Dr. Jonathan Leary is the founder of Remedy Place, the social wellness club reimagining how we gather, recover, and connect. Trained in medicine and drawn to a more human, preventative approach, Jonathan spent years building a concierge sports-medicine practice while refining a 150-page business plan for a new kind of health club - one that could make self-care social and compelling. He opened the first Remedy Place in Los Angeles and has since expanded to New York and Boston, with a growing movement around contrast therapy, IV lounges, and community-driven rituals that help people feel better together.
In this conversation, Jonathan shares his founder story: from the pivot that gave him five years of real-world data, to why he personally guaranteed his first lease. We unpack the idea of “social self-care” and why drink dates blunt connection, the business model behind Remedy Place, and what he’s learned scaling from two to four clubs in just months.Thank you to Peoplevine for sponsoring the 2025 season of The Stanza. Peoplevine is the trusted CRM software for the best brands in hospitality. Book a free demo to see why at peoplevine.com.
Interview Highlights:
Being early to a global trend
How rejection led to building a data-backed business
Defining “social wellness”
Health as a tool for success in other aspects of your life
Why Remedy Place didn’t include a gym
Jonathan’s views on copycats
The role of brand design, accessibility, and perceived exclusivity
Convincing skeptical investors
Personally guaranteeing his first lease and Jonathan’s attitude towards risk
What stabilization looks like for new wellness clubs
Being comfortable being misunderstood
Jonathan’s advice for wellness entrepreneurs
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