New owners make improvements at Cascade Fitness

Cascade Fitness is going to "stay a gym" say new owners Curt and Meleah Richards - but it's a better, more convenient gym than ever.

The couple, who recently relocated from Billings, Montana, have put a background in the construction business to work in remodeling and expanding the venerable Sisters gym, taking over the space that used to house Abigail's on Main. The entrance is now on the corner of Main Avenue and Fir Street, and opens onto a comfortable lounge area.

Perhaps the biggest change to the gym is its operating hours: It's now open 24/7, with member access via cardlock. The gym is staffed 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

"We just thought it would be good business," Curt said of the round-the-clock accessibility.

Some members have schedules that make conventional hours inconvenient. And sometimes a late night or very early morning workout is just what someone needs.

"Members have embraced it 100 percent," Meleah said.

The owners are looking to be responsive to membership when it comes to crafting a class schedule.

"We're trying to figure out what everybody really wants," Curt said.

The remodel includes space for classes from spin to body sculpting, and they've been talking to folks about yoga classes and martial arts. The new space is independently climate controlled, so users can vary the temperature for everything from spin to "hot yoga."

The Richards' have also invested in some new gym equipment and are going to install several TVs for people to watch while they use cardio equipment.

Meleah noted that it was very important to the members that Cascade Fitness retain its personality and "stay a gym," and that is the Richards' intent. They appreciate that members are like family and enjoy the social interaction of the gym along with the health and fitness benefits.

"They're friends," she said. "They have their regular days. They keep up with each other."

That's part of the reason for creating the lounge area, which Meleah says has been "hugely popular."

The Richards family has roots in Oregon, on the west side. Curt recalls that when the recession hammered their construction business, "we pulled up stakes and went to Billings, which was a lot more stable." In recent years, they worked in North Dakota, which is still booming due to an expanded oil business.

They decided to return to Oregon, but to the east side. The family enjoys the outdoors, hunting and horseback riding.

In addition to Cascade Fitness, the Richards own and operate The Premier Group, a real estate company, Premier Exteriors, General Contractor, doing exterior and interior remodels (www.windowssidingbendoregon.com) and My Handyman, providing property maintenance and repair services. (www.myhandymangroup.com).

For more information, visit the new Cascade Fitness website at www.cascadefitnessinc.com.