If you make it a habit of following some of the Bay Area's most boss women creators, then you'll likely know there's something well and good brewing in the Mission.
(Margaret Austin)
The Assembly, a new wellness clubhouse for women that hosts its official opening this weekend, has tapped the talents of just the kind of Bay Area women it hopes to attract and support. And the place is the stuff of Pinterest dreams, with design and art by woodworking maven Aleksandra Zee; furniture designers, Fire on the Mesa; painter Heather Day; neon artist Meryl Pataky; fiber artist Meghan Shimek; Fireclay Tile, and Katie Gong, whose wood knots and stump stools grace some of our favorite locales (think Anchor Brewing's Public Taps and Birba wine bar in Hayes Valley).
So what's it all for? Well, cofounder Molly Goodson wanted to create a space that she "wanted to wake up and go to every morning—innovative challenging workouts, a place to work quietly, and an opportunity to expand my horizons by meeting dynamic women in San Francisco."
(Margaret Austin)
Goodson tapped Sara and Rich Combs, designers of the drool-worthy destination Joshua Tree House, to transform the former 1900s church (it was rebuilt by the community after the 1906 earthquake) into a 7,000-square-foot wellness retreat where creative and wellness-minded women could congregate.
"On our initial tour, we were blown away by the bones of the place," says Sara Combs, noting the building's history. "This will continue to be a place to bring people together, a collaboration piece among many artists, designers, and creators in the Bay area."
The Combs' retrofit of the space consists of a fitness studio downstairs that hosts daily classes; a zen-ed out garden to recharge; a main space upstairs called the sanctuary; small living rooms; a dining room; and a kitchen with a bar. It is intended to feel like an oasis in the city, and it does—there's a bit of magic at work here.
"We talk a lot about the elements of work, sweat, and play," says Goodson. "The design and art within the space make it incredibly special. We want the women who come through here to feel supported and fueled up."
While the Assembly has hosted pop-up events and test classes since July, it opens officially this weekend. Stop by to peep the stunning clubhouse in person and take part in inspirational talks with author Elle Luna and Heather Day, as well as classes in high intensity interval training, cardio blasting, stretching and more.
// 449 14th St. (Mission); full schedule and tickets ($15-$30) for the Assembly's opening weekend are available at theassembly.com/opening-weekend.
