Lifelong Barstow resident to open Anytime Fitness franchise

Good Luck Aaron!, I have been lifelong friends with his mom Janice(Blevins)Miller, owner of "The Cake Shop". Several month's ago I met with with Aaron to discuss his new venture, he is a very motivated and ambitious young man. I want to wish him the best of luck and a prosperous business. Joe

By MATTHEW PETERS Sports Editor March 16, 2007 - 7:47AM Staff photo by Matthew Peters: Christa Black and Aaron Miller stand in front of the sign for the site for Miller's new Anytime Fitness gym on East Main Street across the street from Vons. Miller plans to open the new gym the first week of May.

Former BHS wrestler will open gym near Vons in May BARSTOW - Aaron Miller began by building his own gym in his parents' garage so he could workout any time he wanted. Now he's building a gym that anyone can workout in anytime. Miller, 24, plans to open an Anytime Fitness franchise at 1251 East Main St., across the street from Vons, during the first week of May. Miller also plans to open gyms in Victorville and Adelanto eventually. A membership to Anytime Fitness would be accepted at all locations. The only rate currently set is for unlimited tanning at $15 a month. Miller described other membership plans as being "very, very competitive." Miller expects presales to be under way be next week at the Cake Shop at 1303 East Main St. There will be a contest for a stationary bike tied to the presale. The Anytime Fitness is based out of Hastings, Minn., and began franchising in 2002. The gym is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. "I think the only thing that's open 24 hours here is gas stations and ATM machines," Miller said Members are given a swipe card so that they can access the gym at any hour even though Miller said the facility would only be staffed from about 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. During off hours, members are exercising at their own risk, but Miller said he feels confident with the security measures in place. Cameras are placed throughout the gym and panic buttons that immediately alert the police are available. The buttons can also be checked out for anyone who feels unsafe walking to his or her car. "Everything I bought has safety features," Miller said. Miller is a lifelong Barstow resident who got into fitness as a teenager as a wrestler for Barstow High School. He also coached the team for two years. Once he began working out, he didn't stop. He eventually filled out the Millers' basement with a sizable collection of workout equipment. "He always had a regimen," his father, Bob Miller, said. Bob is also an investor with his son's gym. "If the Super Bowl ran into his workout time, he'd go work out. I think it's awesome for a kid to be that dedicated." With ideas of being his own boss, Miller began selling cutlery after high school. Following his interest in health and fitness, he became a certified personal trainer and has given lessons in the past. Miller's parents, Bob and Janice, run The Cake Shop, and Aaron eventually began learning about operating a business by assisting in management of the Cake Shop. He took care of payroll and marketing. However, fitness is his real passion. It's been a quick turnaround for Miller. He learned about Anytime Fitness while attending a fitness convention in Las Vegas in September. Miller had thoughts of opening his own fitness club for a year and half and was quickly sold on opening an Anytime Fitness franchise. His fianc'ee, Christa Black, whom he met on myspace.com, moved to Barstow from Michigan in October to help open the gym. Construction is already underway for the 4,400-square-foot facility, and a sign with an Anytime Fitness logo can already been seen from Main Street. Kris Okamuro, owner of Main Street Fitness, has seen a few gyms leave Barstow but none open since he started Main Street Fitness in 2002. Miller used to work as a personal trainer and saw clients at Main Street Fitness. Okamuro said he welcomes another gym to Barstow but feels confident that current Main Street Fitness members aren't going anywhere. "I come from the school of thought that competition is good," Okamuro said. "I don't look at it as a super negative. "I think he'll do OK, but it's not like it's going to affect us as far going out of business. It will be interesting. There's a lot of unknowns on this type of facility." Barstow Curves manager Patsy Craine also said she isn't worried about another club affecting her business. "I really don't have any objection to that," Craine said. "Everyone seems really happy (at Curves). The ladies that we have there seem very happy."