Business & Tech

Troy Gymnastics Upcoming Expansion 'Is About the Kids'

The gymnastics center is expanding to include a 10,000-square-foot facility next door.

In a time when some businesses are downsizing or closing up shop entirely, business is booming – and jumping and flipping and back-springing – at , the 30,000-square-foot gymnastics center on Maple Road in Troy.

Things are going so well, said owner Toby Buechner, that they are in the middle of completely renovating the building next door to add an additional 10,000 square feet.

"We've been growing for 77 consecutive months," Buechner said, adding that he just hired Troy Gymnastics's 94th employee. "We need some space to spread out."

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Bigger and Better

Buechner said they are planning to add 25 percent more classes in the fall, which translates to about 300 classes per week total – the most in the state for a single gym. And since the gymnastics center is at 86 percent capacity this year – and still growing – the expansion isn't a luxury as much as a necessity.

"We get new customers every day," Buechner said. "I can't wait to get this up and running, and I think the customers will love it."

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Buechner said he plans to have the younger kids move to the new location, which will be named "Troy Gymnastics West." The current facility will be renamed "Troy Gymnastics East."

Forty more parking spaces will be added, as well as a drop-off area between the two buildings. All boys gymnastics, gymnastics teams, cheerleading and tumbling will stay in the current building while classes for kids ages 1-4 and 5-9 will move to the new gym. 

And for the parents who have more than one child enrolled at the gym, there will be closed circuit television monitoring between the two buildings, a phone system, and WiFi in both buildings. 

"Everyone's so excited, it's ridiculous," Buechner said.

On a deadline

In June, Buechner bought the building adjacent to his – formerly and – for $238,000. Over the past month and a half, he and 15 contractors have completely gutted the inside, starting virtually from scratch to construct the gym.

"This literally looked like a war zone when we moved in," he said, adding that one of the first things they had to do was clean up after a fire that damaged the building more than 20 years ago. Since June, Buechner said he and his workers have hauled away dozens of dumpsters full of debris.

Buechner said he estimates he'll drop more than half a million dollars after paying for the building, equipment, construction and renovation – all in about two months. The new building will include two separate age-appropriate gyms with a climbing wall, spider web, swings, slides, rings and other standard gymnastics equipment, including a 40x40-foot spring floor in the 5- to 9-year-old gym. 

"It's for every kind of kid," Buechner said, adding that students from 12 months through 23 years – including children with disabilities – currently attend classes at the gym. 

For the kids

Buechner, whose three daughters all attend the gym, said the upcoming expansion isn't about turning a profit. 

"We want kids to have fun," he said. "This is about the kids."

Troy resident Cathy Carolan, whose 13-year-old daughter Christina trains at the gym, said she is excited to hear about the upcoming expansion.

"I think it'll be awesome," she said as she watched Christina work 1-on-1 with a trainer. "I think that it will be great, especially open gym."

Christina agreed, saying, "Having more space for open gym and practice is great. I like it here."

Buechner said he plans to expand the preschool program and even add additional adult fitness classes. Also starting this fall, he will add daily open gym from 9 a.m.-noon six days a week, excluding Saturday.

And if all goes well, Buechner said he's even considering buying another building in the future.

"It doesn't get old," he said. "It's enjoyable to see the kids enjoying themselves."

Troy Gymnastics West is on track to open Aug. 27. For more information about Troy Gymnastics, including class schedules, call 248-816-8496 or visit troygymnastics.com.


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