Entrepreneur breathes new life into old Summerhill
Posted on Thursday, July 17, 2008
URL: http://www.nwanews.com/brog/Sports/62167/
ROGERS —The big, bright yellow letters spelling “ Summerhill” can deceive anyone who passes by the gym on 37 th Street in Rogers.
Former elite gymnast David Marshall, 32, is trying to turn the former Summerhill Racquet Club around. It’s now under the control of his company called Regional Gym Worx.
“ We are in the process of the rejuvenating the place, ” Marshall said.
Regional Gym Worx does not have the glamour and new smell of other gyms in the area. The facility finished in 1982 shows its age. For example, only one of the four outdoor tennis courts are playable and the weight room does not have all the latest bells and whistles of gyms like LA Fitness and or Gold’s Gym.
Instead of competing head-tohead against bigger and newer gyms, Marshall focuses on the strengths of his facility including its indoor pool, two indoor tennis courts and its gymnastics program.
“ It is a good location, the building just needs a lot of work, ” Marshall said.
Marshall’s business connections with the facility date back to March 2006 when Regional Rec Gymnastics, a company he partly owns, moved into the facility. Gymnastics has taken over the space where basketball and racquetball courts once stood.
Last November, Marshall took over operating rights of the other gym’s facilities— weight room, pool, and tennis courts—from Summerhill. Taking over the gym involved setting up another business entity called Regional Gym Worx.
When Marshall formed Regional Gym Worx, he wasn’t even sure if it was a worthwhile venture. He had made a pretty good living coaching gymnastics and running other companies but operating an aging gym that was losing money presented a new challenge and he needed capital.
“ When I took over, I didn’t know I would make it four or five months, ” Marshall said.
Marshall describes himself as an entrepreneur. He has invested more than $ 50, 000 of his money into the facility.
Marshall’s plan was to reduce operating costs but not at the expense of his members. He has saved money by cutting the number or operating air conditioners from 11 to three, still managing to keep the temperature hovering around a comfortable 72 degrees.
When he took over total operations of the gym, he saw many problems including high operating expenses especially when it came to energy.
Another example of cutting energy costs was on heating the pool. He has found a way to shave off $ 4, 000 per month in the pool’s cost.
A half-year after taking over the facility Marshall is optimistic that he can make money at old Summerhill but problems haven’t disappeared.
“ I don’t own the building, ” Marshall said while pointing to a ceiling panel that needed to be replaced because of water damage.
Marshall is negotiating with Meadows Enterprises to buy the building.
The facility’s niche is gymnastics. Regional Rec Gymnastics has programs for infants to teens. Marshall expects registration in these programs to increase next month with the Olympics. Marshall said he was a product of the Olympic year “ bump” and got serious about gymnastics after the 1992 Barcelona games. He hopes that parents who bring their kids to gymnastics practice will sign up for a gym membership.
So any chance of a future Olympian coming from Benton County ?
Marshall said it is highly doubtful and that people have a better chance of winning the lottery than making one of the few spots on the U. S. team.
Marshall lives in Lowell with his wife Rachel, who assists him with the venture.
“ He has owned a lot of stuff, ’ Rachel said. “ I’m kind of used to it. ”
Rachel Marshall has been involved in business ventures herself including salons and understands her husband’s fearless business attitude.
“ That is why you call it entrepreneurship, sometimes you fail more than you succeed, ” Marshall said. “ It’s just now starting to turn a profit. ”