Gym Junkies Rush Back, the Rest Slower to Return After Lockdowns
Almost a month after reopening, small fitness clubs in Georgia and Oklahoma are seeing 75% or more of members back. “As long as we use Lysol, we'll be perfectly fine.”
A coach wearing a protective mask models a workout for clients during a class at an Orangetheory Fitness gym in Atlanta, Georgia, on May 27.
Photographer: Elijah Nouvelage/BloombergReopening in early May seemed too much, too soon for Mike Doolittle, who owns a 24-hour gym in Tulsa, Oklahoma, named Styrka after the Swedish word for strength. But it’s worked out well so far, with business mostly back to normal.
“Turns out that being a small, uncrowded gym is a boon for us in the market right now,” Doolittle said. “The only real loss is that some of our personal trainers have chosen to do in-home training, as they may have elderly clients who don’t feel comfortable coming to a gym.”