SYRACUSE, N.Y. (NCC News) – Gyms throughout the state of New York can increase their capacity limit to 50%, but a Syracuse gym does not see that update bringing more business. Powerhouse Gym in Syracuse has struggled to maintain and bring in new members since COVID-19 began. While the boost from 33% to 50% capacity may be viewed as an opportunity for more business, Powerhouse Gym knows that does not solve their problems.
Helen Green, the owner of Powerhouse Gym, knows that the real problem is still the lack of people that want to go to a public gym during this time.
“My current members feel safe with COVID-19 and our protocol,” Green said. “The members that I am trying to get are still afraid.”
Green said that getting and maintaining memberships has been the problem for Powerhouse Gym. Green said that before COVID-19 hit, the gym had 550 members. Since then, they expanded to a bigger location yet have still seen a decline in memberships. Green said that they are currently at 334 members. That number is a slight boost from their lowest point, which was at the peak of the pandemic when they had just 250 members.
In the meantime, Powerhouse Gym is focused on giving its loyal members the best and safest gym experience possible. With more people allowed to be in the gym starting on May 15, trainer Preston Poznlski said the gym plans on continuing with its current safety protocols.
“The procedures that we took here early on, we are continuing to implement as far as cleaning, distancing, the masks, etcetera,” Poznlski said. “I think those are the best courses of action for us to want people to come in here.”
Although the gym staff does not think the ease in capacity restrictions will help bring in many more people, customer Rebecca Warnken is ready to see more people working out alongside her.
“Absolutely, especially since more people are being vaccinated, I feel extremely comfortable,” Warnken said.
The boost in capacity allowed in gyms may be a step in the right direction in terms of getting back to what life was like before COVID-19, but Powerhouse Gym does not anticipate it changing its numbers.
