The Kidstrong gym concept combines exercise with educational content for children. (Photo courtesy of KidStrong)
A private fitness club that caters to kids is stretching into the Richmond market for the first time.
KidStrong, a gym chain with more than 100 locations open or in the works nationwide, is planning a location in the Gayton Crossing shopping center in western Henrico County.
Local franchisees Rich and Amy Young are behind the venture. The married couple signed a lease last month for the 4,800-square-foot space at 1312 Gaskins Road. The gym’s space was formerly occupied by Good Foods Grocery and is next to Les Crepes.
It will be the first Richmond-area outpost for KidStrong, which fashions itself a so-called “milestone accelerator” for children who are able to walk through age 11. Its membership-based program interweaves physical activities with educational lessons in 45-minute sessions.
A monthly membership is expected to cost $119, which provides access to one 45-minute session per week overseen by a pair of coaches. The gym expects to hold a pre-sale period that will provide a reduced-cost membership rate leading up to its planned opening this summer. It also will offer seasonal camps, including a summer camp.
Amy and Rich Young (Photo courtesy of Rich Young)
About $350,000 is expected to be invested to open the gym, between franchise fees, buildout costs and equipment, Amy said.
The Youngs plan to open a second location south of the river early next year, though they’ve yet to sign a lease or decide on a specific location.
Rich plans to keep his day job while Amy will handle the day-to-day operations of the gym.
Rich is brand president at locally based franchise Outdoor Lighting Perspectives, and Amy has a background as a schoolteacher and fitness instructor. She most recently taught at St. Edward-Epiphany Catholic School, which she left last year to focus on KidStrong.
“With me being in franchising, I see concepts and ideas in articles and things online. I came across KidStrong and thought it would be a great fit for us and our experiences,” Rich said. “We liked the support from KidStrong, the concept and their growth trajectory. We think we got in at the right time.”
The Kidstrong gym concept combines exercise with educational content for children. (Photo courtesy of KidStrong)
A private fitness club that caters to kids is stretching into the Richmond market for the first time.
KidStrong, a gym chain with more than 100 locations open or in the works nationwide, is planning a location in the Gayton Crossing shopping center in western Henrico County.
Local franchisees Rich and Amy Young are behind the venture. The married couple signed a lease last month for the 4,800-square-foot space at 1312 Gaskins Road. The gym’s space was formerly occupied by Good Foods Grocery and is next to Les Crepes.
It will be the first Richmond-area outpost for KidStrong, which fashions itself a so-called “milestone accelerator” for children who are able to walk through age 11. Its membership-based program interweaves physical activities with educational lessons in 45-minute sessions.
A monthly membership is expected to cost $119, which provides access to one 45-minute session per week overseen by a pair of coaches. The gym expects to hold a pre-sale period that will provide a reduced-cost membership rate leading up to its planned opening this summer. It also will offer seasonal camps, including a summer camp.
Amy and Rich Young (Photo courtesy of Rich Young)
About $350,000 is expected to be invested to open the gym, between franchise fees, buildout costs and equipment, Amy said.
The Youngs plan to open a second location south of the river early next year, though they’ve yet to sign a lease or decide on a specific location.
Rich plans to keep his day job while Amy will handle the day-to-day operations of the gym.
Rich is brand president at locally based franchise Outdoor Lighting Perspectives, and Amy has a background as a schoolteacher and fitness instructor. She most recently taught at St. Edward-Epiphany Catholic School, which she left last year to focus on KidStrong.
“With me being in franchising, I see concepts and ideas in articles and things online. I came across KidStrong and thought it would be a great fit for us and our experiences,” Rich said. “We liked the support from KidStrong, the concept and their growth trajectory. We think we got in at the right time.”
Excellent concept to hopefully encourage kids to stay physically fit even if they are not good at sports.
I hope KidStrong can get local schools private and public to have their busses drop students off after school??
So tax dollars should be used to support a for-profit business? Perhaps the franchisees can arrange to HIRE school buses and drivers to transport their little tumblers?
Needless to say, if a child needed transportation to the facility from a public school, the cost of hiring a driver would be rolled into the membership. Wow.
Kind of my point. How do the hundreds of kids who participate in Camp Tuckahoe and other YMCA programs get there? The YMCA has a bus. My kid took karate lessons for years. They had a bus.