Gym owners take fitness craze by the horns

Stockyard CrossFit co-founder Lindsey Burnette coaches a client. (Photos by Burl Rolett)

Stockyard CrossFit co-founder Lindsey Burnette coaches a client. (Photos by Burl Rolett)

Two new gyms are looking to muscle their way into the Richmond fitness market.

Stockyard CrossFit and CrossFit Addict both opened last month, beefing up the ever-growing ranks of CrossFit gyms across the region.

Stockyard CrossFit was launched by Lindsey Burnette and Ryan Bauer, two enthusiasts of the workout brand who met at a nearby competitor gym.

They began seriously looking into opening a gym this spring and signed a lease May 15 for a 4,000-square-foot space next to Steel Horse Harley-Davidson.

“It went from concept to reality in about a month’s time,” Burnette said. “We had to make it happen very quickly.”

The gym, located at 11507 Hull Street Road, hosted its first workout June 1. A grand opening party Sunday attracted almost 200 visitors, Burnette said.

Burnette, 33, had owned Blue Door Concierge before getting into the gym business. Bauer, 26, became a CrossFit instructor in 2011.

Ryan Bauer, left, and Lindsey Burnette

Ryan Bauer and Lindsey Burnette

They settled on the Stockyard name because Burnette’s grandfather owned stockyards in Chesterfield. The name has caught on with the membership, dubbed “the herd,” Burnette said. The gym, accessed through double doors that sit beneath the a steer skull, is known as “the yard.”

Stockyard CrossFit offers a month-to-month unlimited membership for $150 per month. The gym has about 70 members, Burnette said, and the space has plenty of room for expansion.

“We don’t have to move out of here,” she said. “If we outgrow this 4,000 square feet, we have another 4,000 square feet to move into.”

For now, Bauer said he is focused on helping current members get in shape rather than beefing up the gym itself.

“I’m not as concerned member-wise where it goes,” he said. “You can get a lot of numbers and become very watered down.”

Over in Henrico County, CrossFit Addict recently opened at 2256 Dabney Road, not far from Willow Lawn. BizSense was unable to reach anyone at the gym for comment.

The two new gyms join a competitive local CrossFit scene. CrossFit’s website lists 14 gyms across the Richmond region.

The brand has also supported the growth of local offshoot businesses, including apparel brands and a catering service that sells meals to area gyms. Burnette has found that when people get into CrossFit, they go 100 percent.

“People sort of get in here and get really committed to it,” she said. “People get really plugged in. It’s more family than family.”

Stockyard CrossFit, which opened June 1, has about 70 members.

Stockyard CrossFit, which opened June 1, has about 70 members.

Stockyard CrossFit co-founder Lindsey Burnette coaches a client. (Photos by Burl Rolett)

Stockyard CrossFit co-founder Lindsey Burnette coaches a client. (Photos by Burl Rolett)

Two new gyms are looking to muscle their way into the Richmond fitness market.

Stockyard CrossFit and CrossFit Addict both opened last month, beefing up the ever-growing ranks of CrossFit gyms across the region.

Stockyard CrossFit was launched by Lindsey Burnette and Ryan Bauer, two enthusiasts of the workout brand who met at a nearby competitor gym.

They began seriously looking into opening a gym this spring and signed a lease May 15 for a 4,000-square-foot space next to Steel Horse Harley-Davidson.

“It went from concept to reality in about a month’s time,” Burnette said. “We had to make it happen very quickly.”

The gym, located at 11507 Hull Street Road, hosted its first workout June 1. A grand opening party Sunday attracted almost 200 visitors, Burnette said.

Burnette, 33, had owned Blue Door Concierge before getting into the gym business. Bauer, 26, became a CrossFit instructor in 2011.

Ryan Bauer, left, and Lindsey Burnette

Ryan Bauer and Lindsey Burnette

They settled on the Stockyard name because Burnette’s grandfather owned stockyards in Chesterfield. The name has caught on with the membership, dubbed “the herd,” Burnette said. The gym, accessed through double doors that sit beneath the a steer skull, is known as “the yard.”

Stockyard CrossFit offers a month-to-month unlimited membership for $150 per month. The gym has about 70 members, Burnette said, and the space has plenty of room for expansion.

“We don’t have to move out of here,” she said. “If we outgrow this 4,000 square feet, we have another 4,000 square feet to move into.”

For now, Bauer said he is focused on helping current members get in shape rather than beefing up the gym itself.

“I’m not as concerned member-wise where it goes,” he said. “You can get a lot of numbers and become very watered down.”

Over in Henrico County, CrossFit Addict recently opened at 2256 Dabney Road, not far from Willow Lawn. BizSense was unable to reach anyone at the gym for comment.

The two new gyms join a competitive local CrossFit scene. CrossFit’s website lists 14 gyms across the Richmond region.

The brand has also supported the growth of local offshoot businesses, including apparel brands and a catering service that sells meals to area gyms. Burnette has found that when people get into CrossFit, they go 100 percent.

“People sort of get in here and get really committed to it,” she said. “People get really plugged in. It’s more family than family.”

Stockyard CrossFit, which opened June 1, has about 70 members.

Stockyard CrossFit, which opened June 1, has about 70 members.

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Johnny Herrin
Johnny Herrin
10 years ago

Congrats Lindsey! I know you are a dedicated and hard working woman! I wish you the best of success!!

Will Romm
Will Romm
10 years ago

LIndsey, congratulations! I know you guys will kill it!