TD Gym Owners Facing Financial Ruin
The Gorge Athletic Club on Pamona Street today. Gyms are closing around the state for two weeks under direction of Oregon Governor Kate Brown. Some owners are fearing permanent closure due to financial impact.
By Yahaira Alvarez
With the rapid spike in COVID-19 cases in Oregon, Gov. Kate Brown demanded gyms and fitness studios to close their doors tomorrow, November 18th.
Local gym owners are concerned about the future of their businesses, several saying they are on the brink of closure. They also fear for the mental health of their club members and their workers who will go unpaid.
Kenny Haener of The Dalles gives the power sled a concerted push in September at the Gorge Athletic Club on Pamona Street in West The Dalles. The Club is set to shutter its doors for two weeks starting tomorrow.
“It’s truly unfortunate,” said Manager Victor Cervantes of Gorge Athletics Club (GAC) in The Dalles. “We’re doing our best to provide financial support and give working hours to our employees, but, unfortunately, we can’t keep everyone.”
Some employees at GAC have been advised to file for unemployment.
Although the gym has gone to great lengths by following safety protocols like cutting class sizes to allow for physical distancing, requiring masks, disinfecting equipment after every class, and providing high standard ventilation, the gym is still seeing a sharp decline in memberships.
“We’ve experienced a huge financial loss in memberships. We’ve lost almost 52% revenue on top of the monstrous expenses it takes to run the building,” said Dianna Risley with Gorge Athletics Club.
Downtown The Dalles, Level Up Fitness owner Jordan Davis expressed the difficulties of staying afloat during the mandated closure. “If the mandate gets extended, I don’t know how we’ll be able to bounce back.” She added that she won’t have the ability to pay her coaches, and will face losing her ability to retain members.
Muscle & Fitness Center will close along with other gyms in Oregon on Wednesday, Nov. 18. Owner Josh Molnar said it will impact him financially but it will also be a huge hit to those who depend on working out for mental well being.
Devam Patel, 19, who attends the University of Portland online, says the closures will greatly affect his mental wellness.
“Attending online classes and sitting at home staring at a computer for 8-9 hours a day takes a toll on my mental health,” he said. Patel uses exercise as his outlet and therapy. “Going to the gym is like an escape. Exercising gives you a mental reset and a second wind of motivation.”
With shutting down exercising outlets, gym owners fear there will be a spike in depression and other mental health issues throughout the community.
“Fitness is not only good for the body, it’s also huge for mental health, those who battle with depression or anxiety use exercising as a tool to escape,” said Josh Molnar of Muscle & Fitness Center in The Dalles. “It gets endorphins loose and a push for motivation. Coming to the gym provides a sense of home and comfort to our members,” said Molnar.
Davis of Level Up is hoping that she can reopen the doors after Dec. 2.
“Small businesses need everyone’s help now, but even more so when we open back up…,” she said. “The Dalles has a strong community and we will get through this.”
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Photo courtesy Level Up Fitness Facebook page.
Oregon Gov. Kate Brown will limit all bars and restaurants to takeout only, close all gyms, restrict indoor and outdoor gatherings to no more than six people from two different households, limit capacity at grocery stores and pharmacies, and allow churches and faith groups to accommodate indoor crowds no larger than 25.
