solidcore Boutique Fitness Studio Coming to LaCenterra at Cinco Ranch in Katy, Bringing High-Intensity Pilates-Inspired Workouts to Fort Bend County
A nationally recognized boutique fitness brand known for its intense, low-impact strength training workouts is preparing to open a new studio in the heart of Katy.
According to construction filings, solidcore is planning a first-generation tenant build-out at LaCenterra at Cinco Ranch, located at 2717 Commercial Center Blvd., Suite D130 in Katy, with work expected to begin May 8, 2026 and complete by July 21, 2026. The renovation project, estimated at $787,747, will transform a 2,271-square-foot space into a specialized studio focused on high-intensity, Pilates-inspired workouts designed to build muscular endurance. Based on current tenant locations, it appears that solidcore will be located between Postino's and Kendra Scott in LaCenterra at Cinco Ranch.
For residents in Cinco Ranch, Katy and surrounding Fort Bend County neighborhoods, the addition reflects the continued growth of boutique fitness options in the area, offering a new training style that emphasizes slow, controlled strength movements with minimal impact on joints and the spine.
A Low-Impact Workout Built Around Strength and Endurance
Unlike traditional gym workouts focused primarily on lifting heavy weights, the solidcore method targets muscular endurance through slow, controlled movements performed on a custom-built reformer machine.
The studio’s approach centers on exercises designed to work slow-twitch muscle fibers, which help muscles resist fatigue and maintain sustained activity. By keeping muscles under tension longer, the workout aims to increase strength, endurance and muscle definition while reducing injury risk.
Participants often notice the characteristic “shakes” during exercises — a sign muscles are reaching fatigue and adapting to the workload. The training style is designed to challenge the body through controlled resistance rather than high-impact movement.
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The Katy location is expected to offer several class formats commonly found at other solidcore studios across the country, including:
- Starter50 – introductory classes teaching the reformer and workout fundamentals
- Foundation50 – full-body workouts focused on form and movement control
- Signature50 – the brand’s signature total-body muscular endurance workout
- Power30 – shorter sessions targeting core and upper or lower body strength
- Focus50 and Advanced classes – higher intensity sessions for experienced participants
Each class uses slow transitions and continuous muscle engagement to create a challenging full-body workout.
From a Single Studio to a National Fitness Brand
The story behind solidcore is closely tied to the entrepreneurial journey of its founder, Anne Mahlum, who launched the company in 2013 in Washington, D.C.
Mahlum, originally from North Dakota, used $175,000 of her personal savings to open the first location — a decision that would eventually grow into one of the fastest-growing boutique fitness brands in the United States.
“I invested all of my $175,000 in personal savings to launch Solidcore and bootstrapped the company after that,” Mahlum said in an interview with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s CO publication. “I had no assets, and I didn't think I could get a bank loan or raise venture capital.”
Her strategy relied heavily on building a strong community around the workout experience.
“I focused on building a community of Pilates enthusiasts of all ages,” Mahlum said. “Luckily, there was no boutique fitness chain in D.C., so when I started classes, people were curious and came from Day 1.”
Over the next decade, the company expanded to more than 100 studios across the United States, attracting a devoted following that included high-profile clients and fitness enthusiasts nationwide.
In 2023, she sold her stake in the company for nearly $100 million, later focusing on speaking, investing and advocacy work.
“Right now, I want to be physically active and focus on my family and friends,” Mahlum said. “I have worked tirelessly over the last 17 years, and now I want to take the time to just have space and enjoy my life.”
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Expanding Fitness Options in Katy and Fort Bend County
The upcoming solidcore Katy studio at LaCenterra at Cinco Ranch will join a growing network of locations in the Houston region, including studios in Montrose, Post Oak, Rice Village, The Heights and The Woodlands.
For residents across Katy, Cinco Ranch, Fulshear and West Houston, the new location will offer another boutique fitness option alongside the area’s expanding wellness and health-focused businesses.
LaCenterra at Cinco Ranch has become a popular destination for shopping, dining and lifestyle services, making it a natural location for fitness brands looking to serve the area’s active population.
As construction moves forward in 2026, the studio will introduce a workout model built around community, consistency and controlled strength training.
Residents interested in new fitness options in Katy and Fort Bend County may soon have another place to test their endurance — and perhaps experience the signature “shakes” that solidcore clients know well.
Stay tuned to My Neighborhood News for updates as the solidcore studio at LaCenterra progresses toward its anticipated summer opening.
Tiffany Krenek has been on the My Neighborhood News team since August 2021. She is passionate about curating and sharing content that enriches the lives of our readers in a personal, meaningful way. A loving mother and wife, Tiffany and her family live in the West Houston/Cypress region.