Powerhouse Gym owners hope for reincarnation

powerhouse gym

Powerhouse Gym closed June 1 when the business ran out of capital, but plans are brewing for a revival.

The facility first opened at Plattsburgh Plaza but then, in 2016, moved to a 37,000-square-foot space on Latour Ave.

Keith Provost, who owned the business with Michelle Mosher, said it endured some rough years.

“If you’re taking money out of your pocket so you can keep the doors open — you can’t do that forever,” he said.

“I am doing my best to figure out a way to re-open.”

‘HAD EVERYTHING’

Provost said the pair had big visions for the complex.

The professional body builders wanted the location to be a successful Adirondack Coast Athletic Complex.

At its best, the developing complex had Powerhouse Gym; Dr. Jon Mulholland and Ideal Athletic Chiropractic; Pro Fitness and Nutrition; Empire Dance Studio and a supplement store.

“We had everything,” Provost said.

But down the line, the gym owner had hoped more businesses would join the spot as well.

As for Powerhouse Gym, Provost said the facility had $500,000 worth of equipment — more, he said, than any gym north of Albany.

The facility was also equipped with a boxing ring, batting cages, strongman area, power-lifting area and indoor soccer field.

Provost said many law enforcement officers used the gym with a discount, and SUNY Plattsburgh baseball, softball, lacrosse and soccer teams are among those who trained there as well.

UTILIZED ALL THE SPACE

Some issues that contributed to the business’s demise were lack of use, big expenses and too large a space, Mosher said.

The batting cages and indoor soccer field were only being used seasonally, she said.

Booted from their original space at Plattsburgh Plaza with only a 30-day notice, Mosher said, they had been rushed to find a new location.

If they could start over, she said, she would want a smaller place.

“Something with lower ceilings and easier to heat,” she said.

“We decided to utilize all of the space we were given in hopes that the local athletes would use the turf and batting cages more.

“I believe if we just would’ve went smaller and grew slowly and spent less money, then we would still be open.”

WRITING ON THE WALL

While at least one gym member complained that no notice was given about the closure, Provost said they gave three to four weeks notice about it.

The owners posted signs around the facility and got the word out via their Facebook page, he said.

“I’m not sure how anyone could have not known.”

But Provost said they have received backlash from former customers who think the pair didn’t “put their heart into it.”

“Their gym has closed,” Provost said, shrugging his shoulders.

“There’s a personal side to it, and when you get bashed all of the time — Facebook sucks.”

As of the first week in July, Powerhouse Gym was still paying back some members for their June membership.

Most customers, Provost said, had already left.

“They saw the writing on the wall.”

IDEAS FOR REBIRTH

The owners have some hopes for the facility’s future.

Provost mentioned possibly selling the recreation aspects — like the indoor soccer field and batting cages — to the Town of Plattsburgh for public use.

This would allow for the owners to find an eligible candidate to run the gym side of things.

“It just seems like it is a win-win for everyone,” Provost said.

“The community then has a gym to go to, I’m still making money on my equipment, I’ll still have a gym membership at a gym that I would want to go to, and maybe the community would have some sort of civic center right next door.”

Plattsburgh Town Supervisor Michael Cashman said his municipality has no plans to buy the equipment or building.

“It unfortunate to see Power House close,” he said.

“(But) the town’s model does not include the use of a large scale recreation building, and we have no plans to in the near future. We also have no plans to purchase equipment to integrate in our portfolio.

“I do believe a private enterprise of large scale multi-use facility could serve the recreational interests and needs of our region.

“My hope is a private investor will develop such a facility that local municipalities are just not able to.”

‘REALLY SO SAD’

If that doesn’t work, Provost is considering a club-based gym with 24-hour key access to members.

“I will do everything that I can to not sell the equipment so that it leaves the area, because once that equipment leaves the area it may never come back,” he said.

Mosher said she is open to those plans and remains hopeful that someone will support their gym.

“We have every kind of training equipment anyone would ever need,” she said. “It’s really so sad.

“I will miss all our members and employees.”

Email McKenzie Delisle:

mdelisle@pressrepublican.com

Twitter: @McKenzieDelisle