Boca’s Y2 Fitness is now Boca Powerhouse Center
Published December 30th, 2007
By Dale M. King
CITY EDITOR
Boca Raton has a new fitness center.
Well, actually, the business was already there. But the former Y2
Fitness Center at 141 NW 20th St. has affiliated with a national chain
that gives local clients more bang for the buck.
Denise Morris, who co-owns several area fitness centers with husband,
Greg, said Y2 moved to the next level when it became part of Powerhouse
Gym and Fitness Centers.
“There are 370 Powerhouse locations,” said Denise. And
clients with a membership card to the local fitness site can use them
at any Powerhouse.
Greg is handling the Boca Raton location. Denise is in charge of
the three United State of Fitness Centers they own – in Greenacres,
Boynton Beach and Delray Beach.
Powerhouse boasts a powerhouse line-up of services, including certified
personal trainers, aerobics classes, flat screen TVs, free childcare,
free weights, spinning, pilates and yoga.
Getting fit is a tough regimen, she said, but running a fitness center
is also a task. “It’s a lot more complex than people think,”
she said. “Fitness is an emotional thing, a service thing.”
Denise and former partner Tammy Simpson opened the Y2 Fitness Center,
appropriately enough, in 1999. It had been a health club since 1992,
operating first as Boca Power Plant and then as Palm Beach Gym.
In 2001, Denise and Tammy added another location in Delray Beach
and “ran it together.”
Later, Denise said, “I decided to do a bit more – in
the fashion of Jack La Lanne.” She had an opportunity to buy
two clubs in West Palm Beach and Boynton Beach – and she went
for it.
Earlier this year, Denise and Tammy parted company, and the gym had
to shut down for a short time while matters were worked out.
The shutdown caught some members by surprise. “When I arrived,
I said, ‘What’s going on?’ There were other people,
too, all looking to work out,” said Jeff Jones.
Laura Casciato said that when the doors were closed, she walked out
to the parking lot and did her exercises there. “I work out
six days a week,” she said.
She’s glad Y2 is open again. “It’s like coming
home – to see the people coming back in, it’s a good feeling.”
Bentley Berzal was a little nostalgic about the interim closing.
“I’ve been coming here since it opened. I met my wife
here.”
Dale M. King can be reached at 561-549-0832 or at dking@bocanews.com.
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