We revisit an important topic: Deep Squats

[Mark Rippetoe]

This article seemed more inspired than usual

This article is 4 years old. I may have been more inspired then,

Open one up in Brooklyn.

Ha. No.

[Sean Herbison]

Open one up in Brooklyn.

But Wichita Falls Athletic Center wouldn't make sense for a gym in Brooklyn...

Ha. No.

[John Watson]

Ha. No.

Why not? I'll help you find real estate, paint, build platforms, mop, wash toilets.
You don't think with name cachet like "Rip's Gym" it'd be a profitable pursuit in a high population density area?

[Mark Rippetoe]

Do I have to live there?

[John Watson]

Do I have to live there?

Does Ronald McDonald live near every McDonald's?

Does Joe Gold live near every Gold's Gym franchise?

[Mark Rippetoe]

We already have a SS Gym in Brooklyn. Maybe you have another idea in mind?

[crookedfinger]

Starting Strength

I remember reading this as a new lifter. Every time I squatted, I had visions of Rip standing off somewhere in the gym and me looking like a fool. I have accepted I will always look like a fool, but I still warm up with body weight squats, bar, 135, 185, 225.

Being on the downhill side of 40, it takes me until about 275 to get the bar into proper position and hit depth.

Thanks for the reminder.

[John Watson]

We already have a SS Gym in Brooklyn. Maybe you have another idea in mind?

In the case of the Crossfit gyms, you have to work around the schedule of classes, which leaves very limited time slots open for someone to show up and do their individualized barbell strength training program.

I was thinking more of a black iron type gym, like WFAC, where you can show up on a day pass, or with monthly dues, during all open hours, to train, maybe a place where staff, or freelance coaches are exclusively SS certified.

I had house guests recently, in my living room/weight room, and was surprised how difficult it was to find a place that I could just show up, barbell train, use chalk, do deadlifts in, on my own schedule, which kind of shifts from 3x a week to 1 on 2 off, depending on recovery/work etc.

I guess without Crossfit the model is perhaps less lucrative, even in a high population area.

Do I have to move to Wichita Falls to find such a place?

[Mark Rippetoe]

I hope you understand that the problems with opening a black iron gym in NYC are not profitability. Finding a building to rent that allows deadlifting and the noise associated with barbell training is the primary problem. NYC is the problem, not entrepreneurship or barbell training.

[John Watson]

I hope you understand that the problems with opening a black iron gym in NYC are not profitability. Finding a building to rent that allows deadlifting and the noise associated with barbell training is the primary problem. NYC is the problem, not entrepreneurship or barbell training.

Manhattan certainly is a problem, the outer boroughs less so, there are industrial areas, near subway access, as evidenced by the CF gyms existence, though those types of places are certainly more scarce/expensive than other areas the country, which could affect profitability, but possibly be offset by a larger pools of potential trainees.

Maybe I'll crunch the numbers and consider the viability of a venture like this in the future.