In 1995, Pam and Gregg Stern took the leap to open Powershop Gym in Downtown Brookings and they have been going strong ever since. Pam and Gregg used to compete in bodybuilding; Pam pointed out an impressive photo hanging in her office. Getting into the gym industry was a natural transition when the opportunity arose. Over the last 28 years, they have moved once, bought that building, added a second story, and helped thousands reach their health and fitness goals.
Pam reminisced, “Accomplishing the 2nd level project was amazing. It was a crazy process that it actually got done. Teen Challenge came in to help. It looked like the inside of a vacuum! Scaffolding everywhere, a complete mess, raining inside when the roof came off.” Around the time the project was completed in 2000, Powershop Gym was the first “internet café” type business in the area where customers could get internet access. “We’ve been here for so long and have seen so much. We lived in the upstairs apartment of the building for 18 years. We loved it!”
Pam’s favorite part of owning a small business is the people she meets and serves. She also loves working with her sister. The hardest part lately has been finding employees while keeping customers happy is an ongoing small business challenge as the world evolves and changes.
One of Pam’s favorite Downtown memories was of Crazy Days past when a strong-man competition was held on Main as a fundraiser for an employee. “People were pulling cars, girls pulling a fire truck. It was a lot of work but very fun.”
Powershop Gym offers 24/7 access to work on your health and fitness. They have group classes, one-on-one training, and app-based workouts. “We have every possible machine and weights to work out in any possible way. We have it all!”
In closing, Pam shared, “I hope to be here for another twenty years.”