The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
WK Fitness makes ‘incredibly difficult’ decision to close
THE WK Fitness gym that has grown to become hugely successful since it was opened by Shane Finn and Mark Evans in 2012 is to close on July 1 because of a fall-off in business.
Shane and Mark announced the pending closure on Friday, adding that they had reluctantly made the “incredibly difficult decision” to close because their business had suffered as a result of uncertainty surrounding the gym’s future in a rented premises that was up for sale.
The 17,500 square foot building, which originally operated as a bowling alley, is owned by Dingle Mart and was put up for sale on the open market four years ago with an asking price of €225,000.
The Kerryman confirmed on Tuesday that the sale of the building to a buyer with local connections has now been agreed for a price understood to be considerably in excess of the initial asking price.
A lightbulb moment of inspiration that happened during a conversation over a pint prompted Shane and Mark to set up the gym in 2012 when they were aged just 21 and 25 respectively. At the time, they say, “people didn’t give us much chance of succeeding” but by dint of hard work they defied the doubters and built the gym into a very successful business with the help of their families and the support of a very loyal client base.
Those clients have included everybody from Kerry football stars to stars of Star Wars, children, pensioners, fitness fanatics and those who simply wanted to shed a few pounds. As well as doing wonders for health and fitness levels in West Kerry, the gym earned the respect and trust of physiotherapists, doctors and top ranking medical consultants who were confident to refer patients to Mark and Shane’s care and expertise.
Speaking to The Kerryman on Monday, Mark and Shane attributed the success of the gym to “the support we got from the people of Dingle”. And while the decision to close was made with considerable regret, they haven’t lost sight of the positive side of their experience. “We got to do something we love every day for the past six years,” they said.
They were unable to say what the future may hold for West Kerry Fitness. “It will be business as usual every day for the next six months and we’ll see what the future holds after that,” said Mark.
Announcing the pending closure last Friday, Shane and Mark said they were “sharing this news at this early stage in order to give all of our members, our customers and our friends… plenty of time to tie up any loose ends in terms of their training needs and how they might continue in their quest for a healthy and strong life”.
In the meantime the pair will work flat out in the gym for the next three months “as a way of paying back our clients who have been so loyal to us”.
They are also offering a reduced rate membership fee of €100 for the next three months, which will be a thank you to those who have been members already and an encouragement to those who have planned, but so far failed, to make the leap.