A longtime Lititz fitness spot entered a new chapter in January 2015. The gym at 105 Warwick Street, known for years as Tim’s Gym, changed hands and names in the fall of 2014 and reopened as Iron Fit Gym under owners John and Tina Lukas.
The couple invited the community to see the changes at a “Super Saturday” open house on Jan. 17, 2015.
A small-community feel
For many members, the appeal of the gym was its size. One longtime member who trained there told LititzDailyNews.com that his father had been working out at the facility for about 30 years and that he himself had been a member for about a decade.
“It’s kind of like a small community thing,” he said. “It’s not one of those huge mega gyms.”
That kind of loyalty is something the new owners hoped to build on rather than replace.
A fresh look
The gym, which is larger than it looks from the street, was repainted in bright green and purple. The Lukases also added a smoothie and juice bar near the entrance, with pub tables where members could sit and talk after a workout, and planned other changes, including a fireplace and a remodeled entryway.
“The vision is for people to come work out, enjoy the club atmosphere, sit down at one of the pub tables out front, enjoy a smoothie, talk with their friends, have a social gathering,” said John Lukas, an experienced fitness trainer. “That’s the type of club we want to be.”
Forty classes a week
The biggest change was the schedule. Iron Fit Gym offered 40 classes a week, including Les Mills group fitness programs, spin, Zumba, traditional yoga and Pilates, ranging from low to high impact.
“When you look at forty classes across the schedule, there’s pretty much something for everybody,” Lukas said.
The owners also brought in a nutritionist to give members dietary coaching, so training and eating habits could be addressed together.
Help for families and seniors
Free child care made the gym especially popular with local parents. For older residents, Iron Fit took part in the Silver Sneakers and Silver Fit programs, along with other insurance options that can lower membership costs for qualifying seniors. Discounts were also available for certain professions.
Memberships were offered on a month-to-month or annual basis, and visitors could try the gym free for a week. New members received a free initial fitness evaluation and free towel service.
“We have a knowledgeable, friendly staff, which makes a huge difference,” Lukas said. “We are a club that is concerned about their results and their fitness.”
Part of the community
The Lukases said they wanted the gym to be active in Lititz beyond its own walls.
“Culture is very important to us,” John Lukas said. “We have to practice what we preach, we have to get out into community and participate in events.”
The open house
The Super Saturday Open House ran from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. and featured free classes, including the launch of new Les Mills offerings, capped by a Zumba party at noon. Visitors could sample smoothies, meet local vendors and enter drawings for gift certificates for tanning and hair care. Extended child care was available during the event, and the gym offered a special membership promotion with no enrollment fee and no charge for the first month.
Why it mattered
Small, locally owned gyms have faced steady competition from national chains and budget fitness centers. Iron Fit’s approach, a wide class schedule, family-friendly services and a social atmosphere, reflected how independent clubs try to stand out by offering the personal attention and neighborly feel that larger facilities often cannot.
For a town like Lititz, where many residents walk to downtown businesses, a gym a few blocks from the square that knows its members by name is part of what keeps the community close.
This article was originally published in January 2015. Details such as class schedules, prices and promotions reflect that time and may have changed.