Susie Messmer (pictured right) and Becky Anhorn (pictured left) are sisters, Conshy natives and jointly own a business on Ridge Pike.
How did you come to live and/or work in Conshohocken?
SUSIE- I grew up in Conshohocken on 11th Ave. I went to St. Mary’s for grade school and my family moved in 1994 to Blue Bell to where I went to Lansdale Catholic. From the age of 5 to 18, I went to LeRoux School of the Dance (before it became LeRoux School of the Arts) and danced under the direction of Denise (Hagan) Walsh. In 2009, I bought LeRoux and named it LeRoux School of the Arts. It’s been growing ever since with Children’s Dance Classes and Adult Fitness Classes. Check it out at www.lerouxarts.com.
BECKY- Born and raised in Conshohocken, spending all of my grade school and most of my high school years here. When Archbishop Kennedy closed, I transferred to Kennedy Kenrick HS as part of the first graduating class. I danced at the former LeRoux School of Dance from the time I was 5 up until I went to College. After my sister bought LeRoux School of the Arts, I worked for her as the school’s office manager before partnering with her as co-owner.
What do you do (career wise)?
SUSIE- I currently am one of the owners of LeRoux School of the Arts. I teach most of the children’s dance classes and help to run and organize our Fitness Program for Adults, as well as, directing our Competition Team.
BECKY- After spending 13 years in the clinical social work field and earning my MSW, I decided on a career change and go back to my first passion of dance and fitness. I partnered with my sister as Co-owner in January of this year. It has been an honor to once be an alumna of the school and now become co-owner! Aside from managing the business aspect, I also teach adult fitness classes and am a certified Zumba instructor.
What are you involved in outside of work?
SUSIE-Outside of work, I keep pretty busy with my 15 month old daughter Baela, go for walks with my pit-mix, and keep active by going to the gym! I am very close to my family so we spend a lot of time together vacationing and hanging out!
BECKY- I am extremely close with my family and spend most of my time with them. I am a proud mother of my 2 ½ year old son, Gideon. As far as extra-curricular activities, I spend most of my time at the gym training, teaching Zumba and often find myself signing up for local 5K’s! I love to challenge myself physically, mentally and creatively. I always accept an opportunity to learn new things and try something I have never done before.
Our life motto this past year, after the loss of my dad who was a huge component of both our joint business venture and the heart of LeRoux , has become “Whatever it takes.” We make this part of our everyday decision making at LeRoux to do ‘whatever it takes’ to run a great family business and give a creative outlet to the students and adults who attend here. It is what would have made our dad proud and what makes us have the passion and motivation to open our doors everyday.
What do you love most about Conshohocken?
SUSIE- The family tight knit group! We have wonderful families at LeRoux that have grown up in Conshy just like us! We have the same traditions, the same experiences, and pretty much the same childhood! IT’s very comforting, yet wonderfully refreshing!
BECKY- My favorite thing about Conshohocken is my own personal history of spending my childhood here. Dancing here, afternoons at Sutcliffe Park, trips to the old Frank and Eddies for penny Candy, being able to walk to school and the close connections with neighbors and business owners. Even years later, Conshy still manages to embrace the same charm and small town feel.
What are your favorite places in Conshohocken?
BECKY AND SUSIE: Obviously, LeRoux is at the top of that list. But we are also big fans of Flocco’s because they supply so many of our families with dance supplies and even for us during our years of dance. We also grew up eating Tony and Joe’s pizza, which we still think is awesome!