Staff at Pure Barre and other boutique gyms say a major franchisee stiffed them on pay, sent bizarre emails, and talked about drinking his own urine

• Staff at some Pure Barre, CycleBar,  Row House, and other high-end fitness studios aren't being paid.
• The employees work at locations bought by Mitch Brown from franchisor Xponential Fitness.
• Brown's two-month tenure is marked by bizarre emails and strange Zoom calls mixed with radio silence.

There's trouble in perfectly toned paradise.

Several locations of Pure Barre — the ballet-inspired workout studio that serves an upscale clientele with boutique fitness classes in dim, flatteringly lit studios across the country — have suddenly shuttered.

Outposts of CycleBar, Row House, and other pricey fitness studios have also shut their doors, suddenly and sometimes without explanation.