Fitness Loft Closing December 31,

Staff Going To NYA

By John Voket

Newtowners will have one less place to pump iron, Zumba, and train in the coming year. The Fitness Loft on Simm Lane will hold its final series of workout sessions December 31, and effective December 30, is selling off its entire remaining stock of fitness equipment, weights, machines, and other paraphernalia.

Owner Cody Foss told The Bee December 29 that he and most of his staff expect to transition to positions with the nonprofit Newtown Youth Academy located at Fairfield Hills.

“As of January 1, the Fitness Loft is gone,” Mr Foss said.

As part of the arrangement with the NYA, The Fitness Loft will provide all its current members an opportunity to switch their membership to the Youth Academy. And between 9:30 and 11 am Friday, December 31, Mr Foss is inviting all past and present Fitness Loft members to the Simm Lane facility for one final four-stage workout session.

“This will be our last hurrah,” he said.

According to the Newtown Assessor’s Office, the Fitness Loft paid about $3,400 in annual personal property taxes on its fitness and office equipment and its exercise machines. The Newtown Youth Academy negotiated a settlement with the town in September that included a 70 percent reduction in its personal property taxes.

In an e-mail circulated to members on December 22, Mr Foss explained, “We are working closely with NYA on a creating a new group fitness schedule which will prove to be an unbelievable blend of our current schedule with NYA’s.”

He also said with the new facility comes the potential for creating innovative classes, in the near future. He was offering Fitness Loft members a NYA price card and urging members to choose which price structure works best for them.

“The majority of members will find that the NYA membership will be a less expensive option,” Mr Foss said, adding that he already arranged bringing over “much of the Fitness Loft equipment to add to NYA’s already extensive cardio and strength training equipment.”

Members who opt to continue their membership at NYA will have access to the four-lane 1/9-mile track, and the shared parking facilities at the Fairfield Hills campus

“Our first goal is trying to transition to NYA as smoothly as possible and if we are unable to answer everyone’s questions immediately, we will be sure to in early January when we are all set up,” Mr Foss promised in the notification. “As of January 2nd all of our Memberships are honored at NYA and you will not have any problems. Please know that The Fitness Loft is much more than the brick and mortar building. It’s the spirit of community and the people that make it so special and this will not be left behind.”

The NYA website currently lists Mr Foss among its fitness center staff of about a half-dozen individuals. His academic and professional background includes a degree in sports medicine, a master’s in health sciences, multiple degrees in strength and conditioning, and more than 16 years of experience in his field.