GONZALES — Anytime Fitness opened its doors in Gonzales with a ribbon-cutting celebration on July 21.
The new gym is located at 851 Fifth St., the former site of the Gonzales Branch Library that is now at the Dennis and Janice Caprara Community Center Complex.
Among those welcoming Anytime Fitness to the community were local leaders — Gonzales City Manager Carmen Gil, Gonzales Mayor Jose Rios, Gonzales City Councilmember Maria Orozco and Soledad City Councilmembers Eva Banuelos and Ben Caldera.
Proclamations were presented by Luis Meza representing Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas; Monica Hale representing Monterey County Supervisor Chris Lopez; Angela Bocanegra representing U.S. Rep. Zoe Lofgren; and Marisa Hernandez representing State Sen. John Laird.
According to Anytime Fitness District Manager Laurie Platero-Ross, the new location in Gonzales provides a large venue that can serve many patrons and offers plenty of room for the workout machines.
“We never had any issues as we were setting up the facility here in Gonzales,” Platero-Ross said. “That happens sometimes when they don’t want our tent or don’t want us on the sidewalk. Nobody said ‘boo’ to us and that was great. Compared to what we used to build, this fitness center has over 5,200 square feet and I just love how it feels, as we can have people working out with plenty of room.”
After the ribbon cutting, Platero-Ross presented Gonzales Anytime Fitness General Manager Ryan Avila-Ramirez, who has worked for the fitness center for three years and is a graduate of Gonzales High School. At Gonzales, Avila-Ramirez played on the football team and was a member of the Spartan track and field team.
“When I started going to work out at the gym, it turned my life around,” Avila-Ramirez said. “This gym represents fitness, it represents hope, communion and new opportunities. May this gym be a place where people can grow and heal and produce fruits that come from the spirit.”
