1851

<p>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.&nbsp;</p><p>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.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>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.</p><h4>1851 Franchise: Tell us your story – what did you do before franchising?</h4><p>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.</p><h4>1851: How did you initially find out about franchising?&nbsp;</h4><p>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.</p><h4>1851: Why did you choose franchising over starting your own business?</h4><p>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.</p><h4>1851: What other types of brands did you look at?</h4><p>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.</p><h4>1851: Why did you choose Workout Anytime? What excited you most about the potential?</h4><p>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.</p><h4>1851: How has COVID-19 impacted your opening? What motivated you to expand with the brand during a global pandemic?</h4><p>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.&nbsp;</p><h4>1851: What are your dreams with the business? What does the future look like?</h4><p>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.</p><h4>1851: What value do you see your business providing to Hickory?</h4><p>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.&nbsp;</p><h4>1851: What advice would you have for others looking at buying a franchise?</h4><p>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.</p><h4>1851: What do you do in your personal time?&nbsp;</h4><p>Grove: In my free time, I love hanging out with my wife and two boys. We enjoy traveling, going to the pool and playing golf.</p>

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

1851 Franchise

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

industry-veteran-brings-first-workout-anytime-franchise-to-hickory-north-carolina

TruBlue Home Service Ally

Why TruBlue is the Ideal Franchise for Multi-Unit Owners: Scalable Growth With a Purpose

why-trublue-is-the-ideal-franchise-for-multi-unit-owners-scalable-growth-with-a-purpose

Onigilly Japanese Kitchen

Koji Kanematsu Turned a 2,000-Year-Old Japanese Staple Into One of the Most Scalable Restaurant Franchise Models

koji-kanematsu-turned-a-2000-year-old-japanese-staple-into-one-of-the-most-scalable-restaurant-franchise-models

Lindora

Celebrating the Nurse Behind the Mission: How Melinda Endricks Is Powering Lindora’s Growth and Impact Nationwide

celebrating-the-nurse-behind-the-mission-how-melinda-endricks-is-powering-lindoras-growth-and-impact-nationwide

Sola Salons

Sola Salons Targets Chicago for Strategic Franchise Growth

sola-salons-targets-chicago-for-strategic-franchise-growth

Melting Pot

Photo of Melting Pot white chocolate fondue

How Melting Pot Franchisees Drive Year-Round Success Through Strategic Promotions and Local Marketing

melting-pot-franchise-year-round-success

Buying a Franchise Masterclass

 Franchise Opportunities

Get Support Buying a Franchise

How to Buy a Franchise White Paper

How to Buy a Franchise

How to Sell Franchises

How to Grow a Franchise

Find a Franchise Supplier

1851 Franchise Opportunities

Franchisor News

Franchisor Power Rankings

FranCamp Mastermind Summit

Franchise Resources

What ALEC-Laffer's Report Means for Franchising

Website Awards

Power Rankings

About 1851

Advertise on 1851

Contact 1851 Editorial

Terms of Use

1851 Login

GROWTH CLUB LOGIN

facebook

instagram

twitter

linkedin

youtube

DoorDash Expansion Could Reshape Delivery and Operations for Franchise Brands - 1851 Franchise

DoorDash Expansion Could Reshape Delivery and Operations for Franchise Brands

doordash-acquistions-deliveroo-sevenrooms

Crumbl Franchise Investment - TSG Consumer Partners -  1851 Franchise

TSG Consumer Partners Takes Minority Stake in Crumbl, Signaling Franchise Growth Potential

crumbl-franchise-investment-tsg-consumer

Yum Brands Reports Strong Q1 Results with Big Boost from Taco Bell

yum-brands-reports-strong-q1-results-with-big-boost-from-taco-bell

QSR: McDonald’s Gains Momentum With Chicken Innovation, Value Deals and Franchisee Support

mcdonalds-franchise-recovery-chicken-strategy-value-deals-2025

The Future of Franchising: Trends and Predictions for 2025 and Beyond

the-future-of-franchising-trends-and-predictions-for-2025-and-beyond

Franchisee spotlight image with Randy and Sandy Craft, Children's Lighthouse logo on blue background

The Crafts’ Successful Journey from New Parents to Children’s Lighthouse Franchisees

the-crafts-successful-journey-from-new-parents-to-childrens-lighthouse-franchisees

Franchisee spotlight image with photo of Robert Trujillo and UWRG logo on blue background

How Robert Trujillo Expanded His Construction Business With UWRG

how-robert-trujillo-expanded-his-construction-business-with-uwrg

Health Care Professional in the Non-Profit Space Brings TruBlue to North Pittsburgh

health-care-professional-in-the-non-profit-space-brings-trublue-to-north-pittsburgh

Franchisee Spotlight with Armando Cordova and Jorge Molina with Crust Pizza Co. Logo

Texas-Sized Ambition: How a Shared Dream Turned Into Three Crust Pizza Co. Locations

crust-pizza-co-armando-cordova-jorge-molina-georgetown-launch

Layoffs Surge to Pandemic-Era Highs, Opening Doors for Franchise Growth

layoffs-surge-to-pandemic-era-highs-opening-doors-for-franchise-growth

District Taco Franchise Costs, Fees, Profit and Data for 2025

franchise-deep-dive-district-tacos-franchise-costs-fees-profit-and-data

The Ultimate Guide to Selling Franchises: Building Your Brand’s Growth Machine

ultimate-guide-to-selling-franchises

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

MORE STORIES LIKE THIS