Gym co-owner Monty Webb of Plum said he’s had enough.
He and his wife, Linda, own and operate Webb’s World of Fitness in Penn Hills.
And he’s open for business.
“I opened because it’s essential. Your heath is essential,” Webb said. “I got tired of the gyms getting thrown under the bridge. You’re thanking all these essential businesses and essential workers. I’ve been doing this for 32 years. It’s essential.”
Until Gov. Tom Wolf gives the green light to resume operations during the covid-19 pandemic, gyms and fitness centers are to remain closed.
Those facilities have been shuttered since March and deemed a “non-essential” business by state officials.
Wolf recently moved Allegheny County and other parts of Southwestern Pennsylvania into the yellow phase, part of an economic reopening process while still mitigating the impact of the coronavirus.
Many businesses were allowed to reopen with augmented operations, but not gyms, barbershops, salons and entertainment venues.
Webb said he reopened the doors May 8 after making some safety upgrades.
The 12,500-square-foot athletic club has been repainted, equipment has been moved at least 6 feet apart and the aerobics room is closed, meaning there are no group exercise classes.
Patrons are expected to wear a mask and follow Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines.
The gym usually serves about 500 members. However, with other facilities remaining closed, Webb’s has seen a spike in users.
“Right now we’ve got a ‘million’ members because everyone’s coming here,” Webb said. “These people aren’t like everyone else. These people are unbelievable. Anyone that’s coming in here is in shape. The older people, they’re not coming.”
Webb said he didn’t reopen because of money.
“It was just the principle. I just felt like it was the right thing for us to do.”
Webb said he knows some other gyms in Allegheny County have also reopened, and doesn’t know why Wolf hasn’t allowed more businesses to reopen.
“I think Wolf’s a freaking (expletive),” Webb said. “He’s either that much of a wuss, or there’s some agenda here. It’s not this virus. You don’t get this time back. They take high school sports away from them. This is a political sham.”
Calls to Wolf’s office were not returned Friday.
