CULLMAN, Ala. – Cullman SportsFit & Wellness Center is closing after more than 30 years in business. The decision to put the building and 17 acres of property along U.S. Highway 31 North up for sale was made prior to the center closing March 19 for the COVID-19 pandemic, but last week the tough choice to close permanently was made.
Becky Pollard, manager of SportsFit, has been with the gym since 1988 and is saddened by the closing. She was actually there one year prior to SportsFit’s opening in 1988. The building was previously home to the Cullman Athletic Club.
“I’ve been here a long time,” she said. “I teach aerobics, I manage, I personal train. Yeah, it’s kept me busy.”
SportsFit had been hurt financially over the last several years, with the opening of new facilities in Cullman. The locally-owned gym found it difficult to compete with the City of Cullman and corporate chains.
“When the (Cullman Wellness &) Aquatic Center opened up, that hurt us,” said Pollard. “The City of Cullman, they have free stuff for the senior citizens, which is great, but that really hurt us. Of course, Planet Fitness really hurt us. It’s hard to compete with $10 a month,” Pollard said.
Her classes with senior citizens are something Pollard is concerned about.
“We had Silver Sneakers, and that’s really what’s killing me,” she said. “It took me forever to get Silver Sneakers and I’ve had it for a little over four years. They are all asking, ‘Where we are going to go?’ but I don’t know.”
Pollard said she hopes to continue the Silver Sneakers program and is looking for a location to do so.
She added, “I was having 20-30 people every day for Silver Sneakers. It was a good class for them. We did some dance, some choreography to 50s and 60s music; we did biceps, triceps, sits, squats, walking, balancing and stabilization.”
The SportsFit building is for sale, but for now, Pollard asks people to wait regarding inquiries about purchasing the exercise equipment. The building has four recently renovated racquetball courts, a swimming pool, tanning beds, saunas, whirlpools and more.
Pollard doesn’t know exactly what her future holds, but said she does know that she will not quit exercising.
“I might do personal training on my own,” she smiled. “I just don’t know, but I will never quit exercising.”
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