I love gyms. There’s nothing quite like the feeling of walking into a new place and seeing a chalky deadlift platform and some competition plates in the corner. It’s even better when you have the chance to visit a place like The Shop in Manassas, Virginia: a new, 24,000-square foot facility boasting everything a powerlifter could ever ask for. Oh, and they’re outfitted for strongman and bodybuilding, too – just in case you somehow couldn’t spend a full workout in an ER rack.

While I was there, I sat down with the owners and talked about their journey to opening The Shop. It wasn’t an easy one. If you’re thinking of opening your own facility, here’s the advice Jason, Tim and Skylar have for you.

Plan Carefully.

You shouldn’t go into anything blindly, and the gym industry is no exception.  Jason and Tim spent three years filling storage unit after storage unit with equipment before they even chose a location. At one point, they were paying $1,000 in storage fees alone, but that was money well spent: in the meantime, they evaluated competitors, applied for loans and permits, and in doing so, made sure they had a solid plan for the future.

Be Patient.

Expect that plan to get disrupted.  “It was seven months of ‘two more weeks,’” from contractors, suppliers, and the government, Jason said.  It’s very easy to get unsettled when well-laid plans go awry, but – just like in training – it’s important to trust the process despite that doubt and negativity that will always creep in.  Even the companies selling them equipment told the future Shop owners to forget about it, that they’d never make it in a highly competitive and low-margin industry.  Passion is hugely important here: it’s your source of motivation when times get tough (and they will).

Don’t Chase Clients – Build a Community.

On the bright side, that passion is infectious.  As soon as Staci and I walked in the door, we were greeted by all three owners, and it was obvious how much they loved their gym and how (justifiably) proud they were of their work.  That passion was reflected in the members.  As soon as I mentioned that I was looking for a good place to train, I received over two dozen messages from lifters who supported their gym and wanted to share it.  Other members have donated equipment, or money for equipment.

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Obviously, it takes more than passion to attract such loyal members, and The Shop does it by giving back to the strength community.  They have plans to host USAPL, USPA, and 100% RAW powerlifting meets; NPC and IFBB bodybuilding shows; and strongman competitions.  They also have some seminars in the works (hopefully one featuring yours truly…) and are building out an area for classroom-style instruction.

Even if you’re not looking to open your own gym, you should care about the community yours attracts – I can’t tell you how much of a difference it makes to be around a group of serious, hard-training lifters.  Remember: powerlifting is a team sport, and the same goes for strongman and bodybuilding, too.