How Commercial Real Estate Investor Joseph Huang Found the Perfect Fit in Workout Anytime

Joseph Huang didn’t set out to become a fitness franchisee. As a commercial real estate investor, he was used to solving leasing challenges and revitalizing underused shopping centers. But after acquiring a property with a vacant Workout Anytime space and partnering with other franchisees to bring it back to life, he saw something different: the value of being not just a landlord, but an operator.

That success sparked a bigger idea. Instead of waiting for tenants to fill hard-to-lease spaces, Huang could take the lead, adding value to his properties while investing in a business model he believed in. Now, he’s preparing to open his first Workout Anytime in Emporia, Kansas, a smaller market that’s underserved in the fitness space. With a passion for wellness and a long-term vision, Huang is building a gym that supports both the local community and his own entrepreneurial goals.

1851 Franchise spoke to Huang about his franchise journey and plans for the future. Here’s what he had to say. 

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

Joseph Huang: I’m in commercial real estate. Before that, I was also in information security and information technology. I still do some of that. I like to keep up with what's going on in technology, especially with AI, so it's still a hobby of mine. I do some consulting work there, but for the last eight years, I've primarily focused on commercial real estate.

We buy value-add shopping centers. Back in 2020, we bought a shopping center that came with a Workout Anytime lease. During the pandemic, the operator defaulted due to the challenges at the time. He had other obligations and couldn’t open the gym. We ended up with a million-dollar lease but no operator.

We reached out to Workout Anytime and worked closely with them to figure out what to do. Eventually, we found Jerry Pugh and EJ Williams to take over the lease, and it turned out way better than expected. We worked closely with them on the build-out, and the gym ended up being even larger than originally intended. It was a great experience.

Looking back, we felt like maybe we should’ve been the ones to take over as franchisees. Seeing the success they’ve had in Lynchburg really got us interested. I think it’s one of the top five or ten in the system in terms of revenue and definitely the largest gym in Lynchburg.

As we continue acquiring property, we’re finding that we can be operators or owner-users of spaces we can’t lease up. Franchising seemed like a good fit — not only to open a successful gym in the fitness industry, but also to add value to the properties we own.

We thought Workout Anytime would be a good fit for Emporia, Kansas, in one of our properties. We had been looking for a restaurant or another tenant, but realized there was a void in national gym brands in the area. It’s a small, tertiary market, but after talking with Terri Harof and having her visit the location, it seemed like a great fit. So we decided to move forward and are now opening our first gym with Workout Anytime at a property we own.

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?

Huang: I've always had an interest in opening a business, and I’ve always thought that if I were going to start one, going with a franchise — something proven — would increase the chances of success. There’s always a risk in any business, but with a franchise system that’s been demonstrated to work for other business owners, the risk is lower.

Workout Anytime has been around for about 25 or 30 years, and going with a name like that definitely increases our chance of success. The systems are already in place, and there’s a strong support structure to help us hit the ground running. For us, it felt like the right approach.

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

Huang: I think it’s the culture and how the brand was founded. There’s a clear passion for the fitness industry, and the founders have real credibility. They’ve demonstrated success through other ventures, and we were drawn to that. Seeing the success they had, both for themselves and for the brand, was really inspiring. There are a lot of choices out there when it comes to fitness franchises, but this one struck the right balance for us.

We didn’t want to go too big, like a Planet Fitness, and we didn’t want to go too small, like an Orangetheory. Workout Anytime felt like the right fit — it’s a good middle ground, especially for the space we have in our shopping centers. It’s a model that fits well with what we do, and hopefully, it’s something we can replicate at other properties we own.

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

Huang: This location will definitely fill a void in the center, and as we continue to look at other properties we own or acquire in the future, this will always be a potential option. We see it as an owner-user opportunity for spaces we haven’t been able to lease. Opening a gym like Workout Anytime not only activates that space, but it also adds value to the property.

If we decide to sell the property down the road, it’ll be in a better position in terms of tenant mix. A fitness center pairs well with tenants like a grocery store, convenience store or other complementary uses. It brings balance to the center and enhances the overall value.

More broadly, I think we’re providing value to the community by offering these kinds of amenities. Our goal with our company, which is called Synergize, is to create synergy through collaboration and smart decisions. We want to bring people and businesses together, like placing a Workout Anytime in a center that just needs strong leadership and collaboration to thrive.

1851: Is there anything else about your story you want us to know?

Huang: I’m also passionate about fitness. I go to the gym regularly, so it feels great to open a business that aligns with what we believe in when it comes to health and wellness. Workout Anytime is a great fit for that. We see this as a strong business venture to add to our portfolio, and hopefully, it’ll be the first of many.

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

Huang: I would say do your homework. Do your due diligence when it comes to picking the right brand. We looked at many other franchise opportunities before making a decision. At some point, you just have to get started. Even if there’s some fear or potential risk, you’ll learn from the experience. Taking action is what moves you forward — it gets you closer to your goals, whether that’s financial freedom, pursuing a passion for fitness or entering an industry you care about.

Don't overanalyze. Take concrete steps toward your dream, talk to the right people and lean on the resources available to you. Whether you're going with a well-known franchise or something new, progress starts with action.

ABOUT WORKOUT ANYTIME:

Atlanta-based Workout Anytime is a premium, 24/7 fitness concept with over 200 locations across the U.S. Founded to provide members with state-of-the-art fitness facilities and an exceptional experience at an accessible price point, the brand delivers a strong, profitable business model for franchisees. Built on the foundation of “Think Big, Keep It Simple, and Do It with Integrity,” Workout Anytime is preparing for significant expansion across the U.S. and Central America by offering business-minded entrepreneurs a compelling opportunity to join a proven, rapidly growing brand. Franchise opportunities are available, and more information can be found on http://workoutanytimefranchise.com/.