Like many, Andy Schaefer’s noticed the explosion of specialty fitness studios over the last few years in Bethesda.
It hasn’t discouraged Schaefer, a former general manager with Fitness First, from conceiving and building a new workout studio of his own – Next Phase Group Ex, set to open by November above the Chipotle in downtown Bethesda.
Despite the arrival of trendy cycling hangouts PureRyde and Soul Cycle, ballet studios Pure Barre and Bar Method, megaformer pilates place Sculpt Studio, CrossFit destination Tough Temple and probably some others we forgot to mention, Schaefer said his group exercise-only concept stands out.
Instead of one type of class, Next Phase will offer them all — some yoga, some Zumba, some boot camp, some high-intensity athletic training and a number of other formats taught by instructors Schaefer has gotten to know through his years with Fitness First.
Next Phase will also offer the classes without requiring a yearly membership and initiation fee, something Schaefer said he’s learned many fitness-seekers in Bethesda would rather avoid.
“I would always hear three things from people coming to the gym in Bethesda: ‘I don’t want to sign up for a membership and commit for a year, I don’t want to pay any initial fees and I just want to take classes,” Schaefer said. “And it’s a matter of providing a variety of classes, so you can do something different each time.”
Classes will be offered one-at-a-time, in packs of five, 10, 20 and then at an unlimited monthly rate. The gym will offer 9-10 classes a day at a median price of $13-$15 per class — cheap by comparison.
Thanks to an expertly marketed product and cult-like following, SoulCycle regularly sells out classes that cost more than $30 each.
“SoulCycle is a great workout and I think in Bethesda it’s actually good for Next Phase,” Schaefer said. “For some people, it might be nice to get more bang for your buck.”
Schaefer’s other selling point will be familiarity. He’s lived in Bethesda for more than a decade. Within eight months of starting his first job at the Fitness First location in Bethesda, he was promoted to general manager at another club.
When Gold’s Gym bought Fitness First, leaving only the Bethesda location because of uncertainty over the future of the 7900 Wisconsin Ave. building, Schaefer had an opportunity to stay.
But he had already been thinking about the idea of his own place and it seemed like the right time to start.
Schaefer first set his heart on the 7610 Old Georgetown Rd. location last fall — it’s officially on the Plaza Level above the Chipotle and across from the Bethesda-Chevy Chase Regional Services Center. He’s hoping to create “a community vibe” and will be offering childcare services and eventually, specialty youth classes.
“I know there’s a market for people taking classes,” Schaefer said. “And it provides that mental comfort for people who like the price and like the gym, but don’t know what they’re going to be doing in three, four or five months down the road.”
