Name | The Free Weight GYM [1] | |
Born | Sumter, Sumter County, South Carolina [1] | |
Gender | Male | |
HIST | Friends finance gym into shape Free Weight Gym is for you if you’re ‘a little more hard core than the January crowd’ Longtime friends and now owners of The Free Weight Gym in Dalzell James Wilson, left; Chris Hawkins, second from left; Glen Evans, second from right; and Jess Williams, right, join manager Lee Dennis before working out. Wilson said it's the original 24/7 gym in Sumter. JADE REYNOLDS / THE SUMTER ITEM Posted: Sunday, September 7, 2014 6:00 am BY JADE REYNOLDS JADE@THEITEM.COM (803) 774-1250 When some friends noticed their favorite place to work out was looking a little run down, they decided to do something about it. The four friends, James Wilson, Jess Williams, Glen Evans and Chris Hawkins, members for more than 20 years, purchased The Free Weight Gym in June. "We wanted to make sure we had somewhere to go and work out, (and) we plan to bring it back up," Wilson said. The Dalzell business will remain open, and equipment will be replaced as needed starting with the cardio machines, he said. "They're bringing it back up to standards and making sure we have proper equipment," said Lee Dennis, manager. "We want to help the obesity problem in the area. We want to encourage people to get more active." Another area that will get an upgrade is the changing rooms. "We're getting better," Hawkins said. The men enjoy the convenient hours. "I like being able to work out any time of the day or night," Wilson said. "The Free Weight Gym is the original 24/7 gym here in Sumter." Members get a code so they can access the building anytime, Dennis said. "We trust the members of our gym to do what they need to do to take care of the place," he said. They also enjoy the camaraderie. "It's a relaxed atmosphere," Dennis said. "It's easy to talk to people, and you have access to help if you need it. If you're here and you don't know, ask. Most everyone is helpful, and if you are doing something wrong, they'll try to correct you." While new members are always welcomed, the numbers are limited to keep wait times low to nonexistent. "Our motto is 'when you're ready to get serious,'" Evans said. "This is a place for people who are a little more hard core than the January crowd. This is a place you can come work out without waiting in line. It's not packed at lunch time. If you only get an hour, you don't have time to stand in line. You've got to get it done and get a move on. There are enough machines and equipment that there is no reason not to get a great workout. It's not a social hour, but it's still fun and social." Your experience can be from novice to bodybuilder like Dennis and Wilson, Williams said, but you'd best not skip a day. "You don't want to miss because you catch so much (grief) if you do," he said. Work is not an excuse, Hawkins said, and Wilson joked only hunting and fishing count for excused absences. Membership is $33 a month for individuals and $48 for couples. "We encourage couples to come together," Dennis said. "Healthy parents lead to healthy lifestyles in the home. Once they learn what they can achieve at the gym, it can change trends. It starts with the head of the house." Military members get a 20 percent discount. "We appreciate what they do for our community and our country," Williams said. And no one is ever too old to join, Dennis said. Of the 150 members, the oldest is close to 80. "It's never too late to start to get in shape," Wilson said, adding that he, the other three owners and the manager are all more than 50 years old. For more information on The Free Weight Gym, check it out on Facebook. [1] | |
_UID | D1EE700217384367A7CA1C73D387A47AA23D | |
Person ID | I296580 | Singleton and other families |
Last Modified | 18 Oct 2014 |
Family | Gym FREE WEIGHT | |
_UID | AB206EE2D0C94259B982DE7B069DB3D0093C | |
Last Modified | 2 Mar 2024 | |
Family ID | F198929 | Group Sheet | Family Chart |
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