Meet Matt Doheny (he/him), co-owner and General Manager of ABC Sports and Fitness in Latham, New York. ABC has accumulated a massive following over their years of operation, and that loyalty from so many has shined through this unprecedented time for all of us.
Matt’s story comes to you just days after Albany County Executive Dan McCoy announced that the the state has decided to not allow for the reopening of gyms in Phase Four. Gov. Cuomo and his team has decided that as New York State continues the process of reopening the economy in the wake of the this terrible pandemic, the last phase in the current plan -Phase Four - will no longer include shopping malls, gyms or movie theaters. This is a devastating blow to not only business owners, but the communities they serve. “This gym, is far healthier than any Walmart or grocery store will ever be - you have health conscious people who care about their immune system, their health. Which is why they’re coming to the gym. It just stinks we are the first to close, and probably the last to open…” Doheny tells us.
That wasn’t the only painful thing that has come down from government officials, back in March when ABC had originally gone into quarantine mode, Matt found out via social media.
“I found out I was closing through a tweet from Governor Cuomo. A 10am tweet on Twitter that I had to close my business in just hours.”
That is unacceptable, and just one of the many balls that have been dropped in regards to small businesses. “How is that okay for business owners? There are guys who work their entire lives for their businesses and just to be told in a matter of 3 months, it comes crumbling down.. I can’t imagine and my heart goes out to those businesses, but I believe ABC has the will survive.” Matt has had non stop people reaching out from “personal texts, emails, Facebook and Instagram DM’s - everyone wants answers.” The unique community created at ABC has banded together in an outpour of support. Blake Santoro, an employee and avid ABC member for years tells us “coming to the gym is like therapy to so many people.” You can see other members all over social media saying how much they love the community, and even being proactive sharing information about ABC and upcoming outdoor classes, to a petition aimed to reopen gyms in the capitol region created by Kristen Casper, esq, which I will link to below. Casper writes “Many local business owners, including the owners of ABC Fitness in Latham, NY (a very popular locally owned business in the capital region) have worked diligently on creating a safe environment for their members, and ensuring that once opened, they will be strictly adhering to any guidelines set in place. ABC Fitness has on only provided a sanctuary for many community members suffering from mental illness and physical disabilities, but has been a large staple of community service and support in the capital region.”
Matt took over managing ABC 9 years ago. “I got in here, met the members, saw the possibilities and fell in love with it. I get to hangout with my best friends all day, meet new people. At the end of the day this business helps people become better- healthier- and it’s very rewarding for what it is. “
Matt constantly throws his entire heart and soul into his business - fueled by his passion for fitness- every detail of ABC has been implemented with members in mind. The colors of the gym are orange, and Matt tell us because “..it’s the color of the sun - bright and happy. It’s clean, bright and positive”. Matt goes into the explanation on how all different moods can be effected by the colors around us. The colors aren’t the only things in place to benefit the members. The gym has always focused on the safety aspects, and things such as Heppa Filters had been installed in the roof to help circulate the air, and get bacterias out of the system. Sanitation stations had been at nearly every station - but now with COVID precautions, the facility has added things such as Nanoseptic stickers on all the doors, and sanitizing stations provided at every single station. NanoSeptic is a technology used on high traffic and public areas to continuously self-clean the surface. Matt has spent countless hours and resources on building barriers in between each individual machine. “I’ve installed barriers made out of heppa style shower curtains, this way because of that material, the bacteria can’t transmit from side to side or stick on the curtain…at the end of the day, I’ll do all I can for safety as we reopen. We will have people enforcing sanitation and distancing. That’s not going to be much different than it’s always been, I’m just blessed to have the following that we do here, so I’m doing all I can to ensure it’s safe for everyone when we come back.”
Part of ABC’s popularity stems from the variety of classes they offer. Some classes are continuous, others are specialized classes with guests. For the foreseeable future when the gym gets the chance to reopen, Matt has edited the layout of the studio to have boxes outlined on the ground. This means not only will the size of the classes be inevitably cut in half, but people will have to stay in their assigned boxes to ensure all social distancing possible will occur. They (ABC) are estimating a very small number for classes, which is more than a 60% estimated cut in order to respect social distancing. Previously ABC has hosted competitions and classes with turnouts well over 100 people.
Though they have the equipment you’ll need and classes, they are so much more than a “regular” gym, it’s in their name. ABC Stands for “Albany Barbell Club”. They have a whole large, separate space dedicated to those who love lifting the heavy iron. “It’s a gym within a gym. No lunk alarms out here!” Doheny tells us how the space used to be a basketball court that was falling apart. He took it upon himself to refurbish the space. He also takes it upon himself to repair the machines - and he actually welds machines into custom equipment as well.
It doesn’t end there - this gym is also home to the ‘ABC Spartans’, which are a special olympics powerlifting team. The members find the gym, and there’s a waiting list. The members of the barbell club take these people under their wing. ABC is the only gym in the local area that has a specific team like this. “They are the coolest, most motivated humans, and they add so much to the community here.”
COVID-19 has effected all aspects of working out, especially being a respiratory illness. With working out, an important aspect is your air intake. Making sure you’re breathing correctly so you don’t cause injury to yourself, which makes face masks another hurdle to overcome. How do you work out with these things on? That’s semi rhetorical. Matt tells us “it’s going to be very dangerous - you have to be able to breathe right”. Even during this conversation, Matt jokes about how he’s constantly smiling to others under his mask and that’s even ineffective.
Ideally, Matt and his team would like to keep the gym a 24/7 operation and integrate a ‘senior hour’ and a reservation system. This reservation system would have people utilizing an app, click a slot to workout in, and respect that timeframe so people can continue to come. This gym has a membership of roughly 1,500 people at any given time. With one location, and a 300 person occupancy, Matt wants to ensure everyone gets their fair shot at a time slot. He also discusses how he wants to resume classes as soon as possible, and he already has. I encourage you to follow ABC on Instagram (handles below), and visit their website regularly to not only receive updates - but ABC is beginning as of this past weekend to host outdoor fitness classes. First come first serve as there is a limited availability on open slots.
ABC has two levels of membership… a basic and premium option. Basic is equipment only, and for $10 a more a month is classes, tanning, all access. The best part about that is ABC is a no commitment gym, you’re not locked into a contract so you can come and go as you please - but we strongly believe you’ll be staying. They also have a whole pantry of available supplements from meal replacements, pre workouts, to protein bars and actual meals, and a merchandise line that has caught on like wildfire with their members and beyond. Doheny is constantly creating new designs, partnering with other businesses and supporting great causes. For example, last year ABC created rainbow pride shirts. Their restocks normally sell out very fast.
Being family owned and operated, “Support your local gym”, or more commonly #supportyourlocalgym, is the slogan that ABC has coined. ABC is a family - getting to know Matt through this pandemic project has showed me that- along with realizing how many of my family and friends attend his gym. When you walk into the establishment, you walk through a hallway that people are dying to be featured in- this hall is lined with pictures from members who have traveled across the world and have taken a photo donning a “Support your local gym” apparel item. Photos from Italy to various states across the US, people can’t get enough of ABC because it’s not just a gym.
“Support those who support you” A Facebook posts reads from a member about Matt and his leadership at ABC. It couldn’t be more truthful. For nearly the last decade, Matt has poured his heart into the family ABC is. I’ve beaten the dead horse saying we should be championing others passions, and supporting small businesses. As COVID restrictions ease and things reopen, we have to show up for others. We have to pass on the good vibes and support all we can. Human connection has been fostered for much longer than quarantine at ABC.
Therefore, when you leave your house without a mask - think of people like Matt who are crushed that their business isn’t reopening. Gyms don’t even have a date of when they can - so we need to continue doing all we can to not only ‘flatten the curve’ but destroy it. We need to continue to, or do a better job at, adhering to guidelines, and taking care of our own health. Things are going to continuously be changing as we achieve life as we “used to know” and get used to a “new normal”. We have also said before supporting is much more than financial. So, take a peek at the link below, and #supportyourlocalgym.
Whenever gyms do reopen, you’ll find me taking asylum under the iron at ABC.
You can support the petition to reopen at: https://www.change.org/p/andrew-m-cuomo-re-open-gyms-in-albany-ny?recruiter=1123691726&utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=facebook&utm_campaign=share_petition&utm_term=share_petition&recruited_by_id=d956b2e0-b653-11ea-9025-31e015d493ea&utm_content=fht-23058918-en-us%3A4
Follow ABC Fitness on Instagram @abcsportsandfitness, Facebook @ABCSportsAndFitness, or on the inter webs at abcsportsandfitness.com.
// Please note all quoted statements above are those of Mr. Doheny, and not reflective Faiella Studios.