Cheryle and Josh Lackowski took advantage of an opportunity to pick up where another business left off at the Jacksonville Bank Building.
The couple has opened BodyJax Fitness on the second floor, the former location of Gold’s Gym.
Reviving the space as a fitness center was much easier than starting from scratch. BodyJax inherited the cushioned floor, the men’s and women’s showers and locker rooms and the prime location at the corner of Laura and Forsyth streets.
“We have a great view and we’re on two busy streets,” said Cheryle Lackowski.
She has worked Downtown for more than 10 years and left the corporate world to open the neighborhood’s new fitness center with her husband, Josh, a former U.S. Marine who is a personal trainer and nutritionist.
Lackowski said marketing the business to corporate clients and Downtown residents has helped build a membership base quickly.
“We already have a big morning crowd, lunch is busy and the afternoons are building,” she said.
The couple installed new free weights and cardio equipment and set up a boxing fitness area with 200-pound heavy bags.
The 13,000-square-foot space is designed with plenty of area between stations, leaving room for the center to adapt to clients’ requests, said Lackowski.
“We don’t have rowing machines, but if 30 people sign up for rowing machines, we’ll get rowing machines,” she said.
In addition to independent fitness training, BodyJax offers group classes, boot camp classes, yoga, personal training, battle ropes, sleds and nutritional supplements.
Lackowski said she was a member of three other fitness facilities Downtown before opening BodyJax and always thought there was room for improvement when it came to services, equipment and amenities.
“We know what people like and don’t like in a health club. Now is our chance,” she said.
BodyJax is open 6:30 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday-Friday and noon-5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Month-to-month and annual memberships and corporate group packages are available.
For more details, call 359-0408 or visit the center at 100 N. Laura St.
356-2466