10 Years Strong: A Love Letter to the EMPOWERHOUSE Community

In August 2015, I opened the doors to a tiny gym on Fretz. I didn’t have an investor. I knew nothing about entrepreneurship. But I had a fierce belief that movement changes lives and that people needed a space to feel safe, strong, and seen.

Now, 10 years later, EMPOWERHOUSE is more than a gym.

It’s a chosen family.
A brave space.
A sweaty sanctuary.

We’ve moved locations (four times). We’ve weathered a pandemic. We’ve lifted thousands of kettlebells, and we’ve built something even heavier: trust.

The Real Transformation? It’s Never Been About the Scale

Over the years, I’ve watched people walk in unsure and walk out powerful.

I’ve heard members say, “I wore a tank top for the first time in years.”
Or, “I finally jumped in the pool with my kids.”
Or even, “This place saved my life.”

These moments crack me open and fuel the fire to keep going.

Because strength isn’t just how much you lift.
It’s how you show up. It’s how you rebuild. It’s how you start again.

This Community Was Built With Calloused Hands and Big Hearts

We pushed flooring on dollies across the street to our second location. (Shoutout to Lori, who’s been with us all 10 years.) We held on tight during the hard years when the gym almost closed and celebrated the wins when we turned things around.

This gym was built from community.
From people who said, “You’ve got this,” and meant it.

Here’s to the Next 10

As we roll into our official 10-year anniversary on August 1, we’re taking a moment to celebrate every single rep, every person, and every story that’s walked through our doors.

If you’ve ever been a part of this journey, thank you.

If you’re new here or curious about joining,
You’re welcome here. And you’ll be celebrated here exactly as you are.

Here’s to the next decade. Let’s keep lifting, together.