With its swipe card security system, Edwardsburg Fitness Co., which opened July 1, never closes — 24/7, 365 days a year.
Located across M-62 from the fire station at 69855 Rolen Drive, Edwardsburg Fitness Co. offers fitness classes, personal training with Eric Forrest, Jamie Thomson and Michelle and Ryan Craig, cardio and strength training equipment and youth Brazilian jiu jitsu, a martial art, combat sport and self-defense system that focuses on grappling and ground fighting.
The center is equipped with eight treadmills, eight ellipticals, a TRX area for suspension training, a classroom for spinning (stationary bikes), Zumba and aerobics classes, weights and six TVs.
Classes start July 15 with a free front-yard boot camp conducted by Forrest.
“My son’s been taking (jiu jitsu) for a year,” said Ryan Jay, who owns the business in the former Family Dollar with his wife, Melissa.
He’s a Mishawaka native and works at AIT in Elkhart. They have four children and live on the east side of Edwardsburg.
“We’ve been working non-stop to get this ready,” Jay said. “We opened at noon Sunday and had a huge turnout. We couldn’t believe it.”
The 16-camera security system will be activated by Friday. Instead of a locker room, there are individual changing rooms. There is also a room where children will be watched while their parents work out.
“I’ve been dreaming about real estate since I bought my first house at 19 years old,” Jay said. “I watched this building and thought it could be a gem. When my buddy’s gym didn’t work out on Eddy Street, I bought $200,000 worth of like-new equipment for a quarter of the price. They also own Anytime Fitness in Granger, which has 1,100 members.”