Georgia-Based Entrepreneurial Duo Takes Ownership of the Decatur Workout Anytime Gym

Gina and Anthony Greenwood are anything but new to the world of franchising. Anthony grew up in the franchising industry after his father bought a McDonald’s franchise when he was just eight years old. Over the years, the Greenwood couple has opened several of their own McDonald’s locations, and the pair have developed solid backgrounds in both the restaurant and hospitality industries.

But the Greenwoods were looking for something that was a little different from the family business. They knew they wanted to continue adding to their portfolio, but weren’t sure where to start. They wanted to give back to the community and make an impact, and that’s when it hit them. Gina and Anthony met at a gym 23 years ago, and taking inspiration from their own story, the couple decided to get into the fitness category. So, in September 2020, they branched out and purchased a Workout Anytime franchise.

Now, just three years later, the couple has purchased seven Workout Anytime locations, and are preparing to open their latest unit at 2836 Lavista Rd, Decatur, Georgia 30033.

1851 Franchise recently spoke to the couple about their experiences as business owners and their plans for continued growth.

1851 Franchise: Frame your personal story for us. What did you do before franchising, and how did you decide franchising made sense for you?

Anthony: I grew up in the world of McDonald’s, as my dad is an owner and operator of them. He got his first location when I was eight years old, so I pretty much grew up in a franchise model. Franchising was an easier path for me to follow because I understood the ground rules. So, when the opportunity came up to do something outside of the McDonald’s world, I jumped at it. Thanks to my previous experience, I wasn’t nervous to sign up with Workout Anytime. And in September 2020, we took over our first club. It’s been a great ride so far.

Gina: I’ve taken a lot of diverse paths in my life. I was everything you could possibly imagine. I worked in sales, I worked for an auto performance shop, I was a high school teacher for five years, I was a paralegal and I worked at Costco. Anthony and I got married while I was teaching. When we had our first child, I retired from teaching. After a while, I just wanted to get out of the house, so I started working with Anthony’s family and learned the McDonald’s side of the business. Then in 2018 or 2019, we started thinking about other opportunities. We ultimately started looking at gym concepts because that’s where our story begins. We met at a gym 23 years ago and the rest is history.

1851: What was your perception of franchising prior to becoming a franchisee, and what do you want people to know about franchising now that you are in it?

Anthony: I really wasn’t scared of the franchise model because I grew up in it. I know a lot of people who have apprehensions about joining franchises, but for me it was a little different because I already knew what to do to make sure our McDonald’s was a smart, viable and strategic business. I wasn’t scared about doing any of that with a new company. So, when Workout Anytime came along, it was a great match for us because they were already a successful company. It was relatively easy for us to adapt to a company that already had its standards and guidelines in place. That’s one of the things I like the most about franchising; you’re not reinventing the wheel. These companies have a playbook, and if you play by their rules, you’ll be successful.

Gina: Both of my parents owned small businesses. I saw how much effort they put into their businesses, but I never wanted to own my own business because I saw what it took. It always seemed like they were struggling. I didn’t want that level of responsibility. But after having our son, Adon, I became a part of Anthony’s family’s business. And that really allowed me to have the flexibility and the time that I needed to dedicate to my family while still maintaining an income. People ask us all the time how we do it, but I don’t think we can put it into words. We just do it. We work a lot and don’t get a lot of sleep, but that allows us the freedom to spend time with our family. Especially now. Now that we’re pretty successful, we have a lot more financial freedom than we used to. I was a little hesitant at first, but I’ve learned to embrace it so much because of the quality of life it has afforded us.

1851: What made you pick this brand? What excites you most about this company?

Anthony: At the time, it was a young company that was surging. When we met with Workout Anytime, they really made us feel like the number one draft pick. We felt welcomed. We always felt that our concerns and our questions, everything mattered to them, and they took it to heart to get us the things we needed. We were just really impressed with the company. We felt that they had our best interest at heart. We knew they would have our back.

Gina: Workout Anytime really made us feel seen and noticed. When we went in for the discovery day, they did their homework on us. We’re pretty private people, but when we met with the corporate team, they knew more about us than I think anybody else ever has professionally. They took the time to learn as much as they could about us, and that was nice. They wanted to know as much about us as we wanted to know about them. They took us seriously.

1851: What do you hope to achieve with your business? What are your plans for growth? 

Anthony: We’re continuing to grow. Our specialty is taking over distressed clubs, putting them through rehab and turning them into viable businesses that are back in the black. We take that very seriously. And that draws in new members who are interested in checking out what all the excitement is about.

Gina: We consider every opportunity that’s presented to us and decide where we can have the greatest impact. Once we have decided on the best opportunities, we pursue them. We are in growth mode, but we’re not going to take a deal or opportunity that we don’t think fits our brand. We’ve turned down four or five clubs solely because we didn’t feel like it was the right fit for us. These opportunities are always worth a conversation, but just because we buy distressed clubs and turn them around doesn’t mean we buy every distressed club.

1851: What is the one thing about your story you want us to know?

Anthony: We have a really great relationship with Workout Anytime. The brand has come in and boosted us in so many different ways in order to help us be successful. We’ve worked out our entire lives; I was a former athlete in high school. Gina works out and that’s really all we knew about the fitness industry. Workout Anytime came in and plugged those gaps of learning, and really supported us and helped us get to where we are. They’ve really helped us become as successful as we are.

Gina: We’re business people. Some people get into business for money, titles or to have their names in bright lights. It’s not about that for us. We like watching the impact that our businesses can have on people. And on a personal side, we’re building a legacy for our children. We want to provide them with options and the opportunity to choose their own paths. We’re trying to build generational wealth and show our children that if you work really hard, you can also play hard.

1851: What advice do you have for other people thinking about becoming a franchise owner?

Anthony: Do your research. If you’re going into the fitness industry, research several different gym concepts and find the one that fits you the best. Find one that aligns with your values and that will support you. We were able to check all those boxes with Workout Anytime, and I believe that’s why we’ve had such a successful partnership with them.

ABOUT WORKOUT ANYTIME: 

Atlanta-based Workout Anytime is a 24-hour, seven-day-a-week fitness concept with 190 units across the U.S. Founded by fitness veterans John Quattrocchi and Steve Strickland, the company was formed to provide members with first-class fitness facilities at the lowest cost possible while delivering a profitable and affordable business model to franchisees. Built on the founders’ motto of “think big, keep it simple and do it with integrity,” Workout Anytime is preparing for significant expansion into new territories across the U.S. and Central America by providing opportunities to business-minded entrepreneurs. Franchise opportunities are available, and more information can be found on http://workoutanytimefranchise.com/.