Industry Veteran Brings First Workout Anytime Franchise to Hickory, North Carolina

Chris Grove is bringing the 24-hour, seven-day-a-week fitness concept to Hickory to keep his neighborhood healthy during the pandemic.

By Kayla Bodel1851 Franchise Contributor

2:14PM • 11/20/20

While most people may not think to open a health club during a global pandemic, Charlotte resident Chris Grove saw an opportunity with Workout Anytime to bring an underserved community a facility to stay physically and mentally healthy during a time when they need it most.

Grove believes that this is the perfect time to open his fourth North Carolina location, noting that now more than ever Americans are choosing to put their health and wellness first. The multi-unit owner of Workout Anytime, a 24-hour, seven-day-a-week fitness concept with over 160 locations across the United States, has worked in the fitness industry throughout his entire professional career and doesn’t plan on leaving anytime soon.

Set to open by mid-September, the Hickory Workout Anytime location will be the first in the area to bring a high-quality fitness experience at an affordable price to the community. With plans to continue to grow with the brand, Grove’s recently purchased five locations and expects to open another before the end of this year.

1851 Franchise: Tell us your story – what did you do before franchising?

Chris Grove: I’m originally from Randleman, North Carolina. As I took on new professional roles, I relocated to Asheville and then Tennessee. While relocating, one thing has always remained the same: my passion for health and fitness. I started my career in the fitness industry when I was 20. I’ve been a personal trainer, a sales manager and a district general manager at fitness clubs like The Rush Fitness Complex and Peak Fitness prior to franchising with Workout Anytime.

1851: How did you initially find out about franchising?

Grove: I knew a regional manager who decided to franchise his own club and watched the great success he was having. From there, I started heavily researching various franchise opportunities in the fitness industry, looking at multiple brands in the industry. When I stumbled upon Workout Anytime I fell in love with the model. It was simple and garnered the success I was looking for. In 2014 I decided to join the business and open my own gym in Cabarrus County.

1851: Why did you choose franchising over starting your own business?

Grove: When I met with CEO Steve Strickland I immediately felt the support that I would have as a franchisee. That really appealed to me over taking on the risk of operating a successful health club by myself. I was intrigued by Strickland’s goals of where he wanted to take the franchise. I saw the potential in the longevity of this opportunity to have eight to ten clubs across North Carolina.

1851: What other types of brands did you look at?

Grove: Because fitness is my thing, I only looked at health and fitness brands. I really love lending a helping hand and doing whatever it takes to help others achieve their goals.

1851: Why did you choose Workout Anytime? What excited you most about the potential?

Grove: The model was simple with low overhead and I really felt the support from the corporate team. Workout Anytime has everything you need from a club member standpoint. From the 24-hour offering to the high-quality equipment and personal training services all at an affordable price — it really is the best option for customers. What excited me most about this opportunity was the potential for continued growth with the Workout Anytime brand.

1851: How has COVID-19 impacted your opening? What motivated you to expand with the brand during a global pandemic?

Grove: Now more than ever, I believe that society is going to take their health more seriously. Talking about an upper respiratory infection, there’s truly nothing more important than working out and staying healthy. And it’s not only to benefit people physically, mental health is also important. I really just want to help people stay healthy and give them an outlet for anxiety, depression, etc. COVID-19 hasn’t really had an impact on delaying the opening, and if anything, it’s a driving factor to get the location open and ready to serve the public. The governor did issue a mandate closing health clubs, but with a doctor’s recommendation members are still able to exercise as needed with extra precautions in place at our locations.

1851: What are your dreams with the business? What does the future look like?

Grove: I recently purchased five locations. Hickory is the first, and I am planning on opening another by the end of this year. The goal is to open two or three per year with a long-term goal of opening seven to ten clubs throughout North Carolina.

1851: What value do you see your business providing to Hickory?

Grove: Like I said, I believe that health is going to be a huge priority from here on out. By opening this location in an underserved market, any and everyone will be able to take advantage of our club no matter what their goals are —live better, look better, feel better. I also see the value of providing job opportunities to the Hickory area, especially during times like these. I’m excited to bring this offering to the Hickory community and am confident that it will be well received.

1851: What advice would you have for others looking at buying a franchise?

Grove: I’d encourage them to do what I did and research brands thoroughly. Anyone who is trying to take a leap of faith and start their own business, I’d tell them to consider franchising first. I’d also strongly recommend looking into Workout Anytime. Not only is the model simple and support from corporate tremendous, but we’ve also been fortunate to continue growing throughout the global pandemic.