STRONG Pilates, a national franchise with 100 fitness studios in the US, has taken the space on the west side of Broadway between Leonard and Worth and has an opening date scheduled for October 24. This will be the company’s first location in the city.

This was the former Prime Essentials space, which closed in 2022 after a decade on that corner; there is also a newish nail salon, QQ, next door.

(There is also a new spot on West Broadway, Amare Pilates, and Hot 8 Yoga should be open as of today on Reade.)

STRONG features a twist on reformer Pilates: their machines allow you to bike or row as well. The Rowformer and Bikeformer are part rower or bike, part reformer. From their website: “Unlike regular Pilates, the Rowformer or Bikeformer allow for elevated heart rate by using the row or ride side, then transitioning back to the Pilates side. The increased intensity results in a substantial calorie burn (up to 800 calories in a class) while receiving all the benefits of Pilates.”

The company was founded in 2019 in Australia by Michael Ramsey and Mark Armstrong — they now live in the US, Michael in Austin and Mark in Boca. Michael and Mark both established several fitness businesses previous to this one, including six F45 Training franchises (there’s one on Duane and Broadway). They both have personal training and fitness backgrounds, but since selling out of F45 in 2019, they no longer train folks themselves.

Tribeca was their top choice for their first studio in the city, they said in an email. “Tribeca has a rare blend of downtown energy and a genuine sense of community. It’s a neighborhood that gravitates toward premium wellness experiences, but more than that, it’s full of people curious about trying new concepts that truly challenge them,” the founders wrote. “That’s the exact mindset we aim to cultivate at STRONG Pilates. Our unique format combines Pilates, strength, and cardio to give people real, measurable results, and we’re eager to create a space in Tribeca where people can push each other, build real connections, and walk out stronger than they walked in.”