By BECKY THOMAS
Staff Reporter
If you're craving a midnight treadmill session tonight, you'd better own a treadmill.
But come Oct. 1, a new fitness center in Cheney will allow the fitness-minded to work out at any time of the day or night.
A Snap Fitness will open in the Cheney Plaza between 4-Ever Books and Subway next month. Franchise owner Jeff Spencer, along with partners Steve Watterson and Joel Crosby, wants to offer a convenient option for citizens who want a quick workout.
Spencer became a Snap franchisee in 2007 after retiring from a 20-year career with the U.S. Air Force.
“I was interested in owning my own business and fitness is just a part of the military,” he said.
He started his first Snap in Pullman, which became one of the most successful centers of the 1,200 nationwide. He later opened two centers in Spokane and one in Spokane Valley.
Spencer said early marketing has turned out a positive response from the Cheney community.
“I think the fitness culture goes well in college towns. That's my theory, we'll see if it's true,” he said. “It worked in Pullman and we'll see if it works in Cheney.”
The 2,400 square foot space will be equipped with cardio machines, circuit weights and free weights available for use for a monthly membership fee. Personal training services and monthly tanning will also be available for an additional fee.
Spencer said the first 100 people to buy memberships in Cheney will be considered “charter members” and will not pay an enrollment fee.
Justin Ulbright, a recent Eastern Washington University grad with a master's degree in exercise science, will manage the Cheney Snap. He was on the management team at the EWU student recreation center for two years and said that while the center is great for students, it's not particularly convenient for non-students, seniors and families.
“We're definitely not competitors with the (EWU) rec center. That's not what we're about,” Ulbright said. “We're just offering an alternative for people.”
Ulbright will also work as a personal trainer along with a handful of other part-time trainers.
“That'll build as we get our membership built,” he said.
The Cheney Snap will be staffed during regular business hours and with a keyless entry for all other hours. Members can access any Snap Fitness center, including the seven centers in the Inland Northwest.
Snap Fitness began in Minneapolis, Minn. in 2004.
The Cheney Snap is now accepting members, either at the location at 2726 First St., through e-mail at [email protected] or by calling 235-7627.
Becky Thomas can be reached at [email protected].
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