Snap Fitness arrives in Moses Lake

MOSES LAKE - Health club franchise Snap Fitness is now in Moses Lake.

Local businessman Darren Nelson recently opened the 24-hour gym along West Broadway Avenue. There are currently close to 1,700 Snap Fitness locations across the United States as well as in various countries including Canada, New Zealand and Australia.

"It's a rapidly growing franchise," he said.

Nelson said there are about eight locations in the Spokane and Couer d'Alene, Idaho region and a couple of locations on the west side of the state. The Moses Lake gym represents the company's only location in Central Washington so far, he said.

Snap Fitness is Nelson's second business venture. He currently owns the Moses Lake Dutch Bros. Coffee location with his wife, Kristen.

Nelson said he always toyed around with the idea of opening his own fitness club.

"I was really into fitness in college," he said. "I enjoy working out, so I've been a customer in this industry for a long time."

Nelson said he and his wife were considering opening another Dutch Bros. stand last summer. However, they ultimately decided they didn't want to draw business away from their first stand.

"We wanted something that wouldn't compete with our first business," said Nelson. "It seemed like there was an interest in there being another gym in town, so my old idea of opening one came back."

Nelson said he was already familiar with the Snap Fitness brand and contacted the company's franchising team this past summer. In July, Nelson visited some of the Spokane locations.

"I was blown away by how top-notch they were," he said. "I was immediately sold on it, I knew the people of Moses Lake would really like a nice, 24-hour club like Snap."

Nelson signed a franchise agreement with Snap at the end of July. He acquired the space along Broadway Avenue in October, he said.

"From there, things moved very quickly," said Nelson. "Things kept moving forward and by Dec. 14 we were ready to go and had our soft opening."

The gym held grand opening events recently.

Snap Fitness occupies just over 4,000 square feet. The gym features a private studio for on-demand fitness classes, he explained.

"We have Daily Burn videos for yoga, dance, cardio, spinning, you name it," he said. "You can do it by yourself, or with other people- it's like your own tailor-made class for whenever you want."

Nelson said the gym also features a good selection of circuit machines and cardio equipment, in addition to a large number of free weights.

"We made sure we had plenty of weights to go around, so we added to what you would normally see at a Snap," he said. "We also have extra pieces of cardio equipment compared to other Snap locations."

A machine that customers particularly like is the gym's Lateral X elliptical machine.

"It's brand new in the fitness world," he said.

The machine moves in multiple directions, unlike a traditional elliptical.

"It feels like skiing or ice skating," he said. "It's a really cool piece."

There is also a self-service tanning booth in the gym, which is expected to be up and running soon.

Snap Fitness is located at 2707 W. Broadway Avenue.