Ambition Fitness, a women-focused fitness concept founded by Katie Daniel in 2018, is preparing to open its first Cincinnati location in the Pleasant Ridge neighborhood. The studio is targeting a spring 2027 opening at 6010 Ridge Ave., bringing its specialized approach to strength training and group fitness to the local community.
The new studio will occupy approximately 3,416 square feet at The Ridge, a multimillion-dollar mixed-use development by Towne Properties, E. Leventhal Cos. and Pleasant Ridge Development Corp. According to the Cincinnati Business Courier, Ambition Fitness signed a 10-year lease for the space in October, taking over the development’s final remaining retail space.
Local franchisees Alicia Capetillo and Mike Prevey will manage the Pleasant Ridge location. The company also plans to hire approximately 15 employees for studio operations and personal training positions. An exact opening date and operating hours have not yet been announced.
Ambition Fitness offers a range of group fitness classes and personal training options, including memberships, drop-in sessions, and class packages. The concept is designed specifically for women, with an emphasis on making strength training more approachable and creating an environment where members can build confidence while learning to work with weights.
Founder Katie Daniel established the business after recognizing that traditional gym environments could leave women feeling uncomfortable or intimidated. Having previously worked in medical sales, she decided to create a fitness space that combined effective workouts with a welcoming atmosphere.
“Ambition found a lot of success because it solves the problem of taking the intimidation out of getting to the weight room. Women don’t want to be embarrassed or feel self-conscious,” Daniel told the Cincinnati Business Courier. “There’s a lack of familiarity with weights a lot of the time, and so we teach women how to do it in a really safe but also exciting environment that looks and feels like a nightclub.”
The Cincinnati studio will become Ambition Fitness’ third location, following its existing studios in Louisville and Lexington, Kentucky. Daniel told the Cincinnati Business Courier that the company decided to expand into Cincinnati after receiving requests from clients who wanted to see the concept move into the area.
The surrounding neighborhoods, including Oakley and Hyde Park, also played a role in the location decision, offering access to a wider residential and commercial community.
The expansion is part of the company’s broader growth strategy. Daniel indicated that Ambition Fitness is exploring opportunities to establish a larger national presence, with additional expansion plans being considered for 2027.
For the Cincinnati buildout, the company is partnering with general contractor Daniel Taylor of Commercial Construction Group LLC and Louisville-based DKN Architects. Daniel did not disclose the investment planned for the new studio.
The Ridge development, which broke ground in mid-2023, features 82 luxury apartments and two ground-floor commercial spaces. Ambition Fitness will join Wings Bar & Grill, a restaurant owned by Michael David and his father, Haydar David, at the development.
According to the Cincinnati Business Courier, 3CRE’s Tryfon Christoforou and Nick Pesola represented landlord Towne Properties in the lease transaction. Pesola has since left the brokerage to become managing principal at Pesola Advisors. T.C. Bartoszek of Lee & Associates represented Ambition Fitness.
WhatNow reached out to Ambition Fitness for additional information about its upcoming Cincinnati location but had not received a response at the time of publication. The article will be updated if further details become available.
