Turning Passion into a Thriving Franchise: The Story of The Little Gym’s Expansion
Before Griffin Gordon and Kevin Condon became prominent franchise owners of The Little Gym, they were simply parents enchanted by the joy their children experienced in gymnastics classes. Their kids couldn’t get enough of tumbling, running, and the vibrant energy of each session, often leaving class eager to return. This personal connection laid the foundation for what would become a flourishing business venture.
Gordon, impressed by the welcoming environment where staff knew every child’s name and greeted parents warmly, saw firsthand the value The Little Gym provided. This experience influenced both investors to enroll their children in classes before deciding to open franchise locations of their own, taking a leap from customers to business owners.
From University Friends to Franchise Leaders
Gordon and Condon’s friendship began years earlier at the University of Chicago’s Booth School of Business. Their professional paths diverged, with Condon co-founding Hidden River Strategic Capital, a private equity firm in Philadelphia focused on small businesses, while Gordon balanced private equity investing with running small and midsize companies, later founding a firm aimed at franchisees. Their shared business acumen and complementary expertise would later fuel their joint venture into The Little Gym franchise.
The opportunity arose through Richard Moore, a veteran operator of The Little Gym whose family had nurtured the business for nearly three decades. As Moore’s parents prepared to retire, he sought to continue growing the franchise. An advisor connected Moore with Gordon and Condon, who recognized the potential to combine seasoned operational experience with strong capital backing to accelerate expansion.
Building Somersault: A Franchise Success Story
In 2023, Gordon and Condon’s firms invested in seven North Carolina locations, forming Somersault, the business entity managing their franchise holdings. Within three years, their footprint expanded to over 30 locations, with more than 10 additional sites in development. Their enterprise now generates nearly $20 million in revenue, illustrating the scalability and profitability of a well-executed franchise model.
Their rapid growth is credited to a combination of factors: a trusted, established brand, a repeatable operational playbook, and a dedicated management team. According to Kevin Condon, “Backing management teams and organizational leaders has allowed us to scale at this pace and given us the conviction to continue putting money behind the business.”
Why Invest in The Little Gym?
Griffin Gordon emphasizes the attractiveness of The Little Gym’s market segment — parents seeking high-quality enrichment services for their children — coupled with strong unit economics. He notes, “The Little Gym has the things we find attractive: a growing market of parents who want high-quality services for their kids, a strong brand, and attractive unit economics when the business is operated well.”
Moreover, the partnership with franchisor Unleashed Brands is fundamental. Gordon stresses the importance of a franchisor that values its franchisees, stating, “To invest in franchisees, you need a partnership approach and confidence that the franchisor values that relationship, too.”
Aligning Investment Expertise with Operational Excellence
The Little Gym stands out in its target age range due to its superior curriculum and operational playbook, which Gordon describes as unmatched by imitators. The brand’s 50-year history bolsters confidence in its longevity and reputation. Prior to Unleashed Brands’ acquisition, The Little Gym operated more like a small business with limited technology and infrastructure. Since then, significant investments have modernized systems, enhancing both operational efficiency and customer experience.
Condon highlights the introduction of a parent engagement app that allows families to track milestones and view class photos, blending tradition with modern expectations. This thoughtful evolution ensures The Little Gym remains competitive and relevant to today’s parents and children.
Experiencing Childhood Joy Firsthand
Both Gordon and Condon have seen the benefits of The Little Gym through their own children’s participation. Condon recalls, “Smiles from ear to ear. They’d spend 45 to 60 minutes in class, come out sweaty and exhausted, and their first question would be, ‘Can we do that again?’” This authentic enthusiasm underscores the franchise’s core mission: fostering confident, active, and well-adjusted children through engaging physical activity.
The consistent, joyful experience extends beyond their families to all children attending their locations, primarily aged 2 to 6, though the program accommodates younger and older kids as well.
The Advantages of Franchising
Choosing to franchise rather than start an independent business offers significant benefits, especially with a renowned brand like The Little Gym. Condon notes, “You can be part of something much bigger than you could create on your own.” The 50-year legacy and established playbook provide a valuable foundation, which would be difficult to replicate independently.
Gordon adds, “When done correctly, franchising should be like buying a small business with the benefit of a national platform. Those two things should work together.” This synergy offers entrepreneurs the best of both worlds: autonomy in operation combined with the strength of an established network.
Insights for Aspiring Franchisees
For those considering franchising, Gordon advises leveraging the wealth of available information, including the franchise disclosure document and speaking directly with existing franchisees. “These are people who have already done what you’re trying to do. I can’t think of a better resource,” he says.
Condon emphasizes passion as a critical ingredient, whether or not the investor plans to operate the business directly. “You still need to care about it,” he explains. For their own investing approach, having capable operators who can flawlessly execute the playbook is essential to scaling successfully.
Lessons from Growth and Future Ambitions
Gordon highlights that the business’s heart lies in its people. “It’s a simple business to understand, but a challenging business to operate well,” he reflects. Success depends on recruiting, training, and developing the right team members, providing them with career advancement opportunities — from teaching roles to overseeing multiple locations.
Looking ahead, Condon and Gordon are ambitious. Having quadrupled their footprint in three years, Gordon notes, “Doing that again over the next couple of years would be aggressive, but we’re big believers in the brand and our business, and we want to keep growing.” The path from a handful of locations to potentially $100 million in revenue is one they are determined to pursue.
