Retro Fitness Happy To Reopen Its Centers In Rockland

ROCKLAND COUNTY, NY — Retro Fitness was very happy to reopen its centers in New City, Pearl River, Pomona and Tappan when Gov. Andrew Cuomo finally gave the go-ahead to gyms, fitness centers and exercise studios.

Members are happy, Franchise Business Coach Dina Jorge told Patch. Almost 2,000 Retro Fitness members from New York and New Jersey had crossed into Pennsylvania to go to the gym in July. There has been a steady flow of people into the centers in Rockland since they reopened.

"That speaks to people not being fearful of going to a gym," Jorge said Thursday. "They just want to get back to what makes them feel the best mentally and physically."

When the pandemic hit in March, everyone shut down and the company started a member safety program which turned out to be more stringent than New York's rules, she said.

That included physical changes to the centers including social distancing equipment and people; and protocols for members and staff including checking in and out, taking temperatures, health questionnaires and plenty of PPE. Everyone is adhering to the protocols, from masks to social distancing to wiping down the equipment they use.

"The members have been great," she said. "They're all really patient, too."

The company hopes that New York will come up with some economic assistance for small businesses such as their local franchise owners, for whom the pandemic shutdown was a real economic hardship.