Gym owner ‘understands’ closure, looking ahead to better days

Oregon health and fitness club owners were put in sort of a tough spot last week when they were given the choice — with conditions — to stay open in the face of the Covid-19 pandemic.
On Monday, Gov. Kate Brown pulled the plug on all of the state’s health clubs. It came as no surprise to Shane May, owner of the Emerald Fitness Centers in Creswell and Cottage Grove.
“It’s almost reassuring that it was someone else who told us to shut down,” May said. “So many of our customers depend on us and we felt obligated to be there for them. But we wanted to make sure we were doing the right thing by staying open. It was a very tough decision.”
While both gyms remained open, all classes were canceled, social distancing was practiced, and machines were wiped down frequently to promote a safe environment.
When May sent out a group email explaining that the clubs are closing temporarily, he was astounded by the kind of feedback he got.
“I got at least 100 responses, and every person was sad we were closing,” he said. “It was cool, because people were sharing their faith. There was a lot of positive reinforcement. And just a general feeling that everybody can’t wait to get back in the gym.”