North Park Fitness muscles its way into gym biz

To say Chezz Bruce exercised surprising strength in choosing to open North Park Fitness a few months ago is not sacrificing fact for pun. After all, across the street from his University Avenue and Grim Avenue location is Undisputed Fitness and Training Center. A few blocks east sits UrbanBody Gym and Juice Bar, and about the same distance west is the neighborhood’s oldest workout facility, Stern’s Gym.

“I’ve had people tell us it’s a lot,” Bruce said, acknowledging the healthy competition. “But we had our vision of what we wanted and it was completely different from any other gym in North Park.”

Bruce, along with Danielle Schuh, who are business as well as domestic partners, passed by the vacant location about a year ago and decided it was time to move from working at a gym to owning one.

“We just knew it was the perfect spot,” he said. “We always liked to go to restaurants around here, and when we saw the space and the big windows, we said that was it. A year later, we’re here.”

Their years of personal training and other gym experience — Bruce, 33, has been in the fitness industry since he was 17 — contributed to what they set out to achieve with North Park Fitness, Bruce said.

“We didn’t want it to be about us as people but about the gym. We wanted a community gym, a friendly place that is clean and comfortable,” he said. “A lot of the corporate gyms are more about sales. We want this to be a place where you can get healthy and stay healthy.”

To encourage members to look forward to their workouts, Bruce said he and Schuh invested in the latest equipment, such as Promax free weights, a Body Master strength training system and top-of-the-line cardio machines. Everything is generously spaced throughout the 4,000-square-foot gym’s ground-level floor with its floor-to-ceiling windows. Upstairs are classrooms that will host yoga, boxing and Pilates classes beginning this month. Bruce said they plan to add more equipment and classes, including spin, boot camp and Zumba.

“It’s not crowded and it never will be,” said Bruce. Although he and Schuh have registered 300 members since the gym opened, he said there is ample space for up to 1,000 members, based on his experience. “Typically about 60 percent who sign up don’t come regularly and even more only go once a week or so. But a lot of people don’t go because they aren’t sure what to do when they get to a gym. We want to change that, to show how to be safe and see results.”

Monthly membership fees range from $15.99 to $29.99 per month depending on down payment, which covers use of equipment, classes and towel service. While restrooms and changing rooms are provided, North Park Fitness does not have amenities found in most larger gyms, such as showers, a pool or a sauna.

“This is an in-and-out kind of gym,” Bruce explained. “That lets us put our money into the equipment and keep the prices low with no contracts.”

“And air conditioning,” he added with emphasis, pointing to the ceiling ducts. “We have really, really good air conditioning. That’s important.”

New members also receive two complimentary personal training sessions with Bruce, Schuh or Bruce’s brother, who is also an experienced trainer. Rates for further sessions range from $30-$50 depending on length of contract.

Bruce said he is pleased with their decision to open the gym. “We love it and we’re having a good time doing it,” he said. “If there’s anything a member wants here we try to provide it. We want people to feel at home here.”

And feel at home the owners do — they recently leased an apartment on the third floor above the business.

North Park Fitness

Hours: Mon.-Fri., 5 a.m.-11 p.m.; Sat., 6 a.m.-10 p.m.; Sun., 7 a.m.-3 p.m.

3049 University Ave., 92104

(619) 255-4830

www.northparkfitness.com

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