Name of Business: Brenda Athletic Clubs
Type of business: Fitness facility
Location: 201 Tampa St., Turlock
Hours: 4 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Friday; 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday; 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday
Contact information: 209-668-3838
Specialty: Full racquet and tennis courts
History of business:
Brenda Athletic Clubs’ Turlock Sport location has provided the community with a space to sweat away its worries for nearly four decades, but modernizations and renovations have been far and few between for the fitness center during this millennium – until now.
New furniture, paint, facility modernizations and equipment improvements complete a nearly six-month renovation period for BAC, and were put on display during an open house event at the gym on Jan. 10. The renovations are the first major improvements to the club since 2007, said JKB Development Chief Operating Officer Bob Hansen.
“This is a facelift of the entire club,” said Hansen. “The easiest way to put it is that we got out of the ‘80s and into where we’re at today. We wanted to take it out of that style and make it look like a modern club that you would want to work out at today.”
Other renovations at BAC include improvements to the pool and air conditioning system, he added, as well as an expanded weight room, new flooring and an updated balcony. The organization also boasts a new logo now, going from the familiar golden lion and blue shield combination to a sleek, grey BAC symbol.
“If you walk in there today, it’s a completely different look now,” said Hansen.
Other than its looks, nothing about the club itself has changed. The athletic center still offers indoor racquet ball courts and outdoor tennis courts, along with private lessons for those interested in learning either sport or improving their skills. The club also features a diverse range of cardio and weight machines, free weights, basketball courts, Pilates reformer machines, as well as group cardio classes in Zumba, spin, yoga and more.
With more and more gyms making their way into the city, Hansen hopes BAC’s new look can attract new members, retain the club’s current clientele and perhaps entice those who may have left in recent years to give their former gym another shot.
“Hopefully this will bring in new members, but also maybe bring back people who were longtime members but maybe left because the facilities weren’t up to their standards,” he said. “We’ve really taken what we had and made it better. Come in, take another look and see how much we’ve changed.”
