The Little Gym offers fun for the kids

The Little Gym offers gymnastics activities for the kids

POTTSTOWN >> There’s a new business in downtown Pottstown that is geared specifically for the little ones. The Little Gym, 238 E. High St., opened May 20 — and offers gymnastics classes for children ages 10 months to 12 years old.

“The Little Gym is a youth program that uses gymnastics as a means to develop the whole child — physically, cognitively and socially,” said Stephanie Mitchell, gym director for The Little Gym Pottstown location.

Gymnastics is the core of the curriculum, she added, because it “gives them a healthy lifestyle to build and use forever, develops strength and flexibility and involves a lot of teamwork.”

A franchise company, The Little Gym Pottstown is owned by E.G. Health and Wellness LLC, whose principals are Pottstown investors Steve Everett and Dan Glennon.

Everett said the pair initially heard about The Little Gym from a local resident that had

“The Little Gym is a youth program that uses gymnastics as a means to develop the whole child — physically, cognitively and socially.”

– Stephanie Mitchell, gym director, The Little Gym Pottstown

some experience with the franchise.

“We chose The Little Gym because there was nothing like them in the area. We thought they would be a huge benefit to Pottstown and the surrounding area,” he said. “The kids come first and we are happy to have a national franchise here in Pottstown.”

The Little Gym features a colorful environment for learning — and playing — and includes mats, balance beam and bars. The equipment and instruction are geared for each age group.

“Our goal for The Little Gym

is to add an opportunity for Pottstown and the surrounding areas to be able to learn and grow with their children as they become more confident,” Everett added.

The Little Gym offers parent/child classes for ages 10 months to 3 years, preschool classes for ages 3 to 6 years and grade school classes for ages 6 to 12 years, according to Mitchell.

“All the classes are curriculum-based with individualized instruction within the class,” she said, adding that enrollment includes one class per week as well as one practice. Practice time is a structured and supervised period to practice what is learned in class each week.

The parent/child class, she explained, includes locomotive and gross motor skills activities, bonding and “time for balls and bubbles and a lot of music.”

“We were waiting for it to open,” said Shannon of Schwenksville. She and her husband Jake have enrolled their 22-month-old son Liam. “We like it, and he really loves it.”

Sawyer Witman, 2, of Boyertown was busy at The Little Gym recently, climbing over mat blocks and balancing on the beam.

“It is a cool place. She has fun and gets to be around other kids,” Sawyer’s father Nick Witman said.

In addition to classes, The Little Gym offers birthday parties and parent’s survival nights. The survival nights will be scheduled for select Friday and Saturday nights throughout the year, letting parents see a movie or have diner out, while their kids play at The Little Gym. The evenings, according to Mitchell will be open to Little Gym members, as well as members of the community.

Everett said he and Glennon started working with the Little Gym about 18 months ago. He said the decision was made to locate the business in the New York Plaza building, “because it is a staple building for the down town. Being in the center of town is important as well, since it brings

new business and traffic to the borough.”

Work on the 4,500-squarefoot space began in November, according to Mitchell, and included a complete renovation of the space. Everett added that renovations included an updated sprinkler, electric and restrooms.

Everett and Glennon have owned the New York Plaza building for about two years, according to Everett — one of several Pottstown buildings and businesses the pair own.

“We picked Pottstown because we saw how beautiful the town was. We could imagine what it once was and thought it would be wonderful to participate in its growth,” he said. “Pottstown has everything, from accessibility to parking and most of all beautiful architecture.”

The pair owns Splitting Edge Axe Throwing, which is located in the former Ellis Mills building, 225 E.

High St. in Pottstown. They will be adding a brewery to that location — J.J. Ratigan Brewing Company — which is expected to open in the fall.

In addition, Everett said he and Glennon are “assisting in the growth of a few businesses and are super excited to work alongside of other investors as Pottstown becomes the next home town.”

Mitchell said she has a degree in education from Kutztown University, as well as 15 years of management experience, adding that she wanted to get back to a career working with children.

For more information about the classes and activities offered at The Little Gym call 484-949-8211 or visit www.thelittlegym. com/pottstownPA/

DONNA ROVINS - MEDIANEWS GROUP Liam, 22 months, of Schwenksville, walks on the balance beam at The Little Gym in Pottstown — with a little support from dad Jake. The Little Gym offers classes for parent/child, ages 3 to 6 and 6 to 12.

DONNA ROVINS - MEDIANEWS GROUP The Little Gym in Pottstown is a new business on E. High Street, offering gymnastics classes for kids from 10 months to 12 years. In this photo, Sawyer Witman, 2, of Boyertown, makes her way across the mats. Showing her the way is Little Gym Director Stephanie Mitchell.

SUBMITTED PHOTO The Little Gym recently opened in Pottstown at 238 E. High St. The facility offers a gymnastics-based curriculum for kids ages 10 months to 12 years.

DONNA ROVINS - MEDIANEWS GROUP Stephanie Mitchell, gym director for The Little Gym in Pottstown, stands in one of the class/activity rooms at Pottstown’s New Little Gym. The facility offers classes for kids from 10 months to 12 years.