Gym Is Open 24 Hours, Seven Days A Week

RACHEL DICKERSON/MCDONALD COUNTY PRESS Hailee Allison works out on a cable machine at Alpha Company Gym in Anderson.
RACHEL DICKERSON/MCDONALD COUNTY PRESS Hailee Allison works out on a cable machine at Alpha Company Gym in Anderson.

The owners of Alpha Company Gym in Anderson are trying to meet a need they saw in the community by providing a 24-hour gym.

Eric Corcoran and son, Zane Corcoran, along with Damian DeSantiago are the owners of Alpha Company Gym.

Eric said, "We saw a need for the community that could possibly satisfy all ages. We thought we'd give it a shot to give small communities the same thing big towns have."

Zane said, "Anderson did not have a 24-hour gym. Every town needs a 24-hour gym."

The gym opened in January 2016.

Each member, with a membership, buy a key fob that gets him or her in 24 hours a day, seven days a week, Zane said.

"We have a lot of good customers. The customers are what keep us open," Eric said.

There are a couple of things that set the gym apart. Members can join on a month-to-month basis and there is no joining fee.

"All the member has to pay is their membership and their key fob," Zane said.

Eric noted, "A lot of new gyms are turning to Cross Fit gyms. We offer the space to do Cross Fit, but also we offer equipment for all types of workouts."

There are treadmills, ellipticals, exercise bikes, rowing machines, cable machines, kettle bells, dumbbells, bench press, leg press, squat racks and lots of other equipment, Zane said. They also have tanning beds available 24/7.

Wifi and televisions with Netflix are available in the gym, so members can run on the treadmill and watch TV.

"The satisfaction of our customer is what it's all about," Eric said. "We'll meet someone here at 5 in the morning or 2 in the morning if someone wants to sign up."

A staff member is on site Monday through Thursday from 4 to 6 p.m., or customers may call 417-437-5821 to make an appointment for a tour.

All three owners are members of the Missouri National Guard, and all three of them have been part of Alpha Companies, thus the name.

Fitness is important to the owners.

"Fitness is something we've lived by," Eric said. "We've got 50 years of military training among the three of us. Being a soldier is our first priority. So we live fitness every day of our life."

Zane added, "The healthier someone is, the happier they will be. That is without question."

Having a 24-hour gym in Anderson keeps people from having to drive to Neosho or Joplin or northwest Arkansas, Eric said.

"There's a lot of soldiers who work out here because they live here. We're cheaper than any gym in Joplin or northwest Arkansas."

The partners own the whole building, which is larger than the gym and also comprises the Old 71 Community Center. They rent it out for $50 for four hours or $100 for a day. Eric said it is great for meetings, parties, wedding receptions and baby showers. It has access to Wifi, a kitchen, restrooms, TV and multiple rooms.

Eric said they opened the community center because they saw a need and had the space.

"We didn't have that in Anderson. We would like to have a building that meets the needs of the community that we've never had before."

Asked about their future plans, Eric said their dream is to expand into a bigger, better facility over time and to not just have the gym but free basketball courts for youth.

"A real recreation and community center for the county," Zane said.

General News on 03/22/2018