Co-owners Nate Stonehill and Jacob McKissick plan to open Eastside Fitness in the spring.
Precious Grundy | The Lima News
LIMA — The new year’s resolution of becoming fit is not over just yet. A new gym, Eastside Fitness, will soon be open on the east side of Lima. The two co-owners, Jacob McKissick and Nate Stonehill, will soon bring a fitness center to 3021 Harding Highway.
“I have wanted to open a gym for a long time,” Stonehill said. “It has been a dream. I did not think we were as close as we were.”
The business owners met in kindergarten. The long-term friendship quickly turned into a business partnership once the space became available.
“We have talked about this idea forever,” McKissick said. “The space became open and a light bulb just went off. This was probably six months ago when the space opened up — that is when we started talking seriously.”
The owners decided to place the gym on Lima’s east side because of a lack of fitness spaces in the area.
“I graduated from Bath in 2016,” McKissick said. “Growing up over here, we had no option. We have always had to travel out to the west side of town to go to Planet Fitness or the YMCA. Now, if you are on the east side of town in Ada, Bath or Allen East the commute is just 10 minutes.”
Although there is no definite opening date yet, the goal is to open in the spring and provide a place for the community. The gym will be open 24/7 for any of its members.
“We are just focused on trying to give people an option to come over here,” Stonehill said. “Our goal is to have a community atmosphere where they are proud to come to it.”
In the future, the gym hopes to provide personal training classes. The owners also hope to encourage the community to engage in an active lifestyle.
“I have just gotten back into working out recently but the way you feel when you stay active is great,” Stonehill said. “That is what I want people to get from coming here.”
The new gym will be located across from the Allen County Fairgrounds at 3021 Harding Highway. For more information on the gym’s opening visit their Eastside Fitness Facebook page.
Reach Precious Grundy at 567-242-0351.
