Black Business Spotlight: Training Day Fitness

Gym helps members become better versions of themselves

When Gabe Tandoh opened Training Day Fitness five years ago, it wasn’t his first time working as a trainer at the Brooklyn Park location. “I had been there as a trainer for several years before that. In 2012, a new owner came in and took over for a couple years. He ran the place into the ground, so I left and went to a different gym,” said Tandoh. 

“I’ve been a trainer for over 16 years,” he adds. “My heart was always pulling to come back to this location because of the diversity. When the gym was about to permanently close, I saw my opportunity to come back and revamp it and give it new life.”

Open 24 hours, Training Day Fitness offers one-on-one personal training, group classes, boot camp, massage therapy, and martial arts. “We also have chiropractors,” adds the 38-year-old owner, who works with four other trainers at the site. The gym also offers month-to-month memberships for $48, or one-year contracts for $36 per month.

MSR: What inspired you to start your business?

GT: I really like working with people, helping people become a better version of themselves, and improving their overall health by healing their body from the inside out. That includes everything from nutrition to massage to training and exercise, and giving them the knowledge to improve their bodies and challenge themselves to be physically better.

MSR: How does your business impact the community?

GT: It impacts the community in so many different ways. Because we’re located in a food hub, people generally come here [a strip mall area] for food. There are five different restaurants you can choose from in this strip mall alone. Food always drives people to get out of the house. So, I chose this location because it attracts people who are coming here for food. 

But hopefully it’s the takeout that motivates them to say, “Oh, yeah, my fitness, I should probably do something about that.” If you drive by it [the gym] often enough, eventually your conscience will kick in. Maybe they’ll incorporate fitness into their everyday routine along with getting food.

MSR: What would you say is your most popular service?

GT: Our most popular service is our gym membership. The fact that we’re tailored to the community’s needs and it’s a non-judgmental environment, we have a very diverse membership. People come in, they want to work out, they want to be left alone. And when they want answers to questions about how to improve, they always have access to that without being forced to or feel like they need to look a certain way or feel a certain way. 

The fact that it’s open 24/7 means they can come in at any time they want and not have to feel like, “Oh, it’s closing time,” or “I can’t go in because it’s too busy.” If you can’t come in because it’s too busy, you can come in at a different time.

MSR: You mentioned that you came back because you felt drawn back to this location. Why was that?

GT: I currently live in Blaine. I lived in Brooklyn Park for 15 years. I moved to Brooklyn Park back in 2007. I’m drawn to the community. I do a lot of community work. I have a nonprofit that’s based out of here. I work with a lot of local schools. 

I’m involved in so many different activities, so many things that go on in Brooklyn Park, it only makes sense to open a gym here and offer a service that I know will benefit everyone.

MSR: What has been your biggest challenge in owning a business?

GT: As far as I know, this location has been a gym for the past 20-plus years. It was under poor management and ownership for quite a while. So, my biggest challenge was getting the bad taste out of everyone’s mouth and showing them that it isn’t the same place anymore. 

It’s the same location, but it’s not the same atmosphere. Things are better and things have improved. The services you receive, you’ll have a much better experience than what you had before.

For the first two years, I did a lot of listening to those who used to have a gym membership here. The first five to six months, I gave a lot of free memberships to previous gym-goers just to let them come in to work out free-of-charge. I made a deal with them. If you don’t have a better experience, you’re free to go. If you do have a better experience, you’re welcome to stay. And about 100 percent of them decided to stay.

MSR: What has been the most rewarding part of owning your business?

GT: The most rewarding part is seeing people of all shapes and colors and races come together. They’re all different but have one goal. I get to see it every single day. Exercise brings people together. 

They’re able to see that someone who looks different from them also wants to improve themselves. And whatever background they might come from, whatever bias, whatever their politics, they still have the same goals, which is improving themselves. It breaks down the walls.

MSR: What sort of miraculous transformations have you seen?

GT: I’ve seen people make drastic transformations physically after sticking with it. Every day I get to talk to people, and I tell them, “Hey, no matter what, no matter what you’re going through, keep coming because it will get better when you keep exercising.” I see a lot of physical transformation, and I see a lot of mental transformation. 

Life is constantly throwing obstacles in our way in our daily lives. Exercise helps us mentally deal with it. It helps us deal with it emotionally. It helps us deal with it psychologically.

When you exercise, it’s basically free medicine and healing. You’re giving your brain and your body a chance to improve and put you in a better state of mind. The most rewarding is seeing people improving on so many different levels, not just physically but mentally, spiritually and emotionally.

MSR: If there’s someone reading this right now that’s on the fence about joining a gym, what would you tell them?

GT: Give it a try. Go to multiple gyms on day passes and experience the atmosphere. A gym is supposed to be a place where you can comfortably walk in. If you walk in and you don’t feel comfortable, maybe that’s not the right fit for you. 

You should never go into a gym and say, “I don’t like going in there because I’m going to feel judged. I’m going to feel persecuted. Or I have to look a certain way just to exercise.” It should be a part of your daily routine like work and daily house cleaning. It will help you in so many ways that you never imagined. 

You know, most people come in with the intention of making a physical transformation. But that physical transformation opens so many other doors. It helps make things in your life better all around.

MSR: What’s your vision for your business? What does success look like for you?

GT: My vision for the business is to keep growing, and to keep helping people be a better version of themselves every day.

MSR:  What advice would you give to an aspiring entrepreneur?

GT: You might have 100 doors slammed in your face, but one will give you a little sliver of a green light. Once you enter, dream big! 

It won’t be easy. There’re going to be so many more obstacles in front of you. But start by writing down your goals for today. Your goals for next week. Your goals for a year from now. Your goals for five years from now. Put that list somewhere so that you can see it every single day to remind you. 

When those tough times come, you can lean on your goals and say, “Nope, this is difficult. But I’m not going to give up because I made these goals and I’m going to see them through. I know there’s a light at the end of the tunnel.”

MSR: What would you like to add that has not been covered?

GT: I want the community to not be afraid to exercise. If you had a bad experience at a gym, give another gym a try. Don’t just let your health deteriorate sitting in front of a screen or hibernating at home, because it won’t get better that way. 

This facility has won best fitness facility for four years in a row. I’m one of the best massage therapists in Brooklyn Park for four years in a row. I’ve won best personal trainer in Brooklyn Park for four years in a row. I’m willing to help people if they want help. So whatever reservations people might have, just get out there and try something different.

Training Day Fitness is located at 1460 85th Ave. N., Brooklyn Park. For more information, call 763-777-5983, or go to www.tdfmn.com.