By Julia Purdy
A fitness studio has taken Tattersall’s old space on Merchants Row.
Rebecca Buonadonna and Brianna McDevitt, partners in the new Triumph Barre and Pilates studio, greeted their clients at the studio’s opening last week. The regulars coming in for a session exclaimed with delight at the transformation of the space.
An antique oak counter made of staircase pieces was adorned with a striking white orchid plant and tiny potted succulents. One wall is painted charcoal gray for a calming effect. Behind the counter, both walls are lined with mirrors and barres and lighted with candle-style sconces.
The women had operated a yoga studio above Hop-N-Moose but had outgrown that space and vacated it.
“We needed more space, our clientele was growing,” said Buonadonna. “It’s an ideal spot for us.”
Classes range from five to 20 clients, depending on which day and which class. The new location offers twice the floor space, with dressing rooms and room to grow; parking is a lot better and “the view is beautiful,” she added.
“We had a 12-day window to make this happen” before opening day. It took “long, long days and lots of elbow grease,” Buonadonna said. Some painting and décor is still left to do.
Ryan, Smith & Carbine owns the building.
Buonadonna closed her clothing store, Raw Honey, around the corner on Center Street and transferred the inventory to Fruition. Brianna is a personal trainer.
“We’re so busy we don’t get a chance to work out, so this forces us to work that in. We wanted to create an environment that is warm and welcoming and supportive and clean and fresh, a space you want to be in. We really worked hard to create that space,” Buonadonna said.
Buonadonna said she has been operating a studio for a little over a year and a half and is certified in barre, a ballet-based training.
McDevitt has been a private trainer, with a degree in exercise science and nutrition from the University of Arizona. She graduated from Rutland High School and returned eight years ago, starting a busy in-home training business. She started partnering with Rebecca a year ago to start teaching classes to keep up with her own fitness regimen.