Valley Fitness nearly twice as big

A locally owned and operated fitness center recently expanded its Spokane Valley gym to offer one of the area’s largest free-weights facilities.

The remodel of Valley Fitness, completed last month, also included expansions of its cardio and full-body circuit workout stations and a bigger stretching area, said co-owner and manager Chris White.

The remodel is the Valley’s gain but north Spokane’s loss, as White and his family partners opted to close their second gym location in north Spokane in March.

“It seemed like a good time for us to consolidate,” said White, who owns the facility with wife Amy and extended family Barb Sater, of Post Falls, and Carrie and Wade McIntyre, of Seattle. “We’ve been here the longest and the space was available. This location is just a couple of years more established,” he added.

Valley Fitness first opened in March 2002 with 6,600 square feet. The expansion to 11,500 square feet cost about $25,000 and included breaking down walls and adding rubber flooring. About 4,000 square feet in the new section is dedicated to the free weights, all of which are Hammer Strength equipment.

The cardio area increased by 50 percent and has 46 machines, including stationary bikes, treadmills, rowing machines and elliptical equipment – all of which are equipped to monitor a person’s heart rate. The full-body circuit section includes upgraded equipment and two overall stations.

Valley Fitness has about 2,000 members. White hopes to double that number in the coming years. He said membership ranges in ages from youth to seniors, with the oldest member at age 100.

“We really don’t cater to one particular group, and that has worked to our benefit,” he said. “We hear most often that the gym is clean and comfortable.”

White said the club is geared toward those who want the use of machines without having to pay higher dues to maintain such amenities as pools, spas and fitness classes. It does offer tanning facilities and child care at additional cost.

The current membership fee is $23 per month for one person, with a one-time joining fee charge of $29. Membership for a second person is $13 a month with a one-time joining fee of $20. White said dues are guaranteed never to increase from the time a person joins and there is no membership obligation other than cancellation requires 30 days notice.