A local gym chain that grew out of a boot camp-style fitness program will open its fifth location next month in North Bethesda.
Soldierfit, founded by Army veteran Danny Farrar and Rockville native Dave Posin, offers memberships for group classes, access to exercise equipment, personal training and kids’ classes.
In 2007, the company started with boot camps in area parks until it leased brick-and-mortar space in 2010 in Gaithersburg. It now has locations in Frederick, Columbia and Sterling, Virginia with an average of about 1,000 members at each facility, Posin said Wednesday.
“We’re trying to revitalize the boot camp concept but our locations obviously have other services,” Posin said. “We want to emphasize the camaraderie of the military. We don’t necessarily want people who are signing up to look at it like enlisting in the military, but we that culture kind of separates us from the rest.”
Participants in classes wear Soldierfit t-shirts and are referred to as “troops.” Posin, Farrar and Zach Davis, the company’s martial arts director, are Soldierfit’s “officers.”
Posin said the 10,000-square-foot space at 12241 Nebel St. will be decked out in military gear, including a front desk made out of the front portion of an old Humvee.
Posin, who graduated from Wootton High School, said he’s excited the company is moving into the area and that it was able to find a big enough location to accommodate group classes, locker rooms, offices, exercise equipment and a pro shop that will stock exercise gear and supplements.
“Montgomery County is densely populated. The demographics and everything matched up and the Nebel Street spot was a pretty unique one compared to some of our other locations that are tucked away and difficult to find,” Posin said.
He said membership rates generally run from $69 a month to $98 a month and a typical member takes part in two to four classes a week. He said the workout regimen makes sense for people of all fitness levels.
“We kind of fall in the middle of the spectrum in terms of our style. You have your Crossfit [studios] where the atmosphere is highly competitive, fairly hardcore,” Posin said. “We’re about the interaction between members. They’re your teammates. You’re not competing against the person next to you. We’ll never write your score up on a board and make someone feel left out.”
