Gold's Gym Signs On at Galleria at Crystal Run

Gold's Gym, the fitness center with over 700 locations nationwide, signed its lease for the upper level of the Galleria at Crystal Run's former Sears space on April 26. Demolition of the space has begun, with Gold's Gym projected to open by December of this year with 53,000 square feet of exercise space.
Founded in 1965 by bodybuilder Joe Gold, Gold's Gym has dominated the fitness industry for more than 50 years, evolving to become an iconic health and fitness brand for people of all ages and fitness levels. The Galleria location, under the ownership of Don and Tammy Murphy, who also co-own and manage Gold's Gym in Newburgh, will feature a massive fitness floor with free weights, cable and selectorized machines, cardiovascular equipment, an indoor track, a yoga studio, personal and team training, kids programming, a multitude of fitness classes, sports performance training, women's only area, locker rooms with steam and sauna, an immersive cycling program, and an enclosed rooftop cardio area.
“This gym's going to be unlike any gym people have seen before,” said Murphy, whose family has a long history in the fitness industry. In the early 1980s, his mother, Mary, began her career as an aerobics instructor at All Sport in Dutchess County. What is currently Gold's Gym Newburgh was then Airport Racquet Club. Mary and her business partner purchased the building in 1986 and transformed it into a gym. In 1989, they joined the Gold's Gym franchise.
“I can thank Mom for my health and fitness DNA,” Murphy continued. “It's in my blood to want to lead by example and help people establish healthy fit lifestyles.”
At one time, the Murphy's owned five gyms in the Hudson Valley and Connecticut, but they sold the others through the years to focus on turning Gold's Gym Newburgh into the state-of-the-art facility it is today. Upon seeing the enhancements and remodeling projects that have occurred at the Galleria at Crystal Run over the past three years and seeing the Galleria embrace nontraditional uses, like entertainment and dining, Don and Tammy knew they wanted to bring the same quality of lifestyle management they had developed in Newburgh to the Town of Wallkill and Middletown.
“The Galleria at Crystal Run is proud of its diverse mix of tenants,” said the Galleria's marketing director, Ethan Weber. “In recent years, we've complimented our retail with entertainment and dining venues, and the addition of Gold's Gym highlights how versatile the Galleria can be.” He continued, “We're not a traditional mall, after all.”
And the Galleria's Gold's won't be a traditional gym. Included in all memberships will be Les Mills The Trip, a virtual reality cycling class in which participants are immersed in a scenic ride without ever leaving the gym. “This will only be the fifth location in the United States to offer Les Mills The Trip”, says Murphy.
It's more than technology or equipment that sets the Murphys' gyms apart from others, though. It's their holistic, community-based approach to fitness and wellness.
“It's more than 'come here and lift some weights or take some classes,'” said Murphy. “We go beyond to help and support people with health issues beyond the scope of what you would typically find in a gym.”
Tammy Murphy left a NYC career in the financial sector to pursue multi-certification in nutrition after her own personal healing journey overcoming symptoms related to hyperthyroidism (Hashimoto's). She is now a Functional Diagnostic Nutrition (FDN) Practitioner, National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM) personal training and nutrition certified specialist, and currently studying for her Precision Nutrition certification. Her passion and goal is to now pay it forward, helping people identify underlying root causes to their common health issues and change their lives through food, stress reduction, and healthier lifestyle habits beyond just exercise. “It's about looking at someone's lifestyle in its entirety,” said Tammy, “including their common stress factors, and offering solutions”.
“Personal action planning and behavior change coaching is going to be a big part of what we'll be offering for people who need it,” said her husband.
Hudson Valley residents will get a look at what the Murphys have in store when the new Gold's Gym holds its grand opening gala. Before then, however, pre-opening memberships will go on sale as early as June and be available both online and at Gold's preview center, which will open on the lower level of the Galleria's Center Court, this September.
The Galleria at Crystal Run is the Hudson Valley's premier shopping, entertainment, dining, and – soon – fitness destination, as well as a community resource for all the tristate area. For more information, visit www.galleriacrystalrun.com.
Pyramid Management Group, owner of the Galleria at Crystal Run, is one of the largest, most innovative, privately-held shopping center developers in North America. Headquartered in Syracuse, New York, Pyramid's portfolio of retail-based, tourist and entertainment destinations dominate the northeast with 17 properties located throughout New York, Massachusetts and Virginia. Pyramid is an industry leader in combining the best elements of traditional retail with world-class dining and entertainment, all under one roof. For more information, visit www.pyramidmg.com.