PRESS RELEASE

April 18, 2024

CLASSPASS ‘BEST INSTRUCTOR’ IN THE NATION Gears Up to Open Indoor Cycling Studio in West Minneapolis

Awarded ‘Best Fitness Instructor in the US’ by ClassPass a year ago, Benson is ready to open a studio of her own

Minneapolis, MN — Entrepreneurship is NOT dead – at least according to 35-year old, female entrepreneur, Allissa Benson. The Minnesota-native has signed a lease at Ridgedale Center in Minnetonka and is scheduled to open a new indoor cycling studio this June.

In 2023, Benson was awarded ‘Best Fitness Instructor in the US’ by ClassPass, a monthly subscription platform for ‘all things fitness, wellness and beauty’ while teaching classes in Denver, Colorado. Now, one year later, she gears up to open a studio of her own: VERB Studios.

In the time that lapsed since receiving this highly-coveted title, Benson moved back to Minneapolis, leaving the reputation she had built as a cycling instructor in Denver behind. But, as they say, “when one door closes, another one opens.” Shortly after arriving in Minnesota, that door flung wide open when CycleBar closed its Ridgedale location, vacating a space clearly outfitted for fitness.

Benson has worked in the fitness industry for many years, most recently as VP of Marketing and Lead Instructor at a cycling studio in Denver, which she helped groom to be awarded ‘Best Fitness Studio in the US’ by ClassPass in the same year. Although reputation and experience precede the young entrepreneur, Benson acknowledges there is much work to be done.

The West Metro has an impressive roster of fitness centers and franchises, but Benson believes the area is primed and ready for a locally-owned, community-driven boutique studio. “The definition of wellness has evolved,” says Benson, “consumers are looking for a personalized approach to fitness, specialized class offerings and a strong sense of community.” And that’s just what they’ll get at VERB Studios. 

So, what does a class look like at VERB Studios? 45 minutes of heart-pumping, sweat-dripping, mood-boosting, "woo"-inducing choreography on a bike. It’s a high-intensity, low-impact form of movement, engineered to shake up the norm and prove working out can be fun. 

The company’s tagline is “MADE TO MOVE YOU”. The bikes may be stationary, but Benson explains, “the movement that happens inside the studio transcends any metric of distance, speed or output.” VERB Studios is focused on developing skills in the studio that translate to everyday life – like courage, grit, consistency and endurance – and prioritizes mental and emotional health just as much as the physical.

Work has begun on the space at Ridgedale Center and the boutique studio is targeting a Grand Opening on June 15, 2024. Since the property was previously used for a similar use case, the time needed for renovations and tenant improvements is significantly reduced. “I knew moving back to Minnesota would mean opening a studio I could call my own,” Benson states, “and the opportunity at Ridgedale Center was too serendipitous not to explore fully.”

It’s no secret that shopping centers are turning to more experiential tenants to create a consumer habit that brings them to malls more frequently and Ridgedale Center is doing just that. Among its experiential tenants are Dick’s House of Sport, newly-contracted Kowalski’s grocery store and now VERB Studios – all of which will share the same South East quadrant of the mall.

VERB Studios will be offering Founding Memberships at a discounted rate in advance of the scheduled Grand Opening, which will be available through its branded app and website.

MEDIA