In 2015, Arizona native and Xavier College Preparatory alumna, Whitney White Kozlowski, launched The Beau Collective, a unique fitness and retail space, in Park City, Utah. This May, she’s bringing the concept home and opening a second location on Central Avenue, just north of Uptown Plaza. The 6,648 square-foot, free-standing building—originally constructed in 1973 as a medical center—will be a community gathering spot where folks can attend exercise classes, shop for athletic gear, grab a cup of coffee and connect with friends. The fitness area will also double as a community event space for book club meetings, mahjong tournaments and team-building events. Kozlowski’s best friend from childhood, Sarah Duncan, a fourth-generation Arizonan and fellow Xavier graduate, will be running the show.  

We recently asked Duncan a few questions about what to expect at Uptown Phoenix’s buzziest new hot spot.  

Why do you think this concept works? 

It has really worked in Park City. At a lot of gyms in the area, you work out and then the next class is in 15 minutes and you have to get out. The focus here is more on the people and the experience. Yes, you can come and do your 45-minute HIIT class, but we want you to stay and hang out and socialize. Spend a little time here before you go back out into the world. Plus, we’re going to be one of the only retail stores in the area opening at 6 a.m. People can come in and do their shopping before the craziness of the day.  

Will you offer memberships?

We’re going to have a maximum of 300 members for gym memberships, and classes will have about 20 to 35 people. The retail space is open to everybody, and so is the community area. We’ll also offer drop-in packages.

Tell me about the retail offerings.

There will be a lot of fitness brands—lululemon, Spiritual Gangster, Free People Movement, Rainbow Sandals and Havaianas. We’re also going to have a local wall where we’ll include companies, such as State 48 and Truckers by Tams (customized trucker hats). Local products will have a big presence in our store.

What improvements have been made to the building?

We’re keeping the original ceilings, which are kind of cool. Originally, there were no windows, so we put eight beautiful windows facing Central Avenue that add natural light. That was a huge project. The front of the building is still the same, but we’re adding new landscaping. There will also be 35 dedicated parking spaces.

What are you looking forward to most?

I’m really looking forward to creating a place where you can come and work on your fitness goals and get healthy, but also get mentally healthy. It’s a safe space in this crazy world. I’d love to see old friends gathering on a Tuesday morning and catching up on life. This is a place to build and grow relationships.