Today we’d like to introduce you to Nicholas (Nick) Barshick.
Hi Nicholas (Nick), thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
The story of Chuze Fitness began before our founding in 2008 – before Chuze Fitness was even a thought. In 1978, my dad, Ray Barshick, opened a buffet-style salad bar in Houston, TX called Souper Salads. The goal was to create a new dining concept of soup and salad buffets while delivering over-the-top customer service. Souper Salads provided friendly hospitality and tremendous value, and the business took off. The restaurants grew across several states before my dad and his business partner and friend, Charles Brightwell, chose to sell Souper Salads in the mid-nineties.
At this time, myself and now co-founder, Cory Brightwell, had grown up together like brothers. We watched how our dads put care and hard work into their business and in 2006, an idea struck us all. Our dads approached us about starting a new business. All of us were living in San Diego at the time, so it seemed like a great thought. We initially thought of a restaurant business, but then we considered: what if we brought our background in hospitality to the fitness industry? At the time, the gym spaces we encountered were filled with pushy sales tactics and dirty facilities. We saw an opportunity to do things differently by combining our commitment to exceptional service with a fitness venture. And with that, Chuze Fitness was born.
On October 4th, 2008, Chuze Fitness was open for business in Carlsbad, CA.
We wanted a name that reflected our belief that members should feel empowered to choose their gym, not pressured by aggressive sales tactics. From day one, our gyms have spoken for themselves by offering incredible value at an affordable price, and we’ve never stopped looking for ways to get better.
Now, 17 years later, we have 56+ clubs across seven states (and growing)! We’ve been intentional with each club we’ve opened to understand the importance of kindness and inclusivity. Our mission has always been to build healthier communities through human connections and kindness. We continue to be committed to bringing hospitality and an amazing value proposition to the fitness industry– hopefully for another 17 years and beyond!
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
The first few years were defined by relentless hard work. We were all hands-on, working long days and weeks. Without supply shipments in place, we made weekly Costco runs to stock the clubs and made last-minute trips to local stores when we ran low on essentials. Looking back, that hustle was part of the process – it took grit, passion, and a shared commitment to build something from the ground up. When we began opening more locations and rewarding our team with more opportunities, it hit us: we were living the dream.
We’ve been impressed with Chuze Fitness, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Chuze Fitness is on a mission to build healthier communities through human connections and kindness, and has been committed to bringing hospitality and an amazing value proposition to the fitness industry for over 16 years. This commitment, as well as its “less attitude, more fitness” mentality, is one of the many reasons Chuze has experienced unprecedented growth in recent years in both memberships and locations. Chuze has 55+ existing locations in California, Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Texas, Georgia, and Florida. With memberships starting as low as $15.99/month and club amenities including a cardio cinema, massage chairs, child care, unlimited classes, pools, and a recovery lounge, Chuze is a premium gym experience that is affordable to all. For more information, check out Chuze Fitness at www.chuzefitness.com.
Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
If I had to credit a characteristic, it would be an entrepreneurial mindset. This is what drove me to spot a market gap and pivot quickly upon facing challenges. This mindset is also closely related to grit, with the willingness to sacrifice, put in long hours, and stay hands-on. I also believe a huge part of success is collaboration and kindness through building trust, communicating clearly, and making everyone feel welcomed.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://chuzefitness.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nicholasbarshick/?hl=en
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicholas-barshick-829254189/
Image Credits
Chuze Fitness
