SEQUIM — Sequim Gym will close its doors to the family-owned facility in downtown Sequim permanently.
The Sequim Gym Health and Wellness Center announced Aug. 20 that it closed and canceled all classes and will close its doors and terminate memberships as of this coming Friday.
“It comes with great sadness to inform our community that all classes starting this week will be canceled and we will be closing our doors and terminating all memberships effective 12 a.m. September 1st 2017,” the post said.
The gym’s owners, Kevin and Holly Pedrey, bought the business in 2015 from the facility’s founder, Kristin LaMoure, who owned the gym for nine years before selling the business to the Pedreys.
Served hundreds
The business at 145 E. Washington St. included 6,000 square feet serving an estimated 400 to 600 people, depending on the type of service.
It had a staff of 14 employees and offered a variety of services, including massage therapy, personal training and specialty classes, with 24-hour access.
Kevin Pedrey also merged his previous Northwest Massage and Holistic Healing Center businesses in Port Angeles with Sequim Gym’s services.
He said he met with a financial adviser Aug. 16 and made the decision to close the business a few days later.
“We lost 30 percent of our membership when the YMCA opened up,” he said. “I built my business plan based on SARC being opened.”
SARC, known as the Sequim Aquatic Recreation Center, closed in October 2015. SARC was taken over by the Olympic Peninsula YMCA and opened its doors as a YMCA facility in October 2016.
Kevin Pedrey said when SARC closed, he retrofitted the Sequim Gym, offering more classes, adding an additional studio across the alley and hiring more people.
On Aug. 23, the Pedreys said on the Sequim Gym Facebook page, “We built this facility and we maintained a level of service that way outweighed the monthly fees we were charging.”
The post said the Pedreys had to make the choice to either continue taking risks in hopes that the gym’s future programs and classes would be successful or make the decision to close the gym.
“This will force us into a very difficult position of having to file bankruptcy,” the post continued.
Kevin Pedrey said a standard membership at the Sequim Gym cost $50 per month. He said the gym lost memberships from several different consumer demographics, such as students and families.
College students can get a membership at the YMCA for $20 per month and it offers a household rate of $55 per month for one adult plus children and $70 per month for two adults plus children.
Pedrey said he and his wife have felt a loss in the decision to close the gym but felt it was the best decision they could make based on the circumstances.
“The business is tough on us,” he said. “It’s tough physically, mentally and emotionally.”
Pedrey said his vision for the Sequim Gym was to create a wellness facility that offered fitness, nutrition and massage therapy while working with a variety of other health and fitness professionals.
“We’re still realizing the dream and we’re still helping people; it’s just going to be different,” he said. “It’s not going to be us owning it.”
Pedrey said the best part about owning the gym was the community it created.
“The best thing was our community and people,” he said. “They’ve been with our family and close with us and watched our journey.”
Moving Forward
Pedrey announced on the Sequim Gym Facebook page Aug. 26 he would be working with 360 Sports Performance Training at 775 W. Washington St. to work with some of Sequim Gym’s programs.
“I am excited to announce that I will be joining forces in Sequim to continue working toward this vision with like-minded partners,” the post said.
It continued, “Starting in September, I’ll be working with John and Lisa Qualls at 360 Sports Performance Training, along with a few physical therapists who will be working within our programs to maximize results and safety.”
Pedrey said the Sequim Gym has been working with another fitness center to honor the Sequim Gym rate through Sept. 30.
He said people who have questions about Sequim Gym refunds and memberships can contact him directly via email or phone.
He said he is working with a few local organizations that might be willing to help out Sequim Gym members.
For more information about the Sequim Gym’s closure or memberships, contact Kevin Pedrey at 360-477-855 or kevin@sequimgym.com.
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Erin Hawkins is a reporter with the Olympic Peninsula News Group, which is composed of Sound Publishing newspapers Peninsula Daily News, Sequim Gazette and Forks Forum. Reach her at ehawkins@sequimgazette.com.