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From The Studio to Strobe Lights: Trio x The Club's Partnership

Nothing creates magic in the neighborhood quite like two businesses coming together to create a unique collaborative experience. In South End, that magic comes to life through partnerships like the one between Trio and The Club, two woman-owned brands rooted in energy, music, community, and passion for creating unforgettable experiences. By bringing The Club’s signature workout classes to Trio’s nightclub setting, this collaboration transforms a typical fitness class into something even more dynamic: a high-energy, lights-down and music-up experience designed to lift your spirits and create a fitness class you’ll want to attend again and again. 

Introducing Trio

Owned by husband-and-wife duo Kate and Eric Gussin of Take Me There Hospitality, Trio is an EDM club with a strong focus on local DJ talent. On occasion, club goers can catch international music acts like Galantis and NOTD. Originally launched in Charleston, Trio expanded to South End in 2023 and quickly made a name for itself in the local nightlife community. EDM enthusiasts can head to Trio any Friday or Saturday (and occasionally Thursday or Sunday) for the quintessential nightclub experience featuring a DJ, an electric atmosphere, a cutting-edge sound system, and of course the iconic light package that brings the whole space to life.

Meet The Club

When conceptualizing The Club, owners Meg Mars and Nicole Paradis dreamt of creating a new third space in the Charlotte community–one where people could work, work out and feel at home. The wellness hub officially opened its doors to the South End community in 2025 and achieved the owners’ goals of offering a one-stop space for your whole day. From all-day fitness classes to a large coworking area complete with local coffee bar Pertinacious Coffee, The Club is a hybrid or remote worker’s dream come true. 

Why South End

As one of the country’s most dynamic neighborhoods, South End continues to catch the attention of business owners and entrepreneurs from all over. The Gussins and Meg and Nicole recognized a unique opportunity for their concepts in South End, a hub for young professionals seeking connection and well-rounded experiences. 

Originally hailing from Boston, Nicole and Meg identified a gap in Charlotte’s fitness industry for experience-based fitness classes comparable to those in larger cities. The duo also took note of Charlotte’s hybrid and remote worker population, and knew this market would be seeking exactly what they planned to offer–a home away from home. 

The Gussins followed a similar path when looking to expand Trio. The couple observed natural synergy between Charleston and Charlotte, noting multiple Charleston-based restaurants opening second locations in the Queen City. Upon visiting Charlotte, the Gussins recognized the need for Trio in the market and quickly deemed South End as the ideal destination. When they came across an open space on South Mint Street, they fell in love with its potential, despite it lacking a ceiling at the time, as well as its proximity to Uptown and surrounding neighborhoods.

The two brands’ shared vision for community-driven, experience-first spaces created natural alignment and laid the groundwork for a collaboration rooted in music, energy, and bringing people together.

From Shared Vision to Shared Experience

A big component of Meg and Nicole’s ultimate vision for The Club was bringing their fitness classes into nightlife spaces, driven by a shift in the market for people seeking sober, wellness-focused experiences still in the “party” space. Opening the fitness hub just a quarter-mile away from Trio created the organic synergy needed to bring their dream partnership to life. The Club team reached out to Kate to pitch their idea, and Kate didn’t hesitate to agree to the collaboration. Prior to their first collaborative event, the teams spent ample time together crafting an immersive, seamless experience across all facets of the event–covering everything from lighting to mixing playlists with the in-house DJ. 

Kate cites one simple reason for being immediately open to the partnership pitch: rising tides lift all ships. The Trio co-owner is a firm believer that being a good community member and offering support to other businesses ultimately helps uplift your own. Since their first meeting, Kate, Meg and Nicole’s relationship has blossomed. The Club co-owners look up to Kate as a fellow business owner and now a friend and sounding board.  

Here’s how it works:

Trio x The Club’s partnership offers two of The Club’s signature classes: Pulse, a beat based mat sculpt class and Ride, a rhythm based cycling class with a focus on choreography. If you’re looking to experience one of these collaborative classes, here’s exactly what you can expect: 

  1. You can find tickets on The Club’s website or The Club’s app. (PRO TIP: Nicole recommends using the app) Tickets go live at 5 p.m. the Sunday two weeks prior to the class. Classes are always the last Wednesday of the month.
  2. Go to the “Buy” tab and purchase your Trio class credit.
  3. Select your preferred spot in the room, and book your class. 
  4. Arrive at Trio on the day of your class and expect to be greeted by a smiling team member from The Club and music bumping through the speakers.
  5. Check in with a front desk team member, who will remind you of your mat or bike assignment and tell you where in the room it’s located. If you’re taking Ride, this is where you’ll grab your complimentary cycling shoes.
  6. Drop off your items and head into the main workout area where you’ll find additional staff to guide you to your bike or mat. 
  7. You’ll have everything you need right at your spot, so you don’t need to worry about bringing anything besides a water bottle and good vibes. If you’re taking Ride for the first time, a team member can help you set up your bike and get clipped in. 
  8. Let the sensory lift begin. The music goes up, the laser lights come on, and class starts. There will always be an instructor at the front of the room demonstrating the moves and offering verbal instructions via microphone. 
  9. End class with a cooldown, mingle with The Club team, and make a new friend before grabbing your items to head out. 

The Women Behind the Brands

Both businesses are proudly woman-owned, with leaders that seek to shape South End into a more dynamic and inclusive community-driven destination. Since opening their doors, both brands quickly became forces within the neighborhood, creating large and loyal communities. When asked what advice they’d give to other woman-owned businesses, the entrepreneurs said the following: 

Kate encourages others to find other women entrepreneurs in the community to befriend. 

Meg’s motto is to believe in yourself and surround yourself with a community that lifts you up.

Nicole believes in the importance of asking for what you want, being kind, and lifting others along with you.

Want to learn more? Follow along with Trio and The Club at these links: 

Learn more about Trio and follow them on Instagram here.

Learn more about Trio Wellness here.

Learn more about The Club and follow them on Instagram here.