Peekskill Gym Starts Year with New Space

A bigger gym carrying bigger equipment is just the start of a new year filled with big plans for John Heagle and his partners at the Adrenalin Gym on John Walsh Boulevard in Peekskill.

The gym is expected to open at its new location across the street, adjacent to the Harbor at Charles Point, this week. There are plans to open up a kickboxing studio at the gym's old location on 8 John Walsh Boulevard later this year.

“It was a combination of things that made us decide to move,” Heagle said. “It was the membership and the equipment. We have quite a few competitors and the space really wasn’t conducive to the powerlifting and strongman exercises that we have. We needed to be on the ground floor.”

The new space is just under 10,000 square feet, which should allow people to lift freely.

Also, the duo of Jennifer Minihan and Jennifer Clark will be on site with their JENeration Fit personal training studio.

“They came in looking to find a home for their business and after a few discussions they decided to come in and join us as partners,” Heagle said.

Heagle opened Adrenaline about four years ago with his partner, Carlos Santiago. Prior to Adrenaline, he ran the now defunct Paragon Fitness in Ossining about 20 years ago and the old Gold’s Gym in Croton-on-Hudson.

He got into lifting while attending Ithaca College.

“It was almost completely by accident,” Heagle said. “I started a weightlifting club in college and then when I finished, I started working in advertising for Weider Health and Fitness. From there, I just became interested in the fitness industry.”

Heagle said he met Santiago while he  still owned Paragon Fitness.

“Carlos had always wanted to get into the fitness and so when the opportunity came along to open Adrenalin, he jumped onboard,” Heagle said.

Heagle describes Adrenalin as an old school, traditional gym.

“We get 15 to 16 year olds to people in their 50s, 60s, and 70s working out,” Heagle said. “Everybody is helpful.”

Heagle said he doesn’t pressure potential clients when they stop by.

“We alway tell everyone to try it out for a week and feel it out first,” Heagle said. "Our members usually provide the best references for us."

Later this year, Heagle and his partners plan to a put a CKY Kickboxing in the old gym space. Heagle said his group received franchising approval for the studio earlier this month.

“We’re always looking to try out different things and kickboxing has been one of these things that goes back Billy Blanks,” Heagle said. “There have been a numbers of fads that have come and gone over the years, but kickboxing is one of the things that have stuck.”

Heagle said plans for the kickboxing studio are being firmed up and he will make an announcement when it’s ready to open.