Workout Anytime muscles into the Treasure Valley

A formerly empty storefront in a North Boise shopping center now contains barbells and treadmills as part of the expansion of a national chain into Idaho.

Nearly six months after announcing its entry into the Boise market, Workout Anytime recently opened a 7,200-square-foot business at 7048 W. State St. in an extensively renovated space formerly occupied by Blockbuster Video.

The first Idaho location of Workout Anytime is owned and operated by franchisees Chris Gately and Susie Robinson, a team separated by several decades in age, but completely on the same page when it comes to their business philosophy. They say their focus is on offering superior customer service and cleanliness to clients, as well as the best equipment on the market.

“Every gym member is also given a towel and a spray bottle” to clean equipment before and after use, said Robinson.

As the name implies, the facility provides key access during night hours so members can exercise whenever they like. Many people prefer non-peak times because they want a quieter experience, said Gately.

The brand focuses on cardio, free weights and machines, but doesn’t bother with day care, racquetball, swimming pools or Jacuzzis.

Gately — who hails from LaGrande, Oregon, and grew up in Meridian — served in the military and connected with Workout Anytime while living in Florida.

“I hated the humidity and missed the mountains,” he said with a grin during a recent tour of the new business. “It’s good to be home.”

Fitness clubs are expanding amid a national emphasis on healthy living, spurred by public health campaigns against obesity, heart disease and diabetes. Nationally, gym memberships grew 3.4 percent annually between 2012 and 2017, according to the most recent data from the International Health, Racquet and Sportsclub Association, a trade group.

At 74, Robinson is not your classic gym owner, but she is just as passionate as anyone when it comes to fitness. She loved the results from her Workout Anytime experience so much that she ended up as the owner of four stores.

“Honey, everyone is welcome here,” she said. “We have every age group.”

Robinson, who recently moved to the Meridian area, is the franchise owner of three Workout Anytime gyms in Florida, where she first met Gately.

Both are strong supporters of current and past service members and first responders.

“Another thing is that I like to help the military, police, firefighters and EMTs,” said Robinson. “I think I’m the only one with all the military branch flags hanging in each of my locations.”

In addition to significant tenant improvements, the partners invested more than a half million dollars to buy the highest level commercial- grade exercise equipment.

“Everything is Matrix brand and user friendly,” Gately said. “All ages can operate any piece of equipment fairly easily.”

Gately and Robinson, who have a staff of three, also liked the upgrades underway at the shopping center, which is anchored by Albertsons and the Northgate Reel Cinemas. Gately said the owners of the center are “sinking millions of dollars” into modernizing its formerly dated façade.

The gym has two levels of membership: Basic at $19 per month and premium at $29 per month. Both levels offer a key card for 24/7 workouts, while the premium level adds access to tanning beds and hydromassage beds and one personal training session per month.

All members have access to the 150 Workout Anytime locations nationwide.