The local Cyclebar outpost in Short Pump plans to delay its opening until later this month. (File photo courtesy Cyclebar)
Local gyms are going to look a little different when they reopen their doors, albeit in a limited fashion, now that the governor has given them the green light to hold indoor programming beginning today.
This week, Gov. Ralph Northam announced that phase two of the state’s reopening plan kicks off on Friday for most localities. The phase permits fitness facilities to open their indoor spaces at 30 percent capacity. Under phase one, which was initiated in mid-May, gyms could hold only outdoor programming with a 10-person cap on classes.
At least a few local gyms are game to take the leap back into indoor activity, even at a reduced capacity.
John Freeland, operator of the Richmond region’s five Crunch Fitness clubs, said that four of his locations will reopen today. The fifth, in Scott’s Addition, will remain closed because the city of Richmond has delayed its entry into phase two.
Crunch Fitness reopened its doors Friday at four of its five locations in the region, including the Henrico County gym pictured here. (File photo courtesy Crunch Fitness)
The Crunch gyms will space out equipment to adhere to physical distancing guidelines, conduct regular deep cleanings and set up additional hand sanitation stations, among other measures. Freeland anticipated there would be high interest among members in coming back to work out, citing his experience with the recent reopening of the gyms he operates in Charleston.
“We’re doing this with a lot of attention to detail. You can’t wing a reopening,” he said.
Crunch didn’t charge its members while its locations were closed, and plans to continue to not collect fees for the first week of reopened operation. That’s because not all amenities, such as the kid’s area and cycling studio, will be available on day one.
“We want to do everything systematically and methodically,” Freeland said.
Crunch opted not to hold outdoor programming during phase one. Freeland said factors involved in that decision included a lack of space at some locations and the 10-person limit. Crunch furloughed staff except for core leadership and management, and intends to be back at its pre-pandemic local workforce of about 250 employees soon.
Gold’s among those opening
At Gold’s Gym, the chain’s locations in the counties plan to reopen today with similar public health measures, though entry will be limited to active members.
Nick Oscoli, general manager of the Gold’s location at Gold’s Gym Plaza in Henrico, said gym users will be given their own personal towels and every other machine will be unusable as a safety measure. Class sizes will be limited, and some amenities, such as the sauna and kids area, won’t be open. Staff will regularly disinfect equipment.
Oscoli’s gym will be able to accommodate up to 100 people, though he expects to see about half that number inside at any one time. The gym will continue its outdoor programming started under phase one. Oscoli plans to have 10 to 12 employees on duty beginning today, two of them devoted to cleaning.
But not every local gym in the counties is rushing to reopen.
American Family Fitness, a chain of gyms based in Richmond, plans to open the week of June 29, according to a statement dated Wednesday on the company’s website.
The gym cited short notice of reopening permission and a lack of staff as reasons why it wasn’t ready to reopen Friday. The company hasn’t collected membership fees since the gyms closed, and that lack of revenue was cited as a reason it had to scrap its original reopening plan.
A gym spokesman didn’t respond to a request for comment.
Donna Suro, who operates the Cyclebar gym in Short Pump, plans to reopen to members only on June 13. The plan is to allow nonmembers starting in July.
Safety measures include a new pair of UV-light air purifiers that are hooked up to the AC system to help sanitize the air.
“It cost a decent amount of money and is definitely a big update for safety,” Suro said.
The cycle studio will have 15 bikes there to greet members. Bikes will be spaced out to keep with distancing guidelines. Guests will be required to wear masks until they hop on their bikes.
Programming will be a hybrid of in-person indoor classes and live streaming for members at home. When the studio temporarily closed in March, Suro quickly moved to rent out 49 of her bikes to members. She doesn’t plan to collect all the bikes until phase three of the reopening plan.
Cyclebar members won’t have access to their lockers during the initial reopening and they will sign in on the gym’s mobile app rather than the touchscreen kiosk of pre-pandemic times. Gold’s Gym and Crunch Fitness also will utilize mobile apps for sign-in.
Suro plans to have 15 instructors and about seven front-desk workers on payroll when she opens. Based on a recent survey sent out to people on the gym’s mailing list, she expects strong interest among members in returning to the gym.
“I’m feeling pretty good about the response we got (to the survey) and our ability to serve them,” Suro said.
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