Photographs courtesy Serotonin Stamford.
The Serotonin anti-aging brand was founded in 2021 by fitness industry entrepreneur Eric Casaburi. There are 14 centers nationwide, with more than 100 in development. So it was only a matter of time before Serotonin made its way to Connecticut, and with the recent opening of its Stamford location, that time has now come.
Step forward franchisee for the new outlet, Chris Rotondi, a graduate of William Paterson University in Wayne, New Jersey, with a degree in political science. Shortly after graduating, Rotondi began working for a small startup credit card processing company, then known as United Bank Card. He told the Westfair Business Journal he was the 13th employee hired, which seems to have been a case of lucky for some, as he stayed for 20 years. After the company, now renamed Shift4, went public on the New York Stock Exchange in 2020, Rotondi decided to go into business for himself.
How did he discover Serotonin? Rotondi said he came across the company while looking for a way to combine his passion for wellness with a business that was having an effect, and the Serotonin “concept” met all his goals. He added he was really looking forward to making Serotonin Stamford a “trusted place for personalized care.”
But it wasn’t merely a question of following his passion. For Rotondi, the next stage of his career had to be a sound commercial prospect, and the choice of Stamford was well-considered.
“The business case for an antiaging and wellness center in Stamford was very compelling. The area has a well-established upper-middle-class demographic and a thriving wellness community within a highly populated metropolitan region. Many of us see personal investments in our health and wellness as a top priority, and Stamford is definitely a place where the community reflects this growing trend.”
Asked about what made Serotonin different from other antiaging concepts, Rotondi said that at Serotonin the belief is that while aging is obviously inevitable, it is something that can be “influenced.”
“Our goal isn’t to turn back the clock. It’s to help people feel stronger, more energized and more confident as they move through life.”
He went on to describe Serotonin’s unique approach as “proactive and deeply personal.”
“We offer treatments like hormone therapy, medical weight loss, IV drips and body contouring, but nothing is one-size-fits-all. Everything is tailored to the individual and backed by medical guidance.”
At Serotonin in Stamford, weight-loss and hormone replacement are the most popular programs – programs that he considers to be “best in class.” The amount of guidance offered to members, including access to an in-person health coach and a nurse-practitioner, is “priceless,” he said, while acknowledging that this level of care is not unique to the Stamford branch.
Can results be guaranteed? Rotondi answered us frankly. He said he didn’t think anyone would believe a guarantee even if he offered one. But, he added, as an owner and someone who takes pride in his honesty and integrity, he thinks that personal goals could be “reached and surpassed” by incorporating Serotonin’s services.
Asked about the tried and tested franchise model and why he believed it worked particularly well in the case of Serotonin, Rotondi said that,with a franchise, a lot of the indecision and questions when starting a new business will have already been answered. “(This) gives new owners the opportunity and confidence to forge ahead and continue to build a business,” he said. Combining business probity with his original passion for wellness, he added that as a Serotonin franchisee, “if your goal is to empower as many people as possible to take control of their health, then a model that helps you bring that to market at scale makes a lot of sense.
“That is why you see the growth you are seeing with Serotonin’s model.”
