August 2023 Club of the Month, presented by ABC Fitness:
GYM U NYC, est. 2023
Located in New York, New York, GYM U NYC was first launched in 2023 after the revelations owner David Barton had during his travels around the world. Barton said after visiting several international elite fitness facilities, he realized New York City was pacing behind in the luxury gym department.
Below, Barton details how his gym now offers the area an extravagant location that also gives members the results they want. He shares the new innovations at GYM U NYC, what makes the club unique, the partnership with ABC Fitness and more.
What is the mission of GYM U NYC?
GYM U NYC’s mission is to make going to the gym a fun, community-oriented experience again. We want to deliver a user-focused experience to our members that makes going to the gym the highlight of their day. A lot of luxury gyms have this exclusive attitude, but we are not like that. Our members, many of whom have been with me since my first gym, understand my brand and the community, which is a fun and safe space for all folks regardless of gender, race or sexual orientation.
What makes GYM U NYC unique?
The interior architecture is intentionally designed to move away from the traditional gym look of fluorescent overhead lights and fleets of cardio machines. As a film buff, I took inspiration from the classic sci-fi film Metropolis. I wanted to recreate that raw industrial, yet futuristic style in a way that transports members into a whole new world upon stepping foot into my gym. GYM U NYC is the future of fitness in more than just its design.
We’ve gathered all the most cutting-edge equipment and innovations from luxury gyms across the world and put them all in one centralized location here in the Chelsea neighborhood of Manhattan. Here, you can expect to see ARX adaptive resistance equipment, Italian luxury brand Panatta and dedicated zones for cardio, machines and free weight training.
How has technology improved the member’s fitness experience?
The most exciting development is the NEUBIE. It’s an electric muscle stimulation device, which uses direct current to treat neurological functions allowing clients to recover faster and prevent injury in the future. There is also ARX, which makes equipment that uses adaptive resistance to optimize force production on each rep. Lastly, we partnered with Precision Health Alliance, which leverages epigenetics and other sciences to diagnose and predict exercise and nutrition strategies. The combination of these technologies will put GYM U NYC on the cutting edge of fitness.
What is your favorite thing about partnering with ABC Fitness?
When I started out, we did everything by hand. The process was painful, time consuming and took time away from us that would be better spent serving our clients and overall business needs. ABC Fitness provides us with a system that saves us time, keeps us organized and allows us to put our energy into our customer service experience to put GYM U NYC at the top of our game.
What excites you most about the fitness industry in 2023?
During the pandemic, people took a shot at working out on their own. Exercise and self-care became more important than ever, and there was a resurrected enthusiasm for going to the gym. People have also reevaluated the hierarchy of their values and how they spend their time has become very important as a result. What was missing during the pandemic was true social engagement. Our goal here is to foster a community because we are a tribal species that needs an ecosystem of support to maintain our focus and goals.
What advice or encouragement can you give other club owners looking to start new clubs/franchises?
If you have an imagination, let that be your guide. The world has seen enough copycats of the chain movement. Remember, every market is unique. Go into a market you understand, and you should know exactly where your members are coming from. We are in the business of something people don’t like. So, while we have to offer a tangible outcome, we will also be creating a personalized experience. This will very likely be what distinguishes you from your competitors.
Created in partnership with ABC Fitness. Visit abcfitness.com for more information on how they can help your fitness business.
