Fit business

EPHRATA - Born and raised in Ephrata, Mike Scellick has operated several businesses in town and learned how to adapt and change over the years to keep them thriving.

“You get to that point that you’ve got to have energy and you’ve got to be creative and keep evolving, programs and that kind of stuff, and once you stop, your business starts sliding,” he said.

Scellick owns the Ephrata Athletic Club, Studio Fitness and the Nat Washington House. He also owned Sole Performance for many years before selling it to Kelsey Gribble recently.

Scellick said when he first bought the Ephrata Athletic Club in the 70s, at only 23 years old, he had been an employee for the business in between attending classes at Big Bend Community College.

“I was the boy that cleaned in the club,” Scellick said.

He explained that when the original owner of the club, Tom Lilly, decided he wanted to sell, he offered it to Scellick for a really good deal.

“He said, ‘Would you want to buy it?’,” said Scellick. “I didn’t have any money, I just got married and had $300 in my savings account and he said ‘Go across the street to the bank and there’s some paperwork over there for you, sign it and make payments.”

So for no money down, Scellick had his start as a business owner in Ephrata. This wasn’t the last time however Scellick would strike a good deal with local business owners. It was how he acquired the Studio Fitness space and the Nat Washington House as well.

“I was in the right spot, at the right time, and (with) the right people,” Scellick said.

He started Sole Performance after receiving advice from fellow local business owner Lowell Moore, he said. Moore had told Scellick he needed another business so when business was low at one, the other could support the one not doing as well as business tends to fluctuate over time. Scellick wanted the second business to be one that would complement the club and felt that athletic clothes and shoes were the way to go.

Scellick mentioned that acquiring the Nat Washington House works with his other businesses because he wanted a place to be able to hold get-togethers for the club for things such as parties or promotional events.

“So it all intertwines,” Scellick said.

Scellick said business during the pandemic was hard, but his businesses were able to make it through because of their revenues from being in business so long and generous support from the community. There were a lot of instances of club members still paying their dues, even when they could not use the businesses to work out. Other community members simply donated money.

Over the 45 years Scellick has been a business owner in Ephrata, he’s seen many changes in the fitness industry.

When he first acquired the athletic club, it was basically a men’s club, Scellick said. When the club started accepting women as members, there were a lot of men upset about it and threatened to start their own gym. Scellick said it never happened and once things calmed down they actually enjoyed having women in those spaces.

“That's another experience that was a good experience I look back on,” Scellick said.

Within a year of allowing women into the athletic club, he said he almost tripled his membership.

“Now you’re seeing women in the free weight room, hitting it just as hard as the guys are,” said Scellick.

His favorite part has been working with seniors, he said. Younger members come in and know what they want to do and how to do it while a lot of his older clients didn’t have a very active upbringing and aren’t sure where to start.

“You just start from the bottom and work up,” Scellick said.

Ephrata Athletic Club just started a new program called After PT to help those released from physical therapy continue progressing toward their goals, keep them moving and encourage them to continue the programs given by their therapists. After PT gives recently released physical therapy patients a transition from therapy to a home routine.

The Ephrata Athletic Club also has a personal trainer, Darla McMillan, who specializes in strength and weight training. She has been a trainer for the club for 15 years off and on.

“We want people to feel like you can come here and be you and just get a little stronger and feel good about yourself,” McMillan said.

Rebecca Pettingill may be reached at rpettingill@columbiabasinherald.com.

Ephrata Athletic Club

43 Basin St NW

Ephrata, WA 98823

509-754-4300

facebook.com/ephrataathleticclub

Class offerings:

Spin-Rowing with Michelle is Tuesdays and Thursdays from 5:30 to 6:20 a.m.

Spin-Rowing with Mike is Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m.

Spin with Harold is Saturdays from 8 to 9 a.m.

Yoga with Shannon is Mondays and Thursdays from 6 to 7 p.m.

Member spin-rowing: $30 for 10 classes

Nonmember spin-rowing: $40 for 10 classes

Spin class: $5 per class

Member yoga: $40 for 10 classes

Nonmember yoga: $50 for 10 classes

Note: Class offerings are subject to change at the discretion of the business. This is not a comprehensive listing.