'Anytime Fitness' 24-hour gym planned for downtown McCook

Monday, November 6, 2017
Gary Habe, left, and Jeremy Koch of Butterfield Electric, Gothenburg, remove lighting during the renovation of a former carpet store into the new “Anytime Fitness” center in the 200 block of Norris Avenue in downtown McCook.
Connie Jo Discoe/McCook Gazette

McCOOK, Neb. — The franchise owner of “Anytime Fitness” is enthusiastic about his new 24-hour fitness gym in downtown McCook.

“We are super excited about the opportunity for the club, and for the community,” said Brian Barton of Denver, Colo., who plans to open the new fitness center after the first of the year.

Brian is renovating what most recently was a carpet and flooring store at 206 Norris, at Norris Avenue and B Street, one of McCook’s busiest corners. Construction started the week of Oct. 16.

Anytime Fitness is a 24-hour health and fitness club with nearly 4,000 franchised locations in 20 countries. The gym facilities are open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Brian said what’s nice about the centers’ 24-hour operation is that a customer’s key works at any Anytime Fitness facility anywhere.

Brian said that Anytime Fitness gyms are higher-end workout facilities, very welcoming and comfortable, and not intimidating to anyone of any fitness level. “Our equipment is top-of-the-line, and our free weight area is phenomenal,” Brian said.

The renovation of the building involves new ceiling, lighting and flooring on the ground floor and in the basement, preparing the scene for the cardio-vascular workout areas, cycling areas, tanning room, spa, a massage room and restrooms and showers.

McCook Anytime Fitness will have two turf areas for functional /sport specific training, in addition to two separate multi-purpose/aerobic classrooms to include Zumba, yoga, cycling, boot camp HIIT training, body pump and many more. Small group and one-on-one personal training will be available.

“The finishes will be awesome,” Brian said. “It will be a super-clean, beautiful facility.”

Brian and his family also own the Anytime Fitness gym in Scottsbluff and are building one now in North Platte.

The Bartons have looked at opportunities in McCook for a couple years, and became excited when they found, on the internet, the former carpet store offered for sale by Jeff Tidyman of McCook and a group of friends. Friends from McCook also recommended that the Bartons look into the prime downtown location in McCook.

“We prayed about the opportunity in McCook … an opportunity to go where we can really impact lives,” Brian said. He was also very impressed with the Tidymans. “Jeff and Patty are great people,” Brian said, adding that he and his family look forward to developing a relationship with the Tidymans.

Brian will start hiring soon for a couple managerial positions and staff for the McCook gym.

He said the gym will begin pre-sales in early November, offering discounted membership specials prior to a grand opening.

The email address is mccookne@anytimefitness.com; Brian said feel free to email the gym for all questions and membership inquiries.

Brian hopes to open the McCook gym by mid- to late-January.

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