Fitness club for women expanding in the county
RIDLEY PARK » An Arizona fitness club with local roots is expanding in Delaware County. Jabz Boxing- fitness for women, co-founded by Delco native Kimberlee White. has opened franchises in Ridley Park and Aston and is planning another location in Havertown.
Jabz, which specializes in circuit style high intensit y training, was opened in 2012 by Archbishop Prendergast High School graduate Kimberlee White and a business partner Len Hayko. They have 18 locations in Arizona and one in New Jersey. The Aston location is owned by Jennifer August of Springfield, who grew up and went to school with White in Norwood.
White wasn’t available for an interview but August was happy to talk about the business’s connection to Delaware County.
“I knew about Jabz since its creation. My friend Kim was the co-founder. I’ve known her since kindergarten,” said August by phone last week. “Then we lost touch. She went to college in Arizona then founded Jabz out there.”
After high school, August went to Delaware County Community College and became a police officer in Darby Township and for the county Sheriff’s office. In 2009, she was hired as a police officer at Drexel University and soon rose to the rank of sergeant.
Though the two friends lost touch after high school, August still followed White on social media and then they reconnected.
“Kim had reached out to me about bringing a studio to Delco. It just started from there,” said August. “Now our location is the most successful out of all
21 locations.”
“I was looking to get out of law enforcement to be around more for my family,” said August, who has three young boys, Vinny,
8, Dom, 6 and 3-year-old Nicky. Her husband, Tom, is an essential worker for PECO . “Neither of us was guaranteed to be home weekends and holidays and it was taking a strain on us and the kids and our schedule. My husband is on shift work with PECO. If there is a storm, he could be away a week.”
Shannon Crowley also attended Prendy with the two other women and after visiting the Ridley Park location, she is now opening one in Havertown.
“After trying my first class there, the atmosphere and energy of the experience captured my interest in opening my own studio,” said Crowley.
“You know Delco - everyone is grouped together,” laughed August. “It’s great. We all have that connection.”
August has 12 employees at her Ridley location. Workouts are scheduled for busy working women with a 55-minute classes beginning at 5 a.m. until 10 a.m. and then again in the afternoon from 3:30 to 7 p.m.
“It’s boxing for fitness, not fighting,” said August. “A HIT (High Intensity Training) with 16 stations. Each station is 45 seconds and then a 25 second transition period which they can use to grab some water, catch their breath or we have a thing called a cardiograph, an extra phase, extra movement to burn more calories,” said August in describing the program.
“You do the stations twice. They are 55 minute classes with warm-up, demonstration, and workout and cool down.”
Jabz classes are kept small to encourage an individual and positive workout experience. All classes are led by dedicated certified instructors who offer one-on-one support for all members.
August said having a women’s only facility like Jabz can be a good comfort factor for some women, compared to larger clubs.
“There is an intimidation factor some women feel when they are in a gym with men. This is more of a one-on-one training,” said August. “You have smaller classes and trainers who are there to help you and a great community we’ve created with these women.”
August said they have a few Muslim members who feel relieved they can take off their religious garb and work out, which their religion prevents in mixed company.
“A lot of people come there to socialize. It is just an escape for them. They can be themselves. There is no judgement and they get a great workout in.”
At a class on Monday instructor Kelly Goslee introduced herself, then went through the different stations to show the women the expected routine. Bonnie Kelly of was one of the women in class.
“This is my favorite thing to do. It gets me through the day and gives me energy. I work nights and this gets me going.” said Kelly. “I love it.”
With that the bell rang and the women had at it, from a ref lex punching bag to leg kicks into a full hanging bag. Other women threw their fists into ‘Bob’ one of the many boxing mannequins lining the walls. After 45 seconds they moved to the next station as Goslee walked around to the women showing proper technique.
Jabz plans to increase its nationwide footprint by entering key markets such as Denver, Dallas/Fort Worth and Las Vegas. The company is actively looking to expand. A video on their website said new franchises are available for less than
$150,000.
August said they maintain strict safety precautions, including taking temperature checks in the lobby before each program and sanitizing stations are available throughout the building. Class sizes have been decreased to keep social distancing. The facility is cleaning between each class, nightly, and a weekly deep cleaning.
Jabz Boxing is located at
611N. Swarthmore Ave. in Ridley Park and 3488 Concord Road in Aston. The Havertown location has not been announced.
After the life of a police officer, a fitness club is a change. August said her years supervising police officers at Drexel has helped her run the business.
“It’s been a crazy dream but it’s been a blast!” August said.