TL;DR
Aligned Fitness acquires six Club Pilates studios in New Jersey, expanding its portfolio to 61 studios across multiple states. The company enters the New Jersey market through the acquisitions from Gary Laden and Karen and Todd Spidare.
New jersey expansion
The acquisitions include two studios from entrepreneur Gary Laden and four studios from fitness operators Karen and Todd Spidare. The transactions expand Aligned Fitness’ portfolio to 61 studios across multiple states and mark the company’s entry into the New Jersey market.
“Gary, Todd and Karen built outstanding businesses with strong teams, loyal members and excellent reputations in their communities,” said Jon Smith, co-founder of Aligned Fitness. “We’re excited to welcome them into the Aligned family and continue building upon the foundation they created.”
Company growth history
Founded in 2016, Aligned Fitness has grown from six studios in Raleigh, N.C., into a multi-state platform recognized for operational consistency, instructor development and adherence to the Club Pilates methodology.
“These acquisitions reflect the continued strength of the boutique fitness category and the significant opportunity we see within the Club Pilates ecosystem,” said Jake Rubenstein of Eagle Merchant Partners. “Aligned has established itself as a highly respected operator with a disciplined growth strategy, and we believe there remains substantial runway for expansion through partnerships with best-in-class franchisees.”
Future plans
Smith said Aligned expects continued consolidation opportunities within the boutique fitness industry and remains focused on identifying franchisees that align culturally and operationally with the company’s long-term vision.
“We believe there is significant opportunity ahead,” Smith said. “The Club Pilates brand continues to resonate with consumers, and we are actively looking for the right franchise partners who want to continue growing alongside us.”
In this story
This story was originally published in Franchising.com on June 5, 2026. Burnaze summarizes and links to the original reporting.
Read the full story at Franchising.comLiked this? Get the week's franchise news, explained
- Sunday 8 AM ET weekly + a monthly deep dive
- Sections picked for the industries you follow
- Every claim linked to its source. Free.