Incredible Community through Incredible Effort: South Austin Fitness

Chris Fay had been immersed in the world of fitness for years before taking the leap to co-own South Austin Fitness. The roots of his journey stemmed from a desire to create something more than just another place to work out.

He explains, “I wanted to launch a location that was ours that could, you know, create a community that we want and allowed us to do things different to not just, you know, have you come in, get your workout in and leave, but feel like part of a family.”

The dream was to go beyond fitness routines—Chris, along with his associates Mike and Rachel, was eager to build a space where real relationships were forged, both inside and outside the gym walls.

Mike, another co-owner, brought deep experience and an entrepreneurial spirit to the venture. With nearly two decades in the industry, including time as a fitness manager and master trainer at 24 Hour Fitness, he’d already opened multiple locations before.

He reminisces on the community built at his previous gyms, where “there’d be kids, birthday parties from gym members that we’d go to, and 80% of the people there were gym members and none of them knew each other until they became gym members.” This natural evolution from gym to family would set the tone for South Austin Fitness as well.

Rachel, who started as one of Mike’s clients and later became a trainer under his mentorship, rounded out the trio. Previously a stay-at-home mom, she recalls, “Eight or so years ago got me into the fitness industry. Convinced me to get my certification to become a trainer. And I’ve been doing that since 2020.” For Rachel, the gym was not just a workplace but “bigger than my biggest dreams. I love being here, I love teaching here. I love the interactions that I get to have day to day with my favorite people.”

Building from Scratch After Setbacks

Starting a new gym wasn’t always the obvious path. Mike had to close his previous gyms—“there was a lot that happened with COVID being one of the big factors. It eventually shut down”—

and was seriously considering other options before the stars aligned again. Chris’s persistent encouragement kept the dream alive: “Chris had been in my ear… let’s get a spot, let’s get a spot, let’s get a spot. And then we finally, you know, were able to make it happen.”

Rachel and Chris built on their relationships with Mike and one another as they transitioned into the new space. Rachel remembers her entry: “I met his wife, Leslie, through a mom’s workout group and she invited us to his original spot and we had a mom’s only workout that was great. It got me hooked… I was instantly attracted to the community of people. Not only the other moms, but the other members. Everyone really merged very organically. It was just a comfortable place to be.”

That welcoming sense of belonging transferred directly to South Austin Fitness, with the three co-owners committed to making everyone feel “encouraged” and “missed when you’re not there.”

The Frantic Early Days

Opening the doors of South Austin Fitness was hardly a smooth or lavish affair. The team cobbled together what they had—old equipment, concrete floors, a skeleton crew of clients willing to follow them through thick and thin. Rachel fondly recalls, “I think it was that weekend that Chris had some of his original personal clients coming in and training with just bare bones. I mean, it was the concrete floor. It was some dumbbells. It was not equipment.

I mean, it wasn’t anything like this.” Nevertheless, the commitment of both members and trainers made all the difference: “The people who just want to be here, want to be a part of. It doesn’t matter, you know, what it looks like.”

Despite humble beginnings, their collective experience and local roots allowed them to quickly attract a loyal following. “Between the three of us… there’s over almost 40 years of experience. All of our experience has been in South Austin, so collectively, we’ve got a pretty decent following,” Mike explains. They soon hit their early membership goals: “Our goal was to get to 50 members as quick as possible, and we got there, I think, by month three.”

Facing Challenges and Staying True to Their Purpose

The struggle wasn’t just logistical—balancing passion with the reality of running a business was crucial. “We have to make money to continue doing what we want to do,” Mike acknowledges.

They learned quickly to set boundaries and value what they created, both for themselves and their clients: “Don’t allow you being kind and nice to put yourself in a position to where you’re a pushover… I have any like crazy stories of me getting like messed over, but I just, I was able to, to realize and like I can, I can also, you know, set boundaries, be assertive and, and you know, not be a pushover, but also be the kindest, loving, caring person that, that, that I can be as well.”

Through struggles and moments of self-doubt, what kept them moving forward was a shared commitment to help people—not just physically, but emotionally and socially. Rachel explains, “People specifically tell us, you know, my anxiety is like really bad today. I really need this.” South Austin Fitness had become more than a gym; for many members, “this is their escape.”

Evolving, Growing, and Giving Back

From those early days, the South Austin Fitness team has never stopped innovating. Adding unique touches, like integrating in-house physical therapy and chiropractic care, and designing programs tailored to all levels, is the norm. Chris explains, “If someone has an issue and we don’t know what to do, we can send them to them [our physical therapist/chiropractor]. Once they’re done treating the tissue issue… we’re great for helping retrain the muscle on how it’s supposed to move.”

They continue to aspire for more—adding youth programs, women’s lifting classes, and community events. The main constant, however, is their dedication to community: “No matter how big we get, no matter how much we grow, is we don’t lose sight of who and what we are, what, what we’re about… people come first,” Mike says.

Conclusion: A Family in Fitness

The story of South Austin Fitness is not one of a single charismatic founder, but a tapestry of relationships, lived experience, and a collective belief in the power of connection.

As Chris puts it, “don’t do it by yourself… having that support system has really helped me with the business side of things.”

Each struggle, from COVID closures to the bare-bones early days, has made their community stronger and more genuine—where every member is known, every story matters, and the journey is about so much more than fitness.