Castro fitness fanatics looking for a place to relax, recover, and recharge could soon have a new option along Market Street.
LA-based Pause Studio has proposed opening at 2238 Market Street, in one of two ground-floor retail spaces inside the condo building called 2238 Market that's also home to specialty market The Epicurean Trader. The space has remained vacant since the building was completed in 2022.
Pause Studio was founded in 2016 by two former Equinox executives, Jeff Ono and John Klein. Currently, Pause Studio has approximately 23 locations nationwide, with seven in Southern California.
The Castro would be Pause Studio's first Northern California location.
Pause Studio has proposed opening at 2238 Market St. | Photo: Steven Bracco/Hoodline
According to its website, Pause Studio is "an experiential wellness studio designed to optimize recovery, enhance self-care, and live better." The wellness studio offers customers infrared saunas, cold plunges, red-light therapy, cryotherapy, float therapy, and IV/injection therapy.
Prices range from $30 for a 30-minute compression therapy, $45 for a 30-minute cryotherapy session, $159 for a vitamin IV drip, and $675 for an 180-minute NAD+ (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide) therapy treatment.
Hoodline readers may recall this isn't the first time cryotherapy has been available in the Castro. CryoSF closed after less than a month in 2017.
Public records indicate Pause Studio will remodel the approximately 2,474-square-foot space with construction costs estimated at $800,000.
Photo: Pause Studio/Instagram
Under the city's formula retail rules, businesses with 11 or more locations worldwide must obtain a conditional use permit before opening anywhere in the Castro or Upper Market. A Planning Commission hearing to obtain a conditional use permit has not been calendared at this time.
Over the past year, Pause Studio has begun its national expansion campaign by opening franchise-owned studios. Last year, Pause Studio opened its first franchise location in Newport Beach, California.
"After 24 months of building a world-class team and supporting infrastructure for our franchise partners, this is a huge milestone, and we couldn't be more proud of the progress we've made. Our mission has always been to make wellness accessible to everyone, and this expansion marks the next phase in bringing that vision to life," said Klein.
Photo: Steven Bracco/Hoodline
According to a press release, Pause Studio has sold 100 franchise licenses and plans to open 35 locations in 2025.
Previously, Pause Studio co-founder John Klein led the national expansion of Equinox and SoulCycle from 2002 to 2018.
The Castro location will be owned and operated by franchisee Frances Schendle.
Schendle, who's lived in San Francisco for 13 years, says, "I am so excited to bring Pause and our science-backed recovery services to the Castro. I know these services will have a positive impact on those in this community. And I can’t wait to play a part in bringing San Francisco back."
Pause Studio co-founders Jeff Ono and John Klein. | Photo courtesy of Pause Studio
Schendle says opening in the Castro "was a no-brainer."
"The Castro has a strong sense of community, diversity, and a true commitment to wellness," Schendle said. "When I look around, I see a wide variety of fitness offerings, but nowhere for people to go to relax and recover."
Schendle tells Hoodline that the business is targeting Summer 2026 for an opening date.
Pause Studio has proposed opening next door to another wellness chain, StretchLab. StetchLab's conditional use permit was approved in June by the Planning Commission.
While the Castro has an abundance of health, fitness, and wellness options, Schendle believes that makes the neighborhood an ideal location for Pause Studio.
"People have already embraced the benefits of a healthy lifestyle," said Schendle. "When I see a lot of health and wellness options, I see a community that will embrace Pause and all of the incredible services we will be bringing to the market."
"Many of our services aren’t currently available in the Castro," added Schendle. "And the beauty of Pause is that these services are all under one roof, so you can take advantage of more services in less time.
