SMALL FITNESS COMPANIES FIGHT TO SURVIVE
ABQ’s small fitness businesses hunker down to outlast pandemic, shutdowns
For nearly 20 years, Josh Kronberg worked as a waiter at various restaurants in Albuquerque. The gymnastics skills he acquired during his adolescence were barely put to use — but for exceptional hand-toeye coordination helpful during a rush.
But then along came American Ninja Warrior.
It wasn’t the potential fame or TV exposure that attracted him. It was more about conquering the challenge of the obstacles. He built obstacles in his front yard, and backyard, and trained. Some days, those who drove by his house would honk, and he took it as encouragement to keep going.
The building and training led him to become a contestant for six seasons on American Ninja Warrior, but even more life-changing, chasing his dreams resulted in Ninja Force Obstacle Gym at 2513 Comanche NE in Albuquerque.
A little over five years ago, he helped start Ninja Park Gym, but soon decided to go in a different direction. Thus his dream to start Ninja Force.
For the past 4½ years, with the support of his family, Kronberg built Ninja Force into a strong business. Then came 2020. The coronavirus pandemic forced two lengthy shutdowns for many businesses in New Mexico and the virus threat made potential clients fearful.
In early 2020, prior to the outbreak, Kronberg had built Ninja Force Obstacle Gym to the point of potential expansion to
production of obstacles and equipment. Like many small business owners in New Mexico, his business was thriving in early 2020.
It’s a much different story these days.
“You put your heart and soul, your blood, sweat and tears into it, all your free time,” Kronberg said. “I sacrificed my family time to get this gym up and running. We maxed out every credit card we had. We refinanced our house. We refinanced our car, just to get it. And, it was finally to the point where it was great. And, now it’s back to the way it was year one: just barely making it.”
The new year yields new business for most fitness centers, even specialty fitness gyms, since they provide opportunity for dedication to New Year’s resolutions. In 2021, the new year merely offers hope.
Kronberg — along with Sandra Rubi of Sandra’s School of Dance, husband and wife Phillip and Kristine Blackman of Blackman’s Championship Martial Arts gym, and Aaron Bubbico of Crossfit Albuquerque — is grateful to be open after such a challenging 2020.
They all relied on federal, state and city government loans to pay the bills and stay afloat. Some clients and members continued to pay fees even without using the facility or taking virtual classes, the business owners said.
Kronberg, however, could not have virtual lessons because his business requires the obstacles.
The business owners said they feel hopeful about 2021, believing the vaccine will help ease members’ fears and more will return to their facilities. But for now, there is simply uneasiness.
Kronberg has noticed a boost this month with new faces at the 10,000-square foot warehouse facility.
Still, the business must adhere to the 25% capacity rule due to state guidelines. And Kronberg can’t hold the birthday parties and clinics that once were a huge part of Ninja Force’s revenue.
‘Nonessential’
At Sandra’s School of Dance, Rubi won’t allow parents into the facility when their children come in for dance class.
Rubi has had her School of Dance business, which teaches solely children, for the past 38 years. The School of Dance studio, a 10,000-square-foot facility at 1528 Eubank NE, has been in its present location for the past 7 years.
In the past, parents could sit and watch their children learn and dance. Now, they drop off their children for class and pick them up later in the back of the studio.
“We are down about 75% (in revenue) from last year,” Rubi said. “We’re hanging in there. We’re probably one of the lucky businesses. At this time last year we were bursting at the seams, busy and excited, and competing everywhere. And now it’s basically nothing compared to that.”
Rubi and the other owners believe they should be allowed more
members in their facility because they are clean and because they follow the guidelines.
Since the first shutdown last March, Rubi said she feels targeted and was devastated to be told that her business was nonessential.
“I thought I was essential to the kids and to the parents,” Rubi said. “How can someone tell you that your business is not essential, when this is what you do for a living? I don’t think I would do this for 40 years if I didn’t think it was essential.”
Rubi said there should be more communication between the Governor’s Office and business owners, especially when it comes to opening up to full capacity.
“At some point they have to get out of their ivory towers and see what we’re doing to make things safe,” she said. “We feel targeted.”
Rainy day fund gone
The Blackmans, who have been in business for the past 27 years, feel frustrated because their sister gym in Florida is fully open.
“It’s not a good time to be a small business owner in New Mexico,” Kristina Blackman said.
When the Blackmans had to close their martial arts gym at 5812 Signal NE in March, they immediately went virtual. Still, they lost a significant amount of business.
December is usually their biggest month of the year because they offer special registration deals. But this past December they suffered a 47.7% gross income loss from December of 2019, Phillip Blackman said.
In 2020, they saw their student count go from 500 members to 217, he said.
In addition to loans, the Blackmans were also able to weather 2020 with funds that had been tucked away for an emergency.
“We were saving for a rainy day, not a pandemic,” Phillip Blackman said.
Said Kristina Blackman: “We never in a million years thought we would have to use it. We were about to have our best year ever. We just thought that money would go to our retirement. Now, I don’t know if we will ever be able to retire.”
Getting creative
Bubbico is the third owner of Crossfit Albuquerque at 6501 Eagle Rock NE, which first opened in 2008. At this time last year, he was into his second month as the owner. He had big plans for the gym, but they quickly changed when the pandemic came and he focused on just retaining members.
Crossfit Albuquerque has experienced only a 10% loss in members from last year, he said. After the shutdown in March, the classes went virtual and he loaned out the majority of the gym’s equipment.
“I feel like our gym was able to grow into a community that is different from what it was at the beginning of the year,” Bubbico said of 2020. “Most people are different from who they were a year ago. How can you go through this pandemic without being changed? The community here has grown. We are more appreciative of each other. We take more care to look out for each other. We wear masks, and it’s ‘I’m not doing it for myself, but doing it for you not to get sick.’ We are taking care of one another and growing.”