The new Douglas Social also is getting a new neighbor
It’s a pretty big switch to go from working in accounting in the oil and gas business to being a personal trainer, but that’s what Kate Jones did.
Similarly, with her own health and fitness, she said, “I had a pretty big life transformation myself.”
Now Jones, who goes by Coach Kate, wants to help others through Foundations Fitness, a personal training gym she’s opening this spring at 2512 E. Douglas. That’s just east of Grove next to where the colorful new Douglas Social bar is opening.
Jones had been a cheerleader, and during college she said she “gained the freshman 15 and then some.”
“I really just wasn’t focused on my own health and fitness,” she said. “One day, I was like, you know what? I’ve had enough.”
Jones lost weight and said, “It just grew my confidence in pretty much every area of life.”
She had been training clients at another personal training gym when the pandemic struck.
“I kind of just rethought my business and how I was doing things,” she said.
Jones helped clients online throughout the pandemic.
“I just missed being in front of people and with people.”
So she decided to open her own personal training gym.
“I think I’ve always been kind of an entrepreneur at heart.”
Jones has been to a number of gyms through the years, and that’s helped her decide what she does and doesn’t want at hers.
“To be honest with you, none of it has really felt like home,” she said of the other places.
In particular, Jones said she wants people to feel at ease and not be intimidated in any way. She said that’s especially so for women.
“I love working with women.”
Jones said she wants to help women get strong without some of the yelling and hype that can be found at some gyms.
“I just have a vision of the space I want to create for them.”
Her new 6,800-square-foot space has an industrial look with tall ceilings, exposed brick and an open, airy feel.
Stephanie Wise of Street Commercial handled the deal for the new gym.
Jones is getting the space ready now and hopes to open by April at the latest. Eventually, she’ll have a second phase of remodeling and will paint the outside, too.
Jones said she likes the midtown area as it’s convenient to her customers on the east and west sides.
She said she also likes that downtown is expanding and becoming more vibrant.
“I . . . want to be a part of that.”
