WARREN, Ark. — What began as a dream three or four years ago has become a reality in Warren, where a new fitness center is offering residents a place to exercise around the clock, with an emphasis on making everyone feel welcome, regardless of their fitness experience.
Jacks Body Shop & Fitness, located at 709 North Myrtle Street, began welcoming members with a soft opening on October 3. Since then, the new gym has experienced encouraging growth, according to Greg Morman, a familiar face in the Warren community who has been instrumental in helping get the business off the ground.
The gym is owned by Matt Cotton and Season Nichols. Cotton also owns Anytime Fitness in Monticello, bringing experience in the fitness industry to the new Warren venture.
Morman jokingly described his own role as public relations and marketing, but his involvement has extended to helping bring the longtime vision to life.
For Morman and those behind the gym, the goal is about more than providing a building full of exercise equipment.
“We just wanted to give back to the community,” Morman said, emphasizing the importance of making members “feel respected and feel like family.”
A walkthrough of the new facility reveals an extensive collection of exercise equipment, with numerous options for both strength training and cardiovascular workouts.
“We’ve got everything you would need,” Morman said.
The facility includes a wide selection of weightlifting equipment, cardio machines and stationary spin bikes. Plans are already in place to eventually offer organized spin classes, adding another option for members looking for group fitness opportunities.
One feature of the gym is a separate stretching area, positioned away from the main workout floor. The space provides members with a quieter, more secluded setting to stretch and prepare for or recover from their workouts, with additional privacy from the weightlifting and cardio sections.
The gym operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week, allowing members to exercise whenever their schedules permit.
Security is also a priority. Members access the building using a QR code, and the entrance automatically locks behind them, helping ensure that only authorized members can enter the facility.
While the gym offers equipment suited to experienced weightlifters and athletes, Morman stressed that Jacks Body Shop & Fitness is equally committed to welcoming those who may have never stepped inside a gym before.
“Everybody has a starting point,” he said.
That philosophy extends to the atmosphere the gym hopes to cultivate, where newcomers can feel comfortable asking questions and learning how to get started without feeling intimidated.
“Beginners welcome. If you have questions, stop in,” Morman said.
For those looking for additional guidance, Tony Cox is already offering personal training at the facility, providing an option for individuals interested in more personalized instruction as they work toward their fitness goals.
Jacks Body Shop & Fitness offers several membership options designed to accommodate different needs and schedules.
Members can choose from one-month, three-month, six-month or annual memberships. Day passes are also available, making the facility an option for visitors traveling through Warren who need a convenient place to work out without committing to a longer membership.
Although the gym has been operating since early October, its owners are still looking ahead to additional developments.
“We have more plans for the future,” Morman said.
Those plans include the possibility of organized spin classes and an official grand opening celebration at a later date.
For now, Morman said the response during the gym’s first month has been encouraging, with membership growth providing an early indication of local interest in the new facility.
As Jacks Body Shop & Fitness continues to establish itself in Warren, Morman hopes its greatest contribution will be providing a welcoming place where residents can take steps toward healthier, more active lives, whether they are beginning their fitness journey or continuing one that started years ago.
Jacks Body Shop & Fitness is located at 709 North Myrtle Street in Warren and is open to members 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
