, I needed to ensure it was under the right leadership. The studio needed a leader who could come in and give it the ideas, creativity, and attention it deserves.
B3: How did you handle the decision to sell the studio with your community?
ALICIA: Once I made my own peace with my decision to sell the studio, I had to figure out how to communicate it to the team. We’ve built a really special team at DC-14th Street. I often hear from other people how warm, connected, and loving this team is to each other, and to our clients. I built this team and this business on trust, honesty, and authenticity, so I decided to sit down with the entire team and share my intention to sell. Initially there were some tears, but we had a really honest conversation. I answered all of their questions and was very upfront about the shift in my own energy and attention. I let that sit with them for a while, and I entertained some discussions with team members who wanted to know more.
I also knew that the next owner was likely to be someone who was already a part of the community. So, a few months after the team announcement, I wrote a letter and emailed it to our entire member base. As a result of the email, there was a flood of people wanting more information. It was at that time that Lauren found out about the sale, in January 2023.
B3: That brings us to you, Lauren. How did you decide it was the right move to purchase the DC-14th Street studio?
LAUREN: I was at an interesting point in my career and had recently finished my MBA, and I kept wondering what was next for me professionally. I’ve always thought about owning a small business. It was when I was in this period of reflection that I discovered Alicia was selling the studio. From there, the thought of owning the studio just wouldn’t leave my mind. Ultimately, the opportunity to continue doing the work that I loved at barre3 in a new capacity as a studio owner made sense for me. It was a perfect match! Fast forward to October 16, 2023, and I officially became the studio owner.
B3: It sounds like it was a matter of “right place, right time”! Now that you’ve owned the studio for a year, what excites you most about studio ownership?
LAUREN: I’m just so excited to continue doing more of the same. In a dense, fast-paced, urban environment like the 14th Street corridor, our studio provides a place for people to recharge. People come into the studio with all of their “stuff.” Then, at the studio, they take time for themselves to recover so they can go back to their communities and bring more of their true selves. It’s like a ripple effect that starts at the studio, and ripples out to all the communities in DC and beyond. What’s most exciting to me about studio ownership is the opportunity to help create those ripples–to teach our clients how to be balanced in body and empowered from within–that’s such a gift!
B3: That’s a lovely sentiment, thank you for sharing. This next question is for you both. What would you tell someone who wants to open a new studio, or purchase/convert an existing studio?
LAUREN: What I would say is–trust your gut; it’s very wise. We live in a busy world, and there are a lot of messages being pushed to us externally. I believe there’s wisdom inside of us telling us we need to slow down and listen to our intuition. So, whether you’re opening a studio–or buying or converting a studio–my advice is to trust your gut.
ALICIA: I was thinking the same thing! It’s just like in a barre3 class when we give people a range of options, and know they can be successful no matter which path they choose. The same goes for barre3 ownership–listen to your gut and respond accordingly. And where there’s a will, there’s a way! When opening a studio–whether a new studio, or an existing or converted studio–there will inevitably be walls that pop up. Whenever there were hiccups in the build out process of the DC-14th Street studio, I always returned to my “why” for pursuing this path in the first place. My reason was that, if I can change one person’s attitude about their body, or if I can change one person’s mind about the way they move in the world or the way they think about themselves, then it’s worth it.
B3: Is there anything else either of you would like to share?
ALICIA: The DC-14th Street studio sale happened just after barre3 announced the acquisition of The Barre Code studios, and I thought, “Wow–what a wonderful thing that the company is expanding in that way!” Barre3 is such a unique company because we truly live and breathe our core values everyday. From the local studio staff to the Home Office, we’re all aligned in our mission of teaching people to be balanced in body and empowered from within. The company continues to evolve and meet the needs of its studio owners and its clients. For all those reasons, I’m as excited as I’ve ever been for the brand.
LAUREN: I’d also add that the barre3 owner network is amazing. It is so cool to be doing this alongside other women entrepreneurs–it really highlights the barre3 core value of “stronger together.” Everyone I’ve reached out to has been supportive, and the fact that Alicia remains connected to our studio as an instructor is a testament to the barre3 community, as well.
B3: It’s clear you two have a great respect and admiration for each other, and that the DC-14th Street studio is stronger for it.
ALICIA: While in the process of selling the studio, I spent a lot of time thinking about who the ideal owner would be. I truly believed the universe would bring that person to life, and here she is–right here! Lauren embodies all the things I wanted in a new studio owner. She has the respect of the team. She’s thoughtful and she’s smart. She’s funny, loving, and patient. She’s got a “can-do” attitude, and she finds solutions for things with a smile.
LAUREN: I knew I would need to get a tissue! Alicia–thank you for the kind words.
Alicia created such a strong foundation at the studio, which made it easy for me to step into the owner role and focus on building relationships with the team and with the clients. I have been a part of the barre3 community–and have loved it–for so long. Now, I get to lead the DC-14th Street studio and build community in a city and neighborhood that I love. It’s a dream come true!
OWNER BIOS
Lauren Cook discovered barre3 in 2016 after a long search to find a fitness home in her new city of Washington DC. At barre3, she found exactly what she’d been looking for–community, encouragement, and an effective workout. Lauren loved that the class was thoughtfully designed and backed by science, and appreciated that the instructor used inclusive and welcoming language, helping her feel successful from the beginning. Lauren became an instructor soon after her first class, and the rest is history. Barre3 has brought so much joy to Lauren’s life, and she hopes to share that joy with everyone as the new owner of barre3 DC-14th Street.
Alicia Sokol has been a barre3 instructor for more than 11 years. She opened barre3 DC-14th Street in 2016 and owned/operated the studio until 2023. She continues to teach the barre3 Signature class, b3 Strength, and b3 Cardio. Off the mic, Alicia consults with small businesses, providing support in business operations and leadership. Before she opened her studio, Alicia spent more than 15 years working in corporate communications and public relations in health/wellness. She also spent five years writing a cooking blog to demystify the notion of home cooking for busy people. She has written about cooking, parenthood, and urban living as a freelance writer. Alicia holds an undergraduate degree in finance and started her career working as an equity analyst at an investment bank. Her master’s degree is in public health with a concentration on health promotion and disease prevention.
Photos courtesy of @annameyerphoto
Thank you, Lauren and Alicia! Sign up for a class at barre3 DC-14th Street and follow along on Instagram for studio news and updates.
Learn more about opening a new barre3 studio in your community, or purchasing/converting a studio, by completing our Franchise Sales “Interest“ Form. Once you submit your information, the Franchise Expansion team will connect with you.
The b3 Blog sat down with barre3 DC-14th Street founding instructor and new owner Lauren Cook, who purchased the studio from founding owner Alicia Sokol in October 2023. Read about how Lauren and Alicia first found barre3, how Alicia knew it was time to sell her studio and how she handled the sale with her community, and what inspired Lauren to purchase the studio and what still excites her about ownership today.
B3: Thank you both for sitting down with me today. Let’s start with Lauren. Can you tell us about how you were first introduced to barre3, and how you became a founding instructor at barre3 DC-14th Street?
LAUREN: I learned about barre3 for the first time when I was at a friend’s birthday party just around the corner from the DC-14th Street Studio, which was not yet open at the time. Someone I’d met at the party told me she was going through barre3 instructor training, and she invited me to one of her classes. I went the next day and loved it. I had done other barre workouts before barre3, but those classes were different. At other studios, I felt like I needed to be “in the know” to feel successful in class. I loved that barre3 wasn’t like that. During my first class, the instructor I’d met at the party, Margo–who is still a friend today–did a wonderful job of welcoming me and making me feel successful. Two months later, Alicia–the studio owner at the time–reached out to me to ask if I was interested in becoming an instructor. I got certified in July of 2016 and the rest is history.
B3: Alicia, how were you introduced to barre3 and what inspired you to become a studio owner?
ALICIA: I started taking classes at barre3 in Georgetown in January 2012 when the studio first opened. What led me to barre3 initially was that, as a runner, I started to have pain in my knees and hips. I wanted to find different ways to move that felt good in my body. Walking into a new studio was very awkward for me. I was worried that I wouldn’t know what was going on or I would look silly. I loved that when I walked into barre3 I immediately felt at home and felt a sense of calm, peace, happiness, and belonging.
I was then approached about becoming an instructor. I decided to jump in, and quickly realized that being a barre3 instructor was the best job I’d ever had–it’s still the best job I’ve ever had! I’ve been instructing for over 11 years. Soon after becoming certified, I realized I wanted to create a space of belonging for others, so I decided to open a studio of my own closer to where I live [in March of 2016].
B3: That’s great! If we could fast forward a bit, could you tell us how you knew it was time to move on as the owner of barre3 DC-14th Street?
ALICIA: It started with identifying that I was no longer the right leader for the studio. During the pandemic, a lot of things shifted for me–as they did for everyone. The needs of my family changed, and I suddenly found myself giving more of my energy and time to them. It occurred to me that if I wanted long-term health and sustainability for the studio, I needed to ensure it was under the right leadership. The studio needed a leader who could come in and give it the ideas, creativity, and attention it deserves.
B3: How did you handle the decision to sell the studio with your community?
ALICIA: Once I made my own peace with my decision to sell the studio, I had to figure out how to communicate it to the team. We’ve built a really special team at DC-14th Street. I often hear from other people how warm, connected, and loving this team is to each other, and to our clients. I built this team and this business on trust, honesty, and authenticity, so I decided to sit down with the entire team and share my intention to sell. Initially there were some tears, but we had a really honest conversation. I answered all of their questions and was very upfront about the shift in my own energy and attention. I let that sit with them for a while, and I entertained some discussions with team members who wanted to know more.
I also knew that the next owner was likely to be someone who was already a part of the community. So, a few months after the team announcement, I wrote a letter and emailed it to our entire member base. As a result of the email, there was a flood of people wanting more information. It was at that time that Lauren found out about the sale, in January 2023.
B3: That brings us to you, Lauren. How did you decide it was the right move to purchase the DC-14th Street studio?
LAUREN: I was at an interesting point in my career and had recently finished my MBA, and I kept wondering what was next for me professionally. I’ve always thought about owning a small business. It was when I was in this period of reflection that I discovered Alicia was selling the studio. From there, the thought of owning the studio just wouldn’t leave my mind. Ultimately, the opportunity to continue doing the work that I loved at barre3 in a new capacity as a studio owner made sense for me. It was a perfect match! Fast forward to October 16, 2023, and I officially became the studio owner.
B3: It sounds like it was a matter of “right place, right time”! Now that you’ve owned the studio for a year, what excites you most about studio ownership?
LAUREN: I’m just so excited to continue doing more of the same. In a dense, fast-paced, urban environment like the 14th Street corridor, our studio provides a place for people to recharge. People come into the studio with all of their “stuff.” Then, at the studio, they take time for themselves to recover so they can go back to their communities and bring more of their true selves. It’s like a ripple effect that starts at the studio, and ripples out to all the communities in DC and beyond. What’s most exciting to me about studio ownership is the opportunity to help create those ripples–to teach our clients how to be balanced in body and empowered from within–that’s such a gift!
B3: That’s a lovely sentiment, thank you for sharing. This next question is for you both. What would you tell someone who wants to open a new studio, or purchase/convert an existing studio?
LAUREN: What I would say is–trust your gut; it’s very wise. We live in a busy world, and there are a lot of messages being pushed to us externally. I believe there’s wisdom inside of us telling us we need to slow down and listen to our intuition. So, whether you’re opening a studio–or buying or converting a studio–my advice is to trust your gut.
ALICIA: I was thinking the same thing! It’s just like in a barre3 class when we give people a range of options, and know they can be successful no matter which path they choose. The same goes for barre3 ownership–listen to your gut and respond accordingly. And where there’s a will, there’s a way! When opening a studio–whether a new studio, or an existing or converted studio–there will inevitably be walls that pop up. Whenever there were hiccups in the build out process of the DC-14th Street studio, I always returned to my “why” for pursuing this path in the first place. My reason was that, if I can change one person’s attitude about their body, or if I can change one person’s mind about the way they move in the world or the way they think about themselves, then it’s worth it.
B3: Is there anything else either of you would like to share?
ALICIA: The DC-14th Street studio sale happened just after barre3 announced the acquisition of The Barre Code studios, and I thought, “Wow–what a wonderful thing that the company is expanding in that way!” Barre3 is such a unique company because we truly live and breathe our core values everyday. From the local studio staff to the Home Office, we’re all aligned in our mission of teaching people to be balanced in body and empowered from within. The company continues to evolve and meet the needs of its studio owners and its clients. For all those reasons, I’m as excited as I’ve ever been for the brand.
LAUREN: I’d also add that the barre3 owner network is amazing. It is so cool to be doing this alongside other women entrepreneurs–it really highlights the barre3 core value of “stronger together.” Everyone I’ve reached out to has been supportive, and the fact that Alicia remains connected to our studio as an instructor is a testament to the barre3 community, as well.
B3: It’s clear you two have a great respect and admiration for each other, and that the DC-14th Street studio is stronger for it.
ALICIA: While in the process of selling the studio, I spent a lot of time thinking about who the ideal owner would be. I truly believed the universe would bring that person to life, and here she is–right here! Lauren embodies all the things I wanted in a new studio owner. She has the respect of the team. She’s thoughtful and she’s smart. She’s funny, loving, and patient. She’s got a “can-do” attitude, and she finds solutions for things with a smile.
LAUREN: I knew I would need to get a tissue! Alicia–thank you for the kind words.
Alicia created such a strong foundation at the studio, which made it easy for me to step into the owner role and focus on building relationships with the team and with the clients. I have been a part of the barre3 community–and have loved it–for so long. Now, I get to lead the DC-14th Street studio and build community in a city and neighborhood that I love. It’s a dream come true!
OWNER BIOS
Lauren Cook discovered barre3 in 2016 after a long search to find a fitness home in her new city of Washington DC. At barre3, she found exactly what she’d been looking for–community, encouragement, and an effective workout. Lauren loved that the class was thoughtfully designed and backed by science, and appreciated that the instructor used inclusive and welcoming language, helping her feel successful from the beginning. Lauren became an instructor soon after her first class, and the rest is history. Barre3 has brought so much joy to Lauren’s life, and she hopes to share that joy with everyone as the new owner of barre3 DC-14th Street.
Alicia Sokol has been a barre3 instructor for more than 11 years. She opened barre3 DC-14th Street in 2016 and owned/operated the studio until 2023. She continues to teach the barre3 Signature class, b3 Strength, and b3 Cardio. Off the mic, Alicia consults with small businesses, providing support in business operations and leadership. Before she opened her studio, Alicia spent more than 15 years working in corporate communications and public relations in health/wellness. She also spent five years writing a cooking blog to demystify the notion of home cooking for busy people. She has written about cooking, parenthood, and urban living as a freelance writer. Alicia holds an undergraduate degree in finance and started her career working as an equity analyst at an investment bank. Her master’s degree is in public health with a concentration on health promotion and disease prevention.
Photos courtesy of @annameyerphoto
Thank you, Lauren and Alicia! Sign up for a class at barre3 DC-14th Street and follow along on Instagram for studio news and updates.
Learn more about opening a new barre3 studio in your community, or purchasing/converting a studio, by completing our Franchise Sales “Interest“ Form. Once you submit your information, the Franchise Expansion team will connect with you.
