West Plains Fitness holding grand reopening with expanded facilities

By CARA LORELLO

Staff Reporter

What a difference 11 months makes.

Todd and Beth Mathison, owners of West Plains Fitness, have stayed busy since opening their business in January 2008. They’re now preparing for their upcoming grand re-opening on Dec. 4 where they’ll premier several new and expanded gym facilities to include group classes, tanning, child care services, and a sauna.

When the Cheney Free Press last spoke with the Spokane Valley couple, they’d chosen the West Plains to open an elite fitness center because they saw potential in what the area had to offer.

Nearly a year later, Beth Mathison said their customer base is still growing.

“Business these last 10 months has been slower than we thought, but as far as our facility here, we’re real happy with the way it’s turned out, and hope this new section of the building will bring in a new wave of clients,” she said of the 8,000-square foot fitness center located at 1515 South Technology Lane, off Highway 2.

When they opened, only two thirds of that space was completed with a main work out and weight room, office space, locker and shower rooms. New additions to be showcased at the Dec. 4 grand re-opening, from 3-7 p.m., are a 33-by-42-square-foot aerobic room that doubles as a group fitness room, two tanning bed rooms, a sauna, a children’s play room and more locker space.

When it came to figuring out what to fill their unfinished space with after opening, the Mathisons left questionnaires for clients to fill out, asking what they’d like to see offered.

“A lot of people we found like the 5 to 6 a.m. class times,” Todd Mathison, a longtime wrestling coach, said of customers’ suggestions.

Early morning is when the center has its first big wave, so business hours have been extended Monday through Friday from 4:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.

“Afternoons, from about 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. we usually get our next big wave,” Beth Mathison added.

The center hired four new fitness instructors for the new group fitness classes, which will be offered Monday through Friday and will include spinning, pilates, cardio, yoga, cycling and some combination classes. All but one class run one hour long.

“Classes won’t cost a thing if you’re already a member, and you can take an unlimited number of classes,” Beth Mathison said.

Club memberships cost $29 a month, but non-members may take classes for a $5 fee per class, or more with the purchase of a $20 punch card. The re-opening will also feature training specials as part of a start-up package for both existing and new clients who’ll receive a discount for signing up.

Area businesses will have booths at the re-opening, too, as Todd Mathison explained another goal in doing business in the West Plains was providing network opportunities for local commerce.

“I’ve even been approached by the school nurse at Sunset Elementary about doing a “Biggest Loser” exercise program after the first of the year,” he added.

The new childcare room was also something the owners intended to include once things settled.

“Families have found West Plains Fitness to be welcoming and these new additions will continue to make this facility family-friendly,” Airway Heights Mayor and West Plains Chamber of Commerce executive director Matthew Pederson said in a recent newsletter.

Popular right now is the center’s referral rewards program, which lets members get a $20 punch card each time they get a friend to sign on, which can be used toward membership dues.

“It’s a great way for us to reward the people for putting us out there to their friends. We want to honor the customers who are in it for the long haul,” Beth Mathison said.

For details on West Plains Fitness’ grand re-opening, extended hours or new programs, call (509) 744-9378, or visit http://www.westplainsfitness.com

Cara Lorello can be reached [email protected]