After more than two years, the “Auto Buff Is Moving” banner is finally about to come down at 42nd/Admiral – because the building’s getting a facelift, with someone new moving in: Eric Renn talked to WSB today about his new “athletic gym,” taking over the long-vacant former Auto Buff space. Our discussion also reveals a bit about the future of the corner in general – previously slated for a mixed-use development with a “grocery store” once rumored to be the ever-elusive Trader Joe’s – read on to find out more:
Renn says he’s just signed a five-year lease for the space with owner Marc Gartin; we first reported here last November that parts of the block were being offered for lease, so it was clear than that development plans are on hold. (Renn says that while other new tenants are in the works, the dry cleaning company is staying.) “I think I can bring life back to that building,” he says.
If his name sounds familiar – he operated the somewhat shortlived West Seattle Digital north of Morgan Junction, next to the now-out-of-business Puget Sound Key and Lock. Renn says his business wasn’t helped by two fires — first the unsolved arson at the locksmith shop, then an accidental fire in his storefront to the south — but in the end, he says, this is better suited to his interests, because his passion lies with fitness.
For now, the business name is CF West Seattle (official name to be announced soon); Renn is in business with Rob Martin, and says both are North Admiral residents. With West Seattle having already welcomed new fitness businesses recently, such as Anytime Fitness and Snap Fitness (WSB sponsors), we asked Renn about what he planned to offer that might be different:
“It’s going to be a group training gym for all ages … particularly good for people who are trying to save money on gym memberships. People will be able to get coached in small group training … like a Curves approach, sort of … but when you walk in you won’t see a bunch of machines. It will be radically different from what you think of a gym … may be kind of retro, more like gymnastics types, ropes from the ceiling, Olympic rings, pullup bars, kettle bells, dumbbells, all the things put on the back burner when the big box industry went mainstream with all the body building type machines,” he explained, continuing, “I realized the average person is not a bodybuilder who comes into a gym, and those who are would join a gym that caters to bodybuilding … what I try to do is get direction … working on someone’s range of motions where they can get moving again … exercise doesn’t have to be as strenuous as you think it might … when you are doing it with other people, you realize (you) can do it!”
For now, though, clearing out the space is a big task – if you go by, you’ll see that work going on (note the trucks in the photo at the top of this story). Renn says they’re hoping to be open June 1st, and then expecting to have a grand-opening celebration in early July. They’re planning to be involved with and sponsoring community events as well, such as a liver-disease awareness- and fund-raising walk that’s coming up.
“We’re going to bring life and amazing energy” to the space, he concludes – energetically, of course.
| 17 COMMENTS