CRYSTAL LAKE – A Crystal Lake resident is shaping up a 24/7 health club within the city, remodeling and reinvesting in a Snap Fitness franchise at an opportune moment.
Rae Ann Metz had spent the last eight years as a gym member of the Snap Fitness franchise location in Crystal Lake, 450 S. Route 31, when she received a call earlier this winter from the former owners who wanted to retire and sell the location to her.
Since taking ownership of the franchise location last month, Metz started to remodel the around-the-clock gym in need of “some TLC” and brainstorm strategies designed to draw new customers to the location, she said.
Metz’s reinvestment comes at a right time for residents looking for a 24/7 workout option since the only other 24/7 gym in Crystal Lake, Superior Health Club near Route 14 and Main Street, closed in early November.
“Fitness and nutrition have been my lifelong passion,” Metz said.
The ongoing remodel, once completed, should modernize the inside of the Snap Fitness location and maximize the various bikes, treadmills, ellipticals, free weights and other exercise equipment already housed at the gym, Metz said.
She also plans to highlight weight bearing exercises for customers and the importance those activities can have on the aging process. Even though the business is open during the remodeling, Metz said she will host a formal grand reopening event once the renovation work is finished.
In the meantime, interested customers can visit the Snap Fitness location and start a free 30-day trial membership. Snap Fitness also creates customized workout plans tailored to an individual’s needs. Residents can visit the location and do their first training session for free, she said.
Headquartered in Minnesota, Snap Fitness provides fast, convenient and affordable workout alternatives to larger health clubs, according to its website. The company operates thousands of gyms across the world, including nearby locations in Algonquin, Huntley and McHenry.
“The big draw is it’s open 24/7,” Metz said. “If you work weird hours and can’t get to a gym when they are usually open, this is a perfect fit.”