The irony is not lost on Arne Jackson, as he prepares to open up an Anytime Fitness location in what used to be a convenience store at the corner of Beacon Avenue and Resthaven Drive.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 kind of funny to go from a Slurpee machine to a gym,B次元官网网址� he says with a laugh, while surrounded by fitness machines and other equipment in various stages of being unpacked.
Jackson is shooting for a Nov. 20 opening.
He bought the franchise more than a year ago.
B次元官网网址淪o it has taken some time,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淲e have had issues finding property. Sidney is a very difficult place to find property. Originally, we were thinking of Sidney Crossing, which is that new development they were proposing, and then they didnB次元官网网址檛 go ahead.B次元官网网址�
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Jackson eventually reconsidered in favour of a downtown location. B次元官网网址淚 really wanted something here,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淧eople can walk here. It was a real priority to make this a community gym.B次元官网网址�
Jackson enters the fitness business with more than two decades as owner of the construction company Cougar Pacific Systems and a personal journey along the way. B次元官网网址淏etween my company and my [three] kids, I thought I didnB次元官网网址檛 have the time to go to the gym,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚 did, but I told myself I didnB次元官网网址檛. I havenB次元官网网址檛 been consistent with exercise except for the last six years.B次元官网网址�
What changed was a health scare at the age of 50 that Jackson described as a B次元官网网址渨ake-up callB次元官网网址� and inspired him to take charge.
B次元官网网址淪ome people take the doctor-pharmaceutical path, and I decided to go back to the gym,B次元官网网址� said Jackson. B次元官网网址淪o it became a personal thing for me after a few years of being in gym in wanting to improve the lives of people in their 50s before the window closes. It was important for me to have people realize that there is an alternative.B次元官网网址�
This focus on older people made Sidney an attractive choice as it is among the oldest communities in British Columbia, with a median age of 58. This said, the community has also been attracting a growing number of families, said Jackson. B次元官网网址淭here a lot of younger people moving to Sidney,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚t is a community, where there is a mixture of both now. I want a community gym that encompasses everyone B次元官网网址� old and young.B次元官网网址�
JacksonB次元官网网址檚 Anytime Fitness franchise in Sidney will be one of more than 5,000 around the world. But if this figure suggests a large, faceless company, the opposite is the case, said Jackson.
B次元官网网址淭hey are a real caring company, which for a large organization, I found unusual,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淭hey do strive to make sure that their franchise owners get to know their people. It is important that we get to know our customers, our members. Everyone has a story, whether you are a fitness nut or you are brand new to the fitness game. People has a story that is dear to their heart.B次元官网网址�
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