Back from the ashes
Gym gutted by arson to reopen
A GOLD Coast gym is reopening after it was gutted by fire, causing about $100,000 in damages.
The F45 gym at Pines was set alight 4.20am on June 15.
The neighbouring businesses were also damaged.
The owners, Krysti-Glory Gallo and her husband Ricardo Parata, said they lost everything.
“My husband and I purchased the business almost two years ago to the day it was burnt down,” Mrs Gallo said.
“We lost everything ... from all of the equipment to documents, receipts and files...
“The gym equipment alone was worth about $70,000 ... but it’s not just about the money. It was all the hard work that was lost.
“It was all gone within five minutes. The only thing left standing was the toilet.” Pacific about
Fortunately, the pair had opened a second gym, F45 at Ormeau, and were able to support themselves, but it wasn’t easy for them to get back on their feet.
“It was quite rough for us,” Mrs Gallo said.
“We had to sell our house and move in with our parents.
“My husband also works in child safety, and I’m a parent too, so trying to balance everything was extremely hard but we leant on each other and got through it.”
At the time, police treated the fire as suspicious but Mrs Gallo said they were still in the dark about the cause.
“We still have no idea what actually happened. That’s the crappy part,” she said.
“All we know is that it looks like they smashed through the front doors and then started the fire.”
The pair have worked “endlessly” for almost a year to rebuild, spending hundreds of hours to get the business back together.
The new fitness centre set to launch on March 16.
“We are very excited but also nervous as it’s the second time around for this studio,” Mrs Gallo said.
“It’s very close to our heart as this was the first business we have owned.
“Fingers crossed everything will go as planned.” is