Charleston native turns 1-story studio into a 4-story boutique fitness club

Beginning as a one-story Pilates studio, Longevity Fitness has morphed into a boutique health and fitness club unique to Charlestonians. 

The club now offers Pilates, personal training, yoga, multiple body wellness options and an open gym. But the time and resources to make Longevity what it is today stems from one woman’s passion and dedication. She now celebrates 10 years of Longevity. 

Founder and executive director Jennie Brooks lived in California for seven years where she got her master’s degree in holistic health education and Pilates certification.  

“When I am standing in the Pilates studio and I’m looking around at the clients with the trainers and see everyone so happy and enjoying it, hearing the positivity,” Brooks said. “That right there is when I know I’m making a difference in someone’s life. It is the best feeling in the world.” 

A Charleston native, Brooks returned to the region to open her own studio. After about a year of searching for the right space for her vision, she acquired the 2,200-square-foot top floor of 163 Rutledge Ave. in 2015. 

Most of the building was occupied by medical offices but as they trickled out of the building, Brooks kept moving in. When renovation began to open her first section of the building, Brooks invested about $450,000.   

She later purchased half of the third floor in 2020 and in 2022, Brooks purchased the building. The four-story building is now almost entirely filled with Longevity space, excluding a vacant dental office on the third floor which will be available in September.  

The business has more than doubled in membership since the 2022 purchase, growing from 184 to 475 members. 

“We keep our membership small,” Brooks said. “Our focus is on that personal touch and that quality of care. We are looking for members that want to be here … we stay on top of attendance, and we get to know all our members.” 

COVID-19 played a large part of motivating Brooks to keep going. During the initial shutdown, the Longevity team assembled at-home kits for workouts and hosted virtual classes one at a time. 

“Going through that really showed the relationships that we have,” Brooks said. “Because of that, it motivated me to open the second floor.” 

On each floor of Longevity there are individual bathrooms with showers and other necessities for gym-goers. Brooks said she preferred having the individual space rather than a locker room since most members are close to their home and it provides more privacy. 

“I really wanted to create a place where I could combine complementary training services all under one roof,” Brooks said. “Instead of referring people out to different places, we have it all right here so they have that convenience, and we can guide them.” 

The space includes a recovery lounge with a sauna and massage chair, as well as other relaxation amenities for members as well as nonmembers. Longevity also offers an in-house chiropractor and functional medicine doctor to help with mobility for members, Brooks said.  

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“I grew up in fitness. My mom and my stepdad were highly competitive marathon runners, we used to travel all over the country. My vacations were standing at their finish line,” Brooks said. “My dad was a competitive open water swimmer so I grew up in that lifestyle of training hard, understanding a healthy lifestyle and just achieving goals.” 

Recently having opened a two-room space in Kiawah Island, Brooks said she hopes to open a few more locations in the region as well as expand outside of Charleston. 

Brooks said once opening the open gym and adding personal training, it attracted more male attendance which in turn drew more attention to their Pilates studio.