For latest news visit qchron.com 24THthe ANNUAL CELEBRATION OF Q UEENS • 2021
QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, June 24, 2021 Page 20
C M CEL page 20 Y K BACK TO BUSINESS
Gyms went to the mat for their clients Retaining memberships and rediscovering fealty by Mark Lord Chronicle Contributor
W hile some establish ments involved in the fitness industry were knocked out cold by the Covid-19 pandemic, others, in true survival-ofthe-fittest form, have lived to see another round. Among the Queens establishments that have emerged intact — some newly invigorated, in fact — are several venues that are part of a far-reaching health club chain, a bodybuilding mecca that had only recently reopened at its new location, and a family-owned and run training center. Each, in its own way, made it through the seemingly endless dark days when gymnasiums were strictly off-limits, doing what had to be done as restrictions slowly eased and, just days ago, were lifted across the state. Retro Fitness CEO Andrew Alfano noted in a telephone interview that the fitness industry was among the first to be shut down and among the last to be allowed to reopen. Prior to the mandate to close, he sensed its imminent arrival. With 120 franchises already open or in development, including 14 in the city and five in the borough, he knew something had to be done to save as many as possible. One of his first moves was to set up a webinar, a web-based video conference, with the owners of the individual franchises, letting them know that “if the worst was to occur we were going to go through it together.” He told them to stop spending money on marketing, that he would take care of that for them. And, perhaps most importantly, he said he
waived all fees until the gyms could reopen. “We kept our commitment,” he said. For members, he said he put into effect a “no-stress, no-call freeze,” letting them know there was no need to worry about their memberships. Once the gyms would reopen, they could unfreeze their memberships with a simple telephone call. Alfano is proud of his contributions to New York State’s guidelines for health and safety in gymnasiums. “I want to believe we were one of the influences” on the regulations put into effect by the state, he said. In late August of last year, the state began to lift some restrictions and the gyms were given permission to partially reopen. “We worked in advance with the state and were not caught off-guard,” he said, unlike many businesses both in the fitness industry and elsewhere. Over the past several months, restrictions were slowly eliminated further. “Once we reopened, we never had to close” again, he said. Even during the closure, Alfano said, the company used technology “to stay engaged with our members,” even allowing nonmembers “to participate in our app for at-home fitness.” Still, the pandemic did take its toll on the chain. With no financial relief from either the state or federal governments, private owners “took it on the chin,” Alfano said, adding that about a dozen franchises were lost in New York State alone. But, he said, membership is now up 76 percent for the year to date compared to what it was in 2019, prior to the pandemic. In addition, he
Pushups are part of a workout at Retro Fitness, owned by Andrew Alfano, COURTESY PHOTOS inset, with several locations in Queens.
A judo class at the International Training Center of New York — “more than just a fight gym” — with founder and head COURTESY PHOTO coach Greg Gutman at center right in the middle row, in white. said, there has been an increase in seven days a week. According to Rizvi, things are interest on the part of investors looknow pretty much back to normal, ing to open new franchises. “We look forward to getting peo- with Coliseum’s 15,000 members ple back on the fitness journey,” he returning in large numbers. In fact, the gym, which said. had long catered Coliseum Gym primarily to hardhad been a maine relied on the core bodybuilders stay in Middle Viland weightlifters, lage for some 20 loyalty of our is now welcoming years before shutstudents.” “a w h ole n e w ting its doors at c r owd ,” R i z v i that location and — Danny Gutman of the said. reopening in 2018 International Training Center T he I nter naon Jamaica Avetional Trai n i ng nue in Woodhaven, under a slightly altered name, Center of New York, a mixed martial Coliseum Gym 2.0, and with a new arts academy located in Astoria, which offers classes in fitness, judo, general manager, Shabeer Rizvi. It didn’t take long for the newly Muay Thai and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, reopened establishment to close, in faced similar challenges, but was March of 2020, courtesy of Covid- able to overcome them with support 19. The gym remained completely from what some might consider to be shut down until the following Sep- a remarkable source. The center’s web page indicates tember, but managed to stay afloat, according to Rizvi, through finan- that “it’s more than just a fight gym cial assistance from the Small Busi- — it’s a community.” And it was that ness Association. And, he said, “The community — the center’s students landlord was kind enough to freeze — who came to its rescue in its time of need. the rent.” According to one of the instrucRizvi — whose Facebook page is filled with inspirational messages, tors, Danny Gutman, son of founder like, “Work hard for you and your and head coach Greg Gutman, “We own goals. Progress will come,” and relied on the loyalty of our students “Always be the hardest worker in the to the staff and school.” He explained room” — made it clear in a recent in a recent telephone interview that telephone interview that “We had to “over 50 percent decided to not cut hang in there no matter what,” their memberships.” A glance at the ITC’s Facebook admitting, “It was a tough time.” Beginning last September, the page reveals a close relationship gym began to open little by little, between the center and many of with limited capacity and limited those st udents, with whom it hours. It is now open 24 hours a day, remained in constant communication
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throughout the pandemic. On March 11 of last year, the center put out the following message: “We want everyone to know we are taking precautions to keep everyone happy and healthy. We will continue to monitor the situation and do whatever we can to ensure people can still come and train while staying safe.” The very next day, it announced, “In light of the recent outbreak, we have decided to prioritize the health and safety of our students and those around them. The academy will temporarily be closed beginning Friday, 3/13 until Monday, 3/16.” Of course, the closure extended well beyond that. Greg Gutman opened the center in 2000, with the goal in mind of getting adults in shape and instilling confidence and life skills in children. As its name implies, it has a diverse student body, with members hailing from all over the globe. While the facility was closed, the center began offering socially distanced outdoor classes, while sticking to the guidelines set by the state, Danny Gutman said. “We wanted to open as soon as possible,” he said, while acknowledging that “gyms are among the top ways to spread” viruses like Covid19. “We were wary about opening up too quickly.” Now that all restrictions have been lifted, he expects the academy to make a full comeback. And there is even a teaser on its Facebook page that suggests, “The Parkjitsu era might be over, but we will be back Q next year. Stay tuned.”
