An Oak Park Arts District yoga studio is set to relocate and expand, incorporating a vegan cafe and name change.
Nicole Sopko, owner of Yoga Trek, will move the yoga studio from 911 S. Lombard Ave., to 146-148 Harrison St., the space ABC Toon Town daycare previously occupied at the northeast corner of Harrison and Lombard.
In doing so, the business name will change to align with Sopko’s Wicker Park yoga studio, becoming Nature Sanctuary-Oak Park. Sopko also is the vice president of Chicago-based natural food company Upton’s Naturals.
“It’ll make life a little bit easier,” she said of using the Nature Sanctuary name for both yoga studios.
Since the space on Harrison Street is three times the size of the current studio, Sopko said, it will allow for a larger main yoga room, more private areas — like a smaller yoga room and a designated space for a massage therapist — and the vegan cafe.
Construction permits are being secured, and Sopko would like to move in May, which she hopes is realistic.
“When it became available, it seemed like a perfect fit for us,” Sopko said.
She added that it’s helpful the future studio is visible from the current space: “People are going to be able to find us, even if they don’t realize we’ve moved.”
Mona Navitsky, partner with Harrison Street Ventures, which owns the 146-148 Harrison St. properties and several others within the arts district, said some preliminary work had been done on the 2,810-square-foot space, but “we didn’t want to get too far into it until we had a lease.”
After a few months of conversation, the deal was formalized recently, Navitsky said. In creating a more open feeling for the yoga studio, the old drop ceiling will be taken out, and a mini kitchen and cafe bar will be installed.
“Obviously, we’re very excited to be able to accommodate their expansion and be able to keep them in the neighborhood,” she said.
Sopko said she’s thinking the cafe will feature about 20 seats, and will be open “basically from our first morning class to our last class at night.” The simple menu will offer items that can be eaten in or taken to-go, like rice and noodle bowls, fancy waffles, turmeric lattes and other gourmet hot and cold drinks.
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She’s eager to provide an opportunity for people to grab a bite to eat directly after a class, come in with family for a meal on the weekend, or both.
“We don’t want to do the same thing you can already get in the neighborhood,” Sopko said, adding that she’s excited to offer foods that partner with a yogic lifestyle.
She hopes to offer a wider variety of classes in the new space, including expanding family yoga offerings, with the opportunity for birthday parties. She said the news of the move has been well-received by Yoga Trek clients thus far.
“It’s exciting to hear that people are looking forward to what we plan to offer,” she said. “I love how the arts district is sort of integrated into the neighborhood.”
Laura Maychruk, owner of The Buzz Cafe and president of the Oak Park Arts District’s board, said the yoga studio has been a staple of the business district since 2003.
“I’m thrilled that they’re not leaving us,” Maychruk said. As for the planned addition of the cafe, “the more, the merrier,” she said.
Caitlin Mullen is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.