Celebrating 35 Years as Crunch’s First Franchisee

By Greg Fuchs

As a long-time Crunch franchisee, I have had many memorable times as part of the Crunch family. It’s incredible that this brand has sustained and grown for 35 years, and it feels like it just started. I first learned of Crunch when I had just started working for an equipment manufacturer called Icarian, and Doug Levine was converting a dance studio into a full-blown fitness club in downtown NYC. He wanted our equipment in black-on-black and was convincing us this would be the best next brand in the industry. He explained that we should give him the equipment for free as that exposure would be priceless for us. Needless to say, that didn’t happen, but he did get a hell of a discount, and we put a lot of Icarian equipment into Crunch as they grew its footprint in NYC and started to branch out into some major cities around the country.

I had lost a little touch with the brand, but when I was living in NYC, I became a member of their Upper West Side club. I felt like I had never left and the brand was still thriving and pushing the limits. In a full-circle move about 15 years ago, I became a franchisee when Crunch first started to franchise. Being familiar and engaged with the Crunch name, I couldn’t believe that I was getting the opportunity to be a part of it. Since then, I have attended many franchise conventions from Maine to Lake Tahoe to Florida and have made some great new relationships as a franchisee. At these conventions, I have enjoyed many rounds of golf (won a few of them, as well), have attended great events, seen some amazing motivational speakers and personalities, and have brought home a ton of swag! While being a franchise owner, I have made some great new friends with other franchisees and company executives. I have learned a ton in terms of the business model and heightened my knowledge on the ownership and entrepreneurial side. I have learned how to be more patient, resilient, and understanding as an owner and operator as well as a franchise partner to the franchisor.

I think my most memorable period of time was signing on as the first franchisee and presenting a giant check to Ben Midgely at the NEV convention in Lake Tahoe. I couldn’t believe that I once sold equipment to the original founder, and now, I was signing on as the first Crunch franchisee. At this NEV convention, they had all of their partners there and the comraderie was amazing, the excitement around the Crunch brand was tremendous, and the possibilities seemed endless. Everyone was very friendly and accommodating, and they all wanted to help in their own way. We had some amazing activities, and the event wrapped up with a party at Mark’s house on the lake, which was an ideal setting.

It’s been a great run with a lot of great people, and I am looking forward to the next many years with the Crunch brand as it still seems like we are just getting started. I think the brand continues to develop its relevancy and adapt to the ever changes of the current fitness marketplace, and as a result, will be a strong leader in the fitness space for many years to come.

Greg Fuchs is a Crunch Fitness franchisee.

Crunch promotes a culture of positivity, inclusivity, and fun with no judgments by providing an environment for all individuals regardless of their health and fitness goals. Find a Crunch gym near you to try our free trial membership, or join Crunch now.