East End Fitness Lease Ends, Owner Looks for New Space

Business owner Julie Schmitz is doing everything she can to keep East End Fitness in the neighborhood—but in a few weeks, she may  have no other choice but to close.

After nine years of serving the community at her small, local gym on South Braddock Avenue, right next door to Interplay Child Care, Schmitz of Swissvale said her lease expires at the end of May. is going to use the space, she said. 

While she lost a few members with the recent openings of Planet Fitness at Edgewood Town Center and Urban Active in Shadyside, her own client base of a strong 75 people was not happy to hear the news.

“They’re very upset,” Schmitz said. “They’re pursuing whatever avenues they are choosing to, on their own, to talk and I understand how they feel, but I can’t do anything about this.”

UCP/CLASS Chief Operating Officer Jeff Parker said the organization bought the building last July. At that time, Interplay and East End Fitness became its tenants.

“We purchased it last summer and we thought it would be a good time to look at the lease and talk about it,” Parker said. “We mutually agreed that rather than renewing the lease, it would end in June. It was a mutual agreement that came together during the review.”

The organization is the third largest of its kind serving those with disabilities in western Pennsylvania. Since 1980, the population UCP/CLASS serves has expanded from 400 to 4,000, while its budget has increased from just over $700,000 to more than $26 million. Its Attendant Care Program, which in 1998 served less than 200 people, now provides daily in-home assistance to more than 1,000.

Parker said the East End Fitness space most likely will be used to house additional

“We think very highly of Julie and know what a good entrepreneur she is,” he said. “Part of the agreement we have is honoring confidentiality.”

Parker said UCP has not yet had any discussions about Interplay’s lease agreement. He said the organization hopes to be moved in by July. 

“There aren't any plans to do anything different with their lease,” Parker said.

Construction workers and large trucks extend down the parking area near the gym. One worker placed neon pink tape stating “Danger” near the last remaining entrance that is accessible to the gym, due to the current renovation work at UCP/CLASS.

A stack of letters to current gym members lies on the front desk, explaining that the gym will have to move—or close permanently.

“The building that currently houses East End Fitness is undergoing extensive renovations to accommodate United Cerebral Palsy,” Schmitz writes in the letter. “They have informed me that due to their underestimated space requirements, they cannot renew the current lease that East End Fitness holds. With this notification, East End Fitness must vacate its current location by June 1, 2011.”

The gym has a cardio area and another section of the space devoted to weightlifting, filled with heavy equipment. Schmitz said she has “no idea” how she is going to move everything out.

Her members all will be reimbursed should the gym close, Schmitz said.

“Their crusade is to find me a new space and to keep East End Fitness open,” she said.

A resident of the area, Schmitz said she wants to stay in the neighborhood.

“It provides people in the community a place they can call theirs, and that they meet other members of the community and it supports the economy in this area – just this community,” she said of her business. “It provides something for people who don’t want to go to those big chain gyms where they feel like nothing.”

Schmitz said there is no line between “you’re this and I am that” at East End Fitness.

“Everyone is nice to everyone and I have provided the environment for that to happen,” she said. “Everyone says, ‘There is no gym like yours—I would have never come to a gym until I came to this one.’”

Schmitz said she knows all of her clients’ names and something about everyone who goes there.

“They are totally comfortable here,” she said.

Schmitz is now “furiously looking” for a new space.

“If I can find something reasonable and be able to do it financially, I will see how it turns out,” she said. “If I can’t find something in a certain amount of time, I will have to get rid of all of my equipment.”