Convenience over frills: 24-hour gyms bulk up

By Tasha Kates

Published: November 28, 2008

Charlottesville-area residents who are looking to sneak in a workout whenever possible now have more places to do it.

In the last year, two 24-hour gyms have opened up in the area. While these gyms don’t offer all of the amenities of larger facilities, they do provide a place for members to work out any time they want.

The region’s newest 24-hour gym, Snap Fitness, opened in August in the Seminole Square shopping center. Employee Allie Bowns said many of the location’s members have schedules outside of the standard business day.

“We have a lot of shift workers,” Bowns said. “Just being open from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. excludes a lot of people from getting a workout.”

At Anytime Fitness, near Crozet, owner Melody Swartz said her clients are looking for a gym that’s closer than the facilities in Charlottesville or Waynesboro.

“We’ve had a lot of people who are members at Gold’s [Gym] and ACAC and have joined here because it’s more convenient,” Swartz said.

The hallmark of these 24-hour gym franchises is their security.

Both gyms give their members access cards to get into the gym, have security cameras rolling and put emergency buttons in the facility in case something goes wrong. Swartz’s location also has a security device that gym-goers can wear while they exercise in case they need to summon help while they’re on the treadmill.

The gyms also have posted staff hours.

Both facilities have showers, lockers and tanning facilities for gym members. Swartz said part of keeping the costs down at her gym means that daycare, smoothie bars and exercise classes aren’t part of the routine.

Ruckersville’s Anytime Fitness, which was the first of the 24-hour gyms to open in the area, in May 2007, recently started holding group fitness classes.

Size is a big difference between facilities like Gold’s Gym and the 24-hour gyms. Todd Proctor, operations manager at Gold’s Gym on Hydraulic Road, said most 24-hour facilities range from 4,000 to 7,000 square feet. His location is 35,000 square feet.

“The 24-hour market, as far as a business model, is a niche market,” Proctor said. “They keep their overhead low in staffing and square footage. As far as someone buying a membership to work out at 1 a.m. or 2 a.m., it may go over better with police officers, firefighters and doctors who work really long shifts. But most of our clientele are regular working people and busy moms who want the luxury of dropping off their child to be entertained.”

The 24-hour gyms also have a different feel than larger ones, Bowns said, which often include pools and spaces for group sports.

“It’s usually stereotyped as a more laid-back atmosphere,” she said. “It’s not based around socialization. It’s more about people trying to get in their workout.”