Local Resident to Open Downtown Fitness Club

The following is a hard-hitting, no holds barred interview with John Anderson, one of the newest members of our downtown business community.  This month, John will be celebrating his second year as the owner/operator of Commuter Fitness health club on Northwest Highway, across from the Arlington Heights train depot in downtown Arlington Heights.  The fitness center is located in the middle of the block next to A La Mode ladies accessories and The Marine Connection.  In fact, most people recognize the location as where good old Bill’s Tavern used to be. 

John is a long time resident and former C- student at St. Viator and Mt. Prospect high schools.  The interviewer, his older brother Ralph, was a D student at St. Viator and has always wanted to be a published author. 

Older Brother: Ok, let’s start with some tough questions for anyone going out on their own to start a business.  John, tell us, what were you thinking?! 

John: (long pause)…umm… Before we get to your hard hitting questions, let me answer the three questions that most people ask me, most often and almost everyday.  And, I’m very impressed with how friendly everyone is and how interested they are in what’s going on. 

The first question people always ask is, “What is this place about?”

• It’s a complete, convenient, encouraging, fitness club intended to help people get into and stay into the kind of shape that they want to be in.
  

The second question is usually, “What’s with the name CommuterFitness?  Is it just for commuters?”

• No, over half of our members live in the area, it is for anyone convenient to the area.  People working nearby, living nearby and of course it is convenient for people commuting on the train or driving by on a regular basis.  But it’s not just for them, it’s for everyone.

And the third question is almost always, “When did you open?”

• January 13th, 2007.  I really underestimated the remodeling and setting up, but it turned out to be nice and clean and pleasant with brand new equipment and everyone seems to like it.

Older Brother: Ok, back to the tough questions.  As for risking it all on starting your own business, John, tell us, really, what were you thinking? 

John: (long pause)… I don’t know. 

Older Brother: Why would you even consider leaving a safe job at a great big company? 

John: (Longer pause)… No comment. 

Older Brother: Are you going to answer any of my questions? 

John: Hey!  Give me some questions that I know the answers to, this is supposed to be an interview, not a philosophy test! 

Older Brother: Ok, why did you want to open a fitness club? 

John: Finally a good question.  My friends, family, my coworkers, almost everyone I know wants to get into better shape.  They just need a little encouragement and a lot of confidence. Let’s face it, most of the time, most of us are so busy with things that we have to do, that we don’t have time for things we really want to do.  And, I believe that if given a chance, most people will want to get into better shape and stay there.  And so far, those are the type of people that are becoming members. 

Older Brother: What makes you think that Commuter Fitness is better than any of the other bigger fitness clubs? 

John: First, I didn’t say it was better, in fact I think that for a lot of people, a lot of the time, the big clubs are fine, but not for all of those people all of the time.  Commuter Fitness isn’t necessarily better, it’s different.  Most bigger clubs aren’t always encouraging or convenient enough to help keep people consistently on track doing something that they actually want to do. 

I thought if I made a place very convenient, close by to where people work or live or commute, make it clean and pleasant and friendly, a place where they feel welcome, a place where everyone knows their name… you know what I mean, I’m not going to serve beer or anything….  But a place that is pleasant, convenient, clean, quick, “get in, get in shape, get back to doing other things,” but feeling better about things, looking better, actually being in the kind of shape that they want to be in and know that they can do it with some encouragement and consistency.  I think Commuter Fitness can do that for some people.  I think that we can be successful at helping some people with that part of their life and I think that will make some people pretty happy. 

Older Brother: Wow, you sound a little bit philosophical there. 

John: Not really…Did I mention that I would also like to make a living…. But, I just think the two will go hand in hand.  If I help some people get into the kind of shape that they know they can get into and want to get into and stay into, I think that we’ll all feel a little better and then we’ll all be a little more successful, together.  It’s not a big plan, but I think it has a chance.