Sibling partnership: A woman and her brothers operate two Marion County gyms

Usually, Pat Shrader is in the gym working out five days a week. The retired postal worker likes to stay healthy.Peddling away on a stationary bicycle during a recent workout, Shrader was all smiles while watching the screen on the iPad in front of her."It excited me when I saw they were opening something here," said the 66-year-old Shrader.Reopening:Long-time customers welcomed the Publix in Ocala's Pearl Britain Plaza with open armsIndian cuisine:New Ocala restaurant offers 'an authentic Northern Indian meal'New restaurant:The 16th location of this popular locally owned chain has openedA sister and her two brothers combine forcesThat "something" is Workout Anytime, a 24/7 gym located in the Pearl Britain Plaza, 2683 NE 35th St., Ocala. It opened on Dec.

19.The operators are Vicki Richeson and her two brothers, Allan and Rob Svihlik. The siblings bought into the franchise in late 2019 with a desire to open three gyms in Indiana, where the brothers presently live. According to its website, Workout Anytime started in the early 1970s and now has just under 200 franchise locations nationwide.The siblings' dreams were temporarily put on hold when COVID-19 reared its ugly head, forcing places like gyms to temporarily close."It was difficult to open a gym in 2020 with COVID preventing new gyms from opening," Richeson said.Despite the setback, the siblings continued their search for a place to open a gym.How did they decide on Marion County?Born in Chicago, Richeson was raised in northern Wisconsin.

During her travels, Richeson said, she and her husband would visit her husband's uncle in Ocklawaha. Eventually, Richeson fell in love with Marion County and decided to move to Dunnellon in 2019."It doesn't snow here," she said with a laugh.She and her brothers then decided to open their gym, Workout Anytime, in Dunnellon.Settling on a site, the brothers-and-sister combination opened the doors in late January 2022 at 11352 N. Williams St., Suite 201, next to Publix.

At the Dunnellon spot, Richeson said, the gym has 1,900 members. Time will tell how big the membership base grows to be at the new northeast Ocala location.Looking ahead to a healthy 2023Richeson said gyms are beneficial, uniting the community and providing a place that helps people stay healthy.'We needed something here'The gym has a recovery suite that includes several options for customers. They include a lounge area, an infrared sauna, tanning area and a cryotherapy bed.Shrader is overjoyed because the northeast Ocala gym is a short distance from home.

She said she normally drives to Planet Fitness, a gym off Maricamp Road, which to her is quite a journey."We needed something here," she said.Eric Klugh, of Ocala, said he tries to get a workout in most days of the week. He said he tries to take at least a day to rest.The 28-year-old was full of praise for the new gym."The location is close to my home, it's very convenient, and I love the atmosphere," Klugh said.Klugh also loves the gym's location because he said when you're finished, "you can go to Publix."With the year coming to a close, most people start compiling a list for the New Year. For Richeson, she said 2023's resolution should be to take a holistic approach to your health, and make good choices with the food and fuel we put into our bodies.Contact Austin L.

Miller at 867-4118, EMAIL or URL