West Point's First Fitness something to be seen

NEW FACILITY

I tried to make it as nice as possible, because people can get intimidated with all the equipment in one space. So we wanted to make it inviting, but yet as loose as possible if that makes sense.”

Bryor McMillen, co-owner and operator of First Fitness

WEST POINT – A new fitness center that’s been open for about nine weeks in West Point is one of those things you have to see to really believe.
First Fitness, located at 209 7th Street in West Point, opened just after Rodeo weekend and has quickly become a known entity around Lee County.
Owners Bryor and Danielle McMillen opened the facility in September after spending close to a year renovating the old NAPA Auto Parts store just behind the filling station on 7th Street on the city’s east side.
Bryor McMillen said they wanted the facility to be one they could be proud of, as well as the residents of West Point.
“If you’re gonna do it, you might as well do it right,” he said. “I tried to make it as nice as possible because people can get intimidated with all the equipment in one space. So we wanted to make it inviting, but yet as loose as possible, if that makes sense.”
The couple did a complete renovation of the inside retail space from structural improvements to efficiencies and security.
Even getting inside the door has been changed. First Fitness has a KISI app that, when installed, allows you to hold your phone to a sensor to unlock the door. That way attendance can be tracked.
McMillen said one of the things he had been hearing as he did his research on area gyms was that people had trouble getting in to workout 24/7. He said the KISI app will make that a non-issue with members at First Fitness.
The name is homage to several things, but foremost is a reference to first responders. McMillen and his wife Danielle are both first responders. There is also a discounted rate for first responders, seniors, military professionals, and others.
Currently the rate is a flat $50 a month, not including discounts, and McMillen said the word is getting out and memberships are strong for just two months of being open.
The idea came out of the McMillens service to health care.
“My wife and I both work in the healthcare field and we decided we wanted a different kind of business. We’ve had rentals before but we kind of kept our eye out for something different,” he said.
“For me, a gym is a business that we can feel good about. And it’s kind of like, well it is like, me having my own gym now.”
The entire inside has been renovated, including two apartments on the upper floors, down to the wood framing. Now new gray pattern carpet, painted walls, and even a hardwood floor dance and exercise space welcome users.
One wouldn’t expect such a vast space for workouts in a smaller town like West Point, but McMillen said he wanted to keep it in West Point because of his love of the town.
The facility has the latest in fitness equipment, including a Synergy 360 all in-one pulley workout system. The piece is a compacted version of other weight-based modular system that can be custom fitted for different purposes. The equipment simulates movements that users would encounter in work, home, and recreational environments.
There are also spin bikes, dumbbell racks, iso machines, treadmills, and a stair stepper among others muscle builders all in brand new temperature-controlled rooms.
There is even vending for nutritional snacks, drinks, and supplements all paid for in an honor system through Venmo.
McMillen said he and his wife had been thinking about the idea for the fitness center for more than a year and were looking for property in West Point that could be renovated and geared toward the people of the community.
“We bought it last November and we’ve been working on it ever since. We demo’d it. We had wood paneling and pegboard everywhere. Ceilings were caving in and floor joists were hanging on by a couple nails,” he said.
“We put in all new HVAC and plumbing.”
They have also just hired a personal trainer and have two instructors for exercise classes.
The facility also has private bathrooms with large showers.
“We decided if we were going to do it, we were going to do it nice,” he said.
“At some point we’d like to partner with a chiropractor or a physical therapist, something like that. We just hired the trainer and we wanted to go a little slow and not rush too much, but I think this would be a nice space for that.”
The facility will be open during Friday’s Wine Walk on the square in West Point for people to come tour the space.
More information on First Fitness can be obtained by calling 319-214-0415 or visiting the facility’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/p/First-Fitness-West-Point-61557695803563/ You can also email staff at info@firstfitnesswp.com.