Henry Dabish, CEO of Novi-based Powerhouse Gym, is upset that strip clubs in metro Detroit are allowed to reopen before fitness studios.
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer lifted the stay-at-home order at the beginning of June and has loosened restrictions on a range of businesses as daily cases of COVID-19 decline.
Fitness studios, along with movie theaters and state-regulated casinos, have not been given a reopening date.
"It's OK to go to a strip club and get a lap dance but not go on a treadmill 6 feet away from each other?" Dabish asked.
Restaurants and bars were cleared to open with limited dine-in capacity June 8. Many local strip clubs also resumed business then.
Leaders of the state's fitness industry say they expected to hear from the governor weeks ago. Around 150 fitness club owners came together to form the Michigan Fitness Club Association earlier this month to help provide financial relief and petition for reopening. Another group, the League of Independent Fitness Facilities & Trainers, sued the governor last month.
Gym owners ranging from Planet Fitness to small cycle studios have submitted reopening guidelines that include social distancing and extra sanitizing. Despite the frustration, Whitmer's strict lockdown measures appear to be effective.
Dabish said he's had enough waiting. He opened a Powerhouse location in East Lansing and one in Clinton Township on Tuesday. A handful were already cleared to reopen in northern Michigan, but Dabish plans to have all 26 in Michigan up and running soon.
"We'll probably give it 'til Friday and see if we hear anything," Dabish said.
He's not alone. Royal Oak Gym opened to members Monday, while Gold's Gym Detroit in Warren opened three weeks ago "in compliance with state and local guidelines," according to its website.
Anytime Fitness also reopened most of its 100 or so locations throughout the state, according to its website. Its St. Clair Shores location opened Wednesday "per guidelines from the city" and is modifying hours, limiting capacity to 25 people and asking patrons not to stay longer than an hour, according to an email to members.
Some fitness groups have moved activities outdoors, a creative solution but not practical for typical gyms.
A spokeswoman from the governor's office told Crain's last week that an opening date had not been set for health clubs in Southeast Michigan.
Dabish said he doesn't blame owners for opening their doors anyway, but frustration is growing among those playing by the rules, especially if there's no penalty for breaking them. Several owners have already thrown in the towel.
"Our businesses are all burning cash, and many will likely perish," Alyssa Tushman, owner of Burn Fitness, said in an email.
Dabish said he's suffered well more than $1 million in financial losses from being closed. Powerhouse, started by Dabish's father and uncle in Highland Park in 1975, operates 13 corporate locations and licenses the brand to more than 300 locations around the world. Corporate revenue is around $30 million yearly.
Dabish said each of the Powerhouse Gym locations applied for federal Paycheck Protection Program assistance and most received loans of $30,000 or more.
To survive the loss, Dabish dug into cash reserves that were intended to open two new corporate-owned locations in metro Detroit. Those plans were put on hold, but now Dabish sees opportunity in an industry on fire.
"A lot of good rental deals with these big box stores closing," he said. "I feel like there should be opportunities to step in. a lot of gyms filing for bankruptcy."
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Hurting from coronavirus-related closures, metro Detroit gyms start reopening against orders - Crain's Detroit Business
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