BELLMAWR, N.J. (WCBS 880) – A South Jersey gym owner said he’s not backing down from keeping his gym open, even after officials showed up to change the locks and forced them to shut down again.
A state judge ruled Friday that the Atilis Gym in Bellmawr was in contempt of court and that authorities had the right to shut it down. The ruling authorized the state Health Department to put locks on the doors.
The gym’s co-owner, Ian Smith, posted a video to Facebook on Friday as state officials were on their way to change the locks on the doors of the gym.
“Frank (Trumbetti) and I stayed the night here last night, and we are prepared to stay inside the building no matter what,” Smith said in the video. “We will not be backing down under any circumstances.”
The gym has faced charges for staying open in the past, and this time officials said they have more evidence that social distancing wasn’t practiced there. According to an inspection report, patrons were entering without masks and inspectors weren’t allowed in.
Smith said he changed the gym from an LLC to a PMA, a private membership association, and that gives him the right to peacefully assemble against the state as they try to shut down the business.
Gyms still can’t open to the public in New Jersey, however romantic partners are allowed to receive fitness training together. According to NJ.com, a health report showed one of the gym’s owners said, “everyone within the gym are considered romantic partners.”
The gym opened its doors in May, starting a legal battle over whether Gov. Phil Murphy’s order for non-essential businesses to remain closed was constitutional. It continued to operate despite receiving summonses each day for violating the state order.
The gym owners have said they have taken steps to ensure social distancing, including taping off workout stations and operating at 20% of the building’s capacity, meaning about 44 patrons at a time. They also were requiring patrons to wear masks unless they were in the middle of lifting weights, and taking patrons’ temperature at the door.