Ash Grove Fitness finds success on Main Street

Ash Grove Fitness, a new full-service gym, opened its doors in June on 123 W. Main St. in the town. The facility hopes to bring the opportunity for physical fitness to citizens who don’t have many options in the way of exercise.
The operation inhabits the space that once hosted Farm House on Main restaurant. The owner of the venture, Brianna Johnson, said the location was perfect for her needs. She had previously looked elsewhere for a suitable spot, but nothing else fit her vision like this one.
“We looked at buying out a gym that was in Springfield several years ago before we moved out in this direction ... and it just didn’t feel right,” said Johnson.
Johnson has always been around Ash Grove, moving to the place a little less than a decade ago. It was then, though, that she fell in love with the town and the people within.
“We love the small-town community,” said Johnson. “The school is great, and everybody just really cares about everybody out here ... Some small towns you go to are kind of catty and in everyone’s business ... and I just feel like Ash Grove is just a very homey, caring community, so we love the people and love that everyone really does care about each other.”

Gym specs
Taking up an estimated 4,000 square feet, the facility offers a large variety of workout equipment, according to Johnson. Entering the front door opens up to a host of machines and free weights, featuring a Smith press and other cable machines. The second space, through another door, leads to a room filled with cardio gear, such as treadmills and ellipticals, though this area features some weightlifting hardware as well.
Johnson began this ambitious endeavor a long while back, being a fan of sports and an enthusiast of active living. This is something that Ash Grove has needed for some time, she said. Her thoughts are that if someone were to put a gym in the little town, it would get a lot of use, considering how much Ash Grovians love their sports.
It seems Johnson was correct in her assessment. She originally just hoped the gym would pay for its own overhead, which it surpassed easily in its first month, she said. Now, the gym is making enough money that an expansion could be in the cards.
Whether or not that coveted expansion comes to fruition, Johnson is happy to be offering her facility to the people of Ash Grove, and they seem to be happy about it as well.
“It’s moving and grooving, and it’s doing really well,” said Johnson.