By: Zoe Cohen
Meet Maggie Romnios, owner of Studio Pilates International’s newest New York City location on West 57th Street. After beginning her career in advertising on the very same street more than 30 years ago, spending 17 years living in Greece and raising three children, Maggie is returning to her roots as a first-time entrepreneur. Inspired by her own experience with reformer Pilates, she is opening her first studio on Saturday, September 26, bringing her passion for wellness, community, and connection to Midtown Manhattan.
Maggie shares her journey from advertising to entrepreneurship, the inspiration behind her new venture, and what it means to embark on this exciting new chapter as an empty nester.
Can you tell us a little about your background and the path that ultimately brought you to this point in your career?
I was working as an Art Director for Wells Rich Greene Advertising here in New York on 57th Street over 30 years ago. Mary Wells, one of the founders of the agency, became a true inspiration to me and many women in the industry at the time. While in college, I began working there as a receptionist, then became a creative assistant and slowly began to climb up the creative corporate ladder. I had the privilege of working with some of the best creatives in the field. At some point, I felt like I needed a change in my life, so I decided to see what the advertising world in Greece looked like. I gave it a try for nearly a year but decided that New York was where I needed to return to. As fate would have it, though, I met the man of my dreams and ended up staying for 17 years and giving up my advertising career.
You spent 17 years living in Greece before returning to New York. How did that chapter of your life shape you personally and professionally?
I firmly believe that everything that happens in life happens for a reason. Everything that I have experienced and lived through has led me to this path. I was always the mom who would help the other working moms with drop-offs for schools, activities, and watching their children until they could get to them. My love for entertaining and welcoming people into my home has always been a key factor for me. We have a word for this in Greek, which is called “Philoxenia”. It literally translates to the love of a stranger. This is what I want to bring to my studio. I want everyone to come in and feel welcomed and supported. I want them to feel like this studio will be a place where they can escape to, relieve stress, feel comfort, laugh with us, share stories, and feel the warmth of the community we will build together.
What was it like rebuilding your life in New York with your family after so many years abroad?
I would say it was more challenging for me than it was for my family, even though I had grown up here. They were excited about living in this new city, and I felt that I was taken out of my comfort zone, where I had built a comfortable nest for my family. There was anxiety about getting them into new schools, traveling on their own with the subway system, and learning how to conform to a new culture. It was a little overwhelming.
You first discovered Studio Pilates as a client following surgery. What was it about the experience that resonated with you?
I had tried some reformer Pilates classes before but still wasn’t convinced that it was for me. I was looking for something that was close to my home and job and still affordable. I found Studio Pilates International in South Slope in my neighborhood. The instructors were so encouraging and attentive to everyone’s level of experience and safety. The workouts were easy to follow on the screens, and there was still a feeling of one-on-one attention from the instructors. I began to build it into my weekly routine. I saw changes in my body both physically and aesthetically. Mentally, it was a 40-minute escape from reality.
At what point did you begin thinking about turning your love of Pilates into a business opportunity of your own?
During my workouts, the franchise would promote ads on the screens before classes, promoting opening your own franchise studio with them. A lightbulb went off in my head, and I thought: Why not explore this? I was at a standstill in my career and looking for something new.
You’re entering entrepreneurship as an empty nester and first-time business owner. What has it been like starting something completely new at this stage of your life?
It’s been an exhilarating process for me. It’s given me a new reason to live and thrive. I feel like I am being given a new opportunity to grow and excel. I don’t want to feel done at this point in my life. With every new challenge I must deal with, I need to keep getting up, dusting myself off, and moving forward for a better tomorrow. My energy is off the charts right now.
What have your three children thought about watching you take on this new chapter?
I think they’re relieved that I’ve finally stepped away from being a helicopter mom! I have always encouraged them to be as independent as they can be and to be resilient, but that never completely goes away. They have been extremely supportive of my new journey, and I couldn’t be more grateful for their encouragement.
You’ve referred to the studio as your “fourth baby.” What does opening this business mean to you personally?
Yes. When I told my children that I was planning on opening this business, my youngest daughter’s response was: “The fourth one’s the charm!” Three pregnancies have almost seemed easier. Motherhood is instinctive, but building a business from scratch can be a bit overwhelming.
Your West 57th studio brings you back to a neighborhood where you began your career years ago. Does that full-circle connection make the opening feel especially meaningful?
It most certainly does. The entire neighborhood has evolved and changed drastically since I left years ago, but there are still so many reminders of my past life. One of those reminders is 9 West, the building where I worked, which is still iconic in its architecture. The first time we came for a visit to New York as a family when my children were young, I took a picture of them in Central Park with the building in the background so that they could have a memory of where their mom used to work. I now have that picture on my desk in the studio to remind me of where I once was and where I am now.
What has surprised you most about becoming a business owner?
I think it’s the people I have met along the way since I began this journey who have shown their support. From the brokers that found me the space to the bankers that have helped me with my loan and everyone in between. Everyone continues to check in and has been so encouraging.
What has been the most challenging part of the process, and what have you learned about yourself along the way?
The most challenging part of the process has been navigating through crises that were out of my control and continue to present themselves. It seems like every day that goes by, there is something new to deal with. Nonetheless, I have learned that I have nerves of steel and can handle anything that comes my way. There is always a solution to every problem.
What do you hope people feel when they walk into your West 57th studio for the first time?
I want people to feel like they have entered a safe space in a beautiful environment where they can escape for 40 minutes and just let loose. Somewhere where they can challenge themselves and feel that they are meeting their goals and making an improvement in their lives. Somewhere where they can find community.
What would you say to other women who are considering reinventing themselves or starting a new career later in life?
I would say: Just do it! Take the chance and follow your heart. Think it over carefully, but don’t overthink it. Envision how you can make it happen and put it out there in the universe! We are always the doers and problem-solvers in every situation anyway. Take advantage of the opportunities that are in front of you, challenge yourself, and make them work to your advantage.
As you look ahead, what are you most excited about in this next chapter?
I believe that I am most excited about building something of my own from the bottom up that will belong to me again exclusively as Maggie, the woman. My husband and children have always been supportive of me as a mother, wife, homemaker, etc., but this feels like an opportunity for me to shine again as an individual. I want to prove it to myself, prove it to them, and now prove it to the rest of the world!
