I Am Yogi, a popular yoga business in Sutton Coldfield, has confirmed its new 'hidden' location after leaving the Gracechurch Centre. The firm will move to The Bakehouse Studios, accessed via an alleyway off the High Street, and will reopen on Tuesday 1st September.
Why the Move?
Owner Vicky Lawton announced last month that the business was leaving the Gracechurch Centre after nearly two years, citing rising costs that made the site unsustainable without affecting its other operation in Moseley Village. Despite having around 160 Sutton members, Vicky vowed to keep looking for a new home, and this week she found one—just a short distance from the original base.
The Bakehouse Studios, located at the rear of number 50 High Street and opposite the Royal Hotel, is already home to performing arts groups, including a Stagecoach branch and the Sutton Coldfield School of Dance. I Am Yogi will occupy the top floor of the building.
Announcing the New Location
In an email to her 'Yogis', Vicky expressed relief and excitement: “Dear Yogis, we have been hoping to send this email and now here it is! After making the very hard decision to leave the Gracechurch Centre (with no real solid plans and fewer than a handful of options) we took the leap, knowing that our resilience would prevail. We are really happy to tell you that from Tuesday 1st September, we will be re-opening our doors at The Bakehouse Studios, located at the top of the High Street opposite The Royal Hotel.”
The move will be swift, with the Gracechurch studio closing at 11am on Thursday 27th August, allowing the team to shift everything over the August Bank Holiday weekend. Vicky noted, “The Gracechurch studio will close from 11am on Thursday 27th August, so we can move everything over the Bank Holiday weekend (which won't feel like much of a holiday for us) but nevertheless a good time to get the work completed! We will share more details in the coming weeks about the schedule, parking options and all the topics you've raised in the survey.”
Recreating the Studio Experience
The aim is to make the new studio look and feel as close as possible to the current Gracechurch site. Vicky said: “We're working really hard behind the scenes to re-create the studio you know and love, so any feedback is really helpful for us to achieve this. Our entire team can't thank you enough for your patience, kindness and loyalty as we've navigated this move. Please extend your thoughts to everyone at the studio - our teachers, your fellow yogis and our reception staff, as we try to work through this as a team.”
She added: “There are a few more weeks until we move. We'll try to keep everything as consistent and as calm as possible for your practice to continue. If you have any questions, please feel free to respond to this email or chat with us at the studio. Sending Love and Gratitude, Vicky & Team IAY.”
Landlord's Response
The Gracechurch Centre acknowledged that I Am Yogi had benefitted from rent concessions to help it 'become established and grow its membership'. The centre said it was prepared to offer other sites within the complex and invest landlord capital to adapt them, but the tenant was securing a 'much bigger unit for low rent'. Ultimately, a deal suiting both parties could not be reached. A spokesman commented: “While we are disappointed that an agreement could not ultimately be reached, we respect their decision and wish them every success in the future.”
