When Lacey Ultimate Fitness Center (LUFC) suddenly closed down in August of 2017, the surrounding area lost not only a space to exercise but a deep community the gym had fostered. Memberships were transferred to other local gyms while many wondered if the LUFC would ever reopen. Two previous LUFC members, Nic Dunning and Wade Lowery, saw an opportunity to rebuild the treasure and transform the gym into something even greater.
Photo credit: Spencer Spotts
Nic was approached by another member at the gym whose business partner, Wade, wanted to invest in the gym and redevelop it. Nic already had connections with the local fitness community (he even owns a few Total Nutrition stores) and Wade had both a business and competitive bodybuilding background, so the partnership was a formula for success and West Coast Fitness Lacey was born.
“[The old gym] was home for a lot of people,” said Nic. “It didn’t have that ‘corporate vibe.’ Here, people are really involved with the community, like with local events. We’re aiming to bring that back.”
The following months were spent tirelessly renovating the space, including a new paint job and construction of a few new walls. They had a soft opening on December 15, 2017 and then a grand opening on January 1, 2018. Nic and Wade are continuing to build their team as the gym expands and grows.
“I’m really into giving other people opportunities,” said Nic. “I came from a really poor background, so giving people an opportunity after all the life lessons I learned – that’s the greatest thing in the world to me.”
Photo credit: Spencer Spotts
West Coast Fitness Lacey offers over 18,000 square feet of space which includes: two separate weight rooms, two kids clubs (one for younger children and another for those slightly older), saunas, tanning, a large group fitness room for classes, personal training (including workout planning and meal planning), a smoothie bar and a large red turf for exercises such as sled pushing and agility training. Members have 24/7 access to the gym as well. Memberships can be purchased as a year-long contract or month-to-month, and they offer a Hero Discount for active military, veterans, law enforcement, firefighters, medical professionals, and teachers.
Nic and Wade, both disabled veterans, strive to make West Coast Fitness Lacey a meaningful space for veterans and active military.
“Lacey is such a veteran-tied community,” said Nic. “[The gym] being a veteran-owned community in Lacey – a veteran community – makes a lot of people feel more comfortable. Being in the military…it’s a family. A lot of veterans get out [of the military] and they sort of lose that sense of being together with other people. This gym brings them back to a place where they feel that they’re around people who understand them.”
West Coast Fitness Lacey
5823 Lacey Blvd SE
Lacey, WA 98503
