"Temporarily closed" reads the sign on the door to Gym in Paradise at the Marketplace.
The handwritten piece of paper cites "unforseen (sic) business complications" as the reason the door is locked and the equipment stands unused.
Almost four years ago, the Gym was listed for sale and priced at $300,000. It did sell, but soon the new owners put the place on the market again. It's still on the Multiple Listing Service, now at a price of $50,000.
StJohnJulie said the closing as a "real bummer
for a lot of people. In a post at Virgin Islands On-Line, she said, "My son had martial arts class there twice a week.
Now…nothing. The kids here don't have a lot of options for classes or
sports and we've lost another. He did soccer for awhile but they
couldn't find anyone to do the practices on a regular basis. Tough to
tell your kids that they don't have class any more. Hopefully they will
find someone to re-open the gym."
Sorry to read this! I’ve gone to Gym at Paradise for the last 3 years when on vacation. I like basic gyms and this fit the bill – decent equipment and no designer-gym attitudes. I hope it re-opens!
TIme to close it for good and open a big gym somewhere else on island.
Freddina…..we can not even get JESS out of Cruz Bay since we need a bigger space.
Where do you suggest on a island as small as St. John we move the gym?
Someone on another site suggested on Centerline Rd near industrial area. I think he suggested this b/c much lower rent and no need for AC if partially open air and plenty of fans. Coral Bay would be good too somewhere b/w Skinny’s and Island Blues.- lots of flat land there. Maybe do a cheap, steel bldg.
Is there land for sale there?
How much?
The issue is also getting materials and getting permits and that and this.
You need AC so the equipment does not rust. When gym equipment is exposed to the elements for long enough (trade winds and sea air) it rusts and that is why AC is needed.
I say this since I have a friend who has a studio/gym on Kauai
From a business point of view, I would be hard pressed to think that a gym could really support itself over a period of time and produce income for the owner. A gym takes a lot of members and the ability to slam a credit card on a monthly basis. I certainly don’t think the population or tourists combined could support such an enterprise. Doesn’t seem like it up to now so not sure why it would in the future.
I agree with all- a bigger gym is needed. There’s plenty of gyms closing in the USA- plenty of good used equipment on liquidation sale. Pack a container full of it- start your gym. Who cares if the equipment rusts in 5 or 10 years- 5 years of no AC bill is better. Used equpment can be had cheap if you know where to get it. I also agree the gym should be in as low-rent an area as possible. A spot on the island that may be convenient- but like Field of Dreams- Build it and They Will Come.
Gym equip. does not rust if you dont have air. The gyms on St Thomas did not have ac (it was never on when I was there) and their metal was just fine.
MainetoStJ:
Field of Dreams was a movie.
From a business point of view, I would be hard pressed to think that a gym could really support itself over a period of time and produce income for the owner. A gym takes a lot of members and the ability to slam a credit card on a monthly basis. I certainly don’t think the population or tourists combined could support such an enterprise. Doesn’t seem like it up to now so not sure why it would in the future.
Good points Allan, ‘gym in paradise’ has been around for many yrs. I think it was not to make $$ as much as to offer a workout space to locals.
The Westin has a facility but it is much more $$$ per month.
I think it has potential to work but the owner will never get rich.
There just has to be a good business plan and someone that is willing to work really hard to help it come to fruition.
One last thing to ‘mainetoStJ’…if you looked at the equipment at ‘America’s Paradise’ (both locations) the equipment was rusting.
It also was starting to happen at ‘Gold’s gym’ as well.
I say that since I taught at all of them.
Rosi – did you ever think about offering discounted bulk rates to villa rental companies? Gym Access would be another perk to add to their list of services that come along with their rentals in an increasingly more competitive market.
Sorry to be late to the party here, but….. It’s great to see all the comments on this subject. To me, that means there is a lot of interest, which means the potential to make money. A gym is vital to the well-being of islanders. A bigger gym would be great and I think islanders would drive anywhere on island to access the gym. Gyms are also important social and developmental learning centers for the entire community- so maybe it should be a goverm=nment-run project. To truly serve the island, it would have to be bigger than the gym in the marketplace.
Yo Stillcare. Doesn’t the government run the DMV in the VI’s.
As an annual visitor that just found Paradise Gym last Dec., I am sorry to see it has closed. I think Matt has a great idea – letting villas buy memberships that their customers/visitors can use. It is a perk for visitors, and the villas will publicize the gym & classes. I hope to see more conversation since I will be back in Dec. 2009!
Who can I contact about buying Gym! [email protected]
Are you still looking for a gym or equipment????