Find fitness and friendship at Co-Op Pilates
For most of her life, Jessi Midstokke hated gyms. She wasn’t athletic, and most fitness studios made her feel like she didn’t belong.
So when Midstokke, a longtime fundraiser for nonprofits, decided to switch careers and open a Pilates studio, she knew exactly how to proceed.
She named her new business at Harvard Place Shopping Center Co-Op Pilates – the first step toward creating a space where members and instructors can work out together and build a welcoming, supportive community.
Today she is realizing that goal. “You see all shapes, all sizes, all creeds and genders here,” she says. “It is a 100% safe space for everybody.”
A passion for Pilates
The first time Midstokke felt comfortable working out with others was at a small, scrappy spin studio in Los Angeles. Later, she found a Pilates place that became “a second home,” she says.
In 2020, Midstokke moved to Irvine with her husband, Blake, who grew up in Woodbridge and always planned to return. Midstokke began to put down roots but missed the sense of community she’d found with her Pilates friends. By then she had spent more than a decade in fundraising and felt ready for a change. Blake, who’d witnessed her passion for Pilates, encouraged her to train as a teacher. Then he asked whether she would ever want to open her own studio.
“I am a risk-averse person,” she says. “But weirdly enough, I said yes.”
They searched for a location, using a heat map to identify gaps in the Irvine fitness market. Harvard Place stood out for its established foot traffic and attractive nearby spots.
Co-Op Pilates opened in March 2022. Two weeks later, Midstokke gave birth to a daughter. “I had two babies in March of 2022,” she says.
Building fitness and community
Today, Co-Op Pilates has more than 200 members and clients. But Midstokke is most pleased by the community she’s building. The studio hosts workshops and coffee pop-ups, all designed to help people connect beyond class. “I know almost every single person who walks into class by name, and they know me, my daughter and my husband,” she says.
Irvine’s safe streets, convenience and comfort have made it an “idyllic” environment to realize her small-business dream – and nurture her family, Midstokke says. The couple owns a new home in Turtle Rock, where they’re raising their daughter, with another child on the way.
“Blake always told me that growing up in Irvine was an amazing experience and that he always knew he’d want to come back when it was time to start a family,” she says.
Her impact at the studio feels immediate. Clients tell her they can get out of bed without pain, that working out is helping them recover from surgery or that they are taking care of their bodies after watching a parent decline.
“Ultimately, the best thing you can do is focus on how you feel,” she says. “And that is where true and long-term motivation comes from – from the inside out.”
POACHED NEIGHBORHOOD KITCHEN
Opened by Jim Papantonopoulos in 2020
“The family-first environment is really what drove me to Irvine. We’re family first, too. Poached Neighborhood Kitchen is where grandparents come meet their grandkids for breakfast.” – Jim Papantonopoulos
What it’s known for: Part of a small chain of breakfast, brunch and lunch venues, Poached Neighborhood Kitchen prides itself on fresh “egg‑centric” ingredients and loyal customers.
JAMES SHOE REPAIR
Opened by Mu Nam “James” and Tok Son “Linda” Chon in 1989
“Live an honest life. Be proud of your work. Your reputation follows you for years.” – James Chon
What it’s known for: High-quality, painstaking shoe repair that has drawn customers from as far away as Las Vegas and San Diego for almost 40 years. Chon uses an intuitive approach that has become second nature, and Yelp reviewers appreciate the personable customer service.
CHEESETELLA
Opened by David Yeh in 2021
“We felt Irvine was the perfect place for a concept focused on quality, craftsmanship and premium Asian dessert. It’s a community that appreciates unique food experiences.” – David Yeh
What it’s known for: The dessert shop specializes in castella, a Japanese-style sponge cake. Cheesetella adds melted American cheese to the cake as part of a colorful lineup that also includes soufflé-style cheesecakes in original, ube and matcha (on weekends).
