Partner Program Highlight: Pilates + Coffee

Building Community Through Movement and Coffee

“When you get to do what you love, you feel lucky”, shares Ryan, co-founder of Pilates + Coffee, a prominent fixture of the Roscoe village community. Founders Ryan and Jacquelyn fused their talents and passion for their community into a studio and café that has spent nearly a decade bringing people together through movement and coffee.

But prior to the business side of their relationship, Ryan and Jacquelyn share a love story that is all their own. Jacquelyn, a St. Louis native and Pilates instructor, met Ryan, a sports marketer originally hailing from Buffalo, NY, through a mutual friend in the windy city. That chance meeting would make Chicago a place full of nostalgia and meaning, fitting to build something of their own for the community they loved.

When Jacquelyn’s prior Pilates studio closed, the two saw an opportunity. That’s where the studio got its start. In 2017, the business began as just a Pilates studio. But, inspired by concepts that blended cycling and coffee culture, they envisioned a space where people could move, connect, and slow down. All under one roof.

The reassurance was there when the team noticed the frequency of clients grabbing coffee before or after class. Ryan wondered if it might be just risky enough to attempt to fulfill that need with a café of their own at the studio.

"I was confident running a studio," he says. "I wasn't confident running a café."

But before opening a café of their own, Ryan immersed himself in the coffee world, even volunteering behind the counter at local coffee shops to learn the hospitality side of the business, eventually becoming a trained barista.

"Coffee drives me, pilates drives my wife," Ryan says.

Nearly ten years later, Pilates + Coffee has become a neighborhood staple in Roscoe Village.

More Than a Pilates Studio

While Pilates classes remain at the heart of the business, coffee has helped create something bigger than a traditional fitness studio. The team wanted the space to feel welcoming and familiar. Many instructors have been with the studio for years, and clients often develop relationships that extend beyond the classroom.

"We're not a transactional business," Ryan says.

Whether someone is coming in for a workout, meeting a friend for coffee, or grabbing a few minutes of peace during a busy day, the goal is the same: provide a sense of relief, joy, and connection.

Coffee plays a unique role in that experience. It creates opportunities for people to linger, have conversations, and build relationships. What may have started as a quick espresso stop has turned many customers into regulars who stay and spend time together.

"Coffee is a universal way for people to slow down," shares Ryan.

Shared Approach to Hospitality

Pilates + Coffee originally served coffee from another local roaster, but as demand grew, they began searching for a new cold brew partner.

That’s when fate kicked in, and Jacqueline tried her first sip of Tala cold brew on a whim. She had the immediate sense it belonged in their café. Beyond the coffee itself, Ryan says it was the people behind Tala who stood out and really sealed the deal for their partnership.

Today, P+C serves Tala Cold Brew and features a few of our house-made syrups throughout the year, including staples like vanilla alongside rotating seasonal flavors.

For both businesses, the partnership is built on our shared values of quality, authenticity, and creating memorable customer experiences.

A Love Letter to Roscoe

Part of what makes P+C special is its connection to Roscoe Village.

“If it wasn’t Roscoe, it probably wouldn’t have happened,” says Ryan.

The neighborhood's independent spirit has helped shape the business from the beginning. The two love that the neighborhood has maintained its small-business character and strong sense of community.

"We've built incredible relationships with other business owners here."

That community extends beyond the storefront. Customers have watched Ryan and his family grow over the years, just as he's watched families and regulars move through different stages of life.

"There are always new people to impact," Ryan adds.

Celebrating a Legacy

As Pilates + Coffee approaches its tenth anniversary, Ryan and the team aren’t focused on massive expansion or chasing the next big thing. Instead, he's excited about continuing to grow thoughtfully, especially following the addition of the studio's annex space a few years ago.

More than anything, he hopes P+C continues to be a place where people feel welcome, cared for, and connected.

No longer residents of Roscoe village, Ryan and his family currently reside in the northern suburbs. You might see him coaching his son’s hockey team or playing Uno with his daughter at our Winnetka café.

Though no longer residents of Roscoe Village, Ryan and his family remain deeply connected to the community that helped shape their business. These days, you might find him coaching his son's hockey team, spending time with family, or even playing a game of Uno with his daughter at our Winnetka café.

After nearly a decade, Pilates + Coffee continues to embody what Ryan and Jacquelyn set out to create: a place where movement, coffee, and community come together in one place.

Partner Program Highlight: Pilates + Coffee