Owners, family, friends and community leaders gathered Thursday, Nov. 4, to cut the ribbon on the new FitStop 24 fitness center in Syracuse. Front row from left: Ryan Austin, Banker’s Life and Syracuse-Wawasee Chamber of Commerce ambassador; Jeanetta Slabaugh, Horizon Bank and chamber board member; Olga Glossett, RE/MAX partner and chamber ambassador; owners Ulonda and Fernando Sainz; Zac McKee, club manager; and Renea Salyer, chamber executive director. Back row: Sean, Danielle and 2-year-old Graham Buttler, family members; Mason Slabaugh, Tippecanoe Lake Country Club and chamber ambassador; Kim Strawbridge, Lake City Bank and chamber board member; and Dan Buckman, State Farm Insurance. Photo by Ray Balogh.

By Ray Balogh
InkFreeNews

SYRACUSE — FitStop 24 fitness club held a ribbon cutting Thursday, Nov. 4, for its opening under new ownership.

Owners Fernando and Ulonda Sainz purchased the location at 732 S. Huntington, Syracuse; remodeled the existing facility; installed new carpeting and rubber flooring; added new equipment, free weights and TVs; and opened its doors (accessible 24/7 for members with key fobs) on Aug. 1.

The Sainzes also own a FitStop 24 franchise in Kendallville, which they opened at the same time. Ulonda grew up in the Syracuse area and Fernando is a transplant from California, where he worked at a gym in La Jolla. He moved to Syracuse 17 years ago.

“We have always been athletic and have been going to gyms our whole lives,” he said. “We always talked about owning a gym.”

Fernando described the versatility of the club’s equipment and amenities. “Our machines encompass the entire body, every muscle group you want to work out.  The equipment and free weights are for everybody, but we recommend resistance machine equipment for beginners and intermediates. We encourage people to start with resistance training and graduate to free weights.”

Zac McKee is the club’s certified personal trainer and will work with clients to establish a custom exercise regimen.

“We invite everybody at all stages of fitness. FitStop 24 is a welcoming environment and a very well maintained and clean facility,” said Fernando.

Shower facilities and a tanning bed are included in the membership price.

FitStop 24 Syracuse is staffed from 11:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday.

For more information, call (574) 337-1061.