Rage Fitness, locally-owned gym, finds success in Springfield and Nixa
If you drive past the parking lot of Rage Fitness at 2321 S. Campbell Ave. in Springfield, it seems to always be full.
Despite being more expensive than national chains like Planet Fitness, Rage Fitness has developed a loyal membership that the owners say is because of the top-notch facilities and family atmosphere.
Rage Fitness opened in Springfield last summer after starting with a location in Nixa. A year later, business is booming.
"We try to create an environment to where it feels like your gym," said Sylas Shores, who co-owns the business with Brandon Davis.
The Rage Fitness location on Campbell Avenue is a 15,000 square-foot, two-story facility with hand-picked equipment, personal training, men's and women's locker rooms, private showers and more.
Membership, which gives customers 24-hour access to the Springfield and Nixa locations, starts at $34.99 a month.
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Shores isn't new to the gym culture. He told the News-leader that he started working out at the age of 13.
For Shores, working out was more than a way to train for sports. Shores had a rough upbringing and he went to the gym because he felt like he could control everything there.
"It was always more about that than anything, it was the one thing I could control more than anything and nobody could outwork me and that was kind of my mentality, I'll outwork everybody," Shores said. "No matter what the other variables may be in life that's the one thing I knew I could control."
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Rage Fitness likes to focus on motivating their clients and building a strong sense of community, that's why they tell their members they are a part of "Rage Army."
Shores told the News-Leader that they are planning on upgrading the Springfield location with a lounge area and also have been approached about franchising. Shores also said that they are planning on opening another location in Springfield in the near future but those plans are still in the preliminary stages.
"We are really big on wanting to put back into the community here," Shores said.
Ralph Green is a business reporter with the Springfield News-Leader. Contact him at RAGreen@gannett.com, by phone: (417-536-4061) or on Twitter at RalphGreenNL
This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: Rage Fitness finds success with locations in Springfield, Nixa
