HOPKINSVILLE, KY (CHRISTIAN COUNTY NOW) – A locally owned and operated business in downtown Hopkinsville is celebrating their first year in business, with the owners taking time to reflect on their progress, the relationships they have built and what they have learned since opening.

Courtney Fogle and Mandy Guffey are friends and co-owners of The Wellness Collective on South Virginia Street. The pair became casually acquainted a few years ago, before ultimately bonding over their pursuit of massage therapy and health. Guffey said, “I would never be brave enough to do this by myself.”

Blue velvet armchairs flank a green glass-front cabinet with a potted plant and magazines, under a neon sign reading 'The Wellness Collective'.
Glass-front wooden sauna in a small room, with a bench, wall art of a white tree, and a white cabinet nearby.
Massage therapy treatment room with a padded table covered in beige sheets and a blue blanket, small stool, and decorative shelf lamps.
Well-stocked wellness shop with wooden shelves displaying protein powders, vitamins, and supplements across multiple units, plus a blue wall with a round mirror in the center.
White brick storefront with an outdoor chair and blue potted plant on a sunny sidewalk.

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Re-entering the workforce, learning from community

“I had been a stay-at-home mom for 13 years and I was just ready to do something other than wash the same load of dishes,” Guffey told Christian County Now about opening the business. The co-owners have eight kids between them and were determined to find a business model that worked with their family while making space for their professional goals.

Massage services, a sauna and other specialty wellness services that are provided by rotating practitioners are offered at their downtown storefront. They also have a retail space that they describe as a “crunchy Wal-Mart” that is available for any walk-in customers.

Since opening, they are continually learning from their customers and adjusting to fit the needs of the community. With this in mind, they have prioritized creating in person, genuine connections parallel to their operations. One of these initiatives is an after-hours support group aimed at parents who have kids with autism as well as a book club.

“Sometimes people haven’t read the book, but they just come to a part of something,” said Fogle. “I think COVID took a lot from us, and we are realizing that on the other side.”

To further engage with the community, The Wellness Collective has also joined in on several downtown events, whether its inviting people in during Art After Dark or setting up a table outside and listening to music during Squealin’ on the Square.

“It’s beautiful to be a part of,” said Guffey. “We had some locations we could have gone to but really we chose to stay in downtown, and as we grow, we would like to stay in downtown.”

Visit Courtney and Mandy at 800 South Virginia Street in Hopkinsville. Find more information about services and what they offer on The Wellness Collective Facebook page.

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