Sophie Moenter grew up in St. Petersburg. A professional photographer and mother, she saw a need to create a women-centric space.
This led to Paloma House — a nearly 2-acre property designed for socialization, work, play and connection.
The three-building complex, at 10787 Oak Street NE, first started to welcome guests Jan. 5. A grand opening celebration will be held Feb. 22.
“I started realizing that so many of my clients that were scheduling maternity sessions and newborn sessions did not have the built-in community that I luckily had when I was pregnant with my son,” Moenter explained. “A lot of the moms I work with are transient. So, they’re not from the area and one of the things that they shared with me was that they wished they had their parents or siblings here or a group of friends that had kids.”
Moenter would at first host talking meetups, happy hours and dance classes at her 500-square-foot photography studio. This would become known as The Mom Collective.
However, she noticed that women who were not mothers wanted to participate in the gatherings as well. The effort “grew a lot faster than I anticipated.”
More importantly, Moenter realized that “women of all ages” need a sense of community. She decided to expand the concept with the help of one of her best friends, Melissa Darr, and found the property in August.
Paloma House offers social events, fitness classes and support groups. The schedule even includes Mom and Me yoga sessions and meetups for little ones. Additionally, Moenter and her team have created a playhouse for the children.
A coffee shop (Bean Wandering) is located in the backyard area of the property.
Coworking space is another key aspect of the experience. Women can purchase a connected membership and have access to Paloma House Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
They can work wherever they like at the complex. However, the second floor in the main building is reserved for the occasion. It has desks, a conference room, a full kitchen and couches.
“When we were at my studio doing meetups, we actually did coworking every other Monday,” Moenter said. “Coworking spaces can be very stale and feel very cold. I wanted a space for women to come to work that felt like a home away from home.”
Additionally, multiple businesses that support womanhood operate out of Paloma House. These include two mental health therapists, a speech language pathologist and a mobile pediatric company.
The goal was to create a “one-stop shop for women to get the support they need in the community.”
Paloma House is Mediterranean-themed. The idea was born from Moenter’s honeymoon on the Amalfi Coast in Europe.
“My husband and I just absolutely fell in love with that calmness. That slow way of life of casual conversations, long dinners and spending the morning with community,” she explained. “I was just really inspired by that way of life as well as the architecture and aesthetic vibe of those places.”
Events and classes are open to the public. However, women can subscribe to a social membership to get discounts on the gatherings.
This content provided in partnership with stpetecatalyst.com.