SYRACUSE — Construction work continues on Urban Life CrossFit, a 3,800-square-foot gymnasium that’s set to open inside Rockwest Center on Syracuse’s Near Westside in mid-October. University CrossFit, LLC, which will do business as Urban Life CrossFit, is located on the fourth floor of Rockwest Center at 1003 W. Fayette St., next door to O Yoga, […]
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SYRACUSE — Construction work continues on Urban Life CrossFit, a 3,800-square-foot gymnasium that’s set to open inside Rockwest Center on Syracuse’s Near Westside in mid-October.
University CrossFit, LLC, which will do business as Urban Life CrossFit, is located on the fourth floor of Rockwest Center at 1003 W. Fayette St., next door to O Yoga, a yoga studio that recently moved into the structure.
“Our main goal is just to offer group-setting classes, but there is the option of coming in whenever you want, as long as someone is here to supervise,” says Jamar Clarke, one of three partners in University CrossFit, LLC and the head trainer for Urban Life CrossFit.
His two business partners include Eric Hinman and Stephane Lasher. Each man has equal ownership of University CrossFit, LLC.
A CrossFit gymnasium targets people who are working to generate a healthy lifestyle and offers a group of trainers “that can give you feedback on changes to better your life,” says Clarke.
“CrossFit is a strength and conditioning program … to optimize physical competence in each of 10 recognized fitness domains [that include] cardiovascular and respiratory endurance, stamina, strength, flexibility, power, speed, coordination, agility, balance, accuracy,” according to the website for Chicago–based CrossFit Defined.
As of Sept. 18, 125 people had signed up to take classes at Urban Life CrossFit, Clarke says.
The facility plans to hold four, hour-long classes in the morning between 5 a.m. and 9 a.m., and afternoon classes of the same length at 4:30 p.m., 5:30 p.m., and 6:30 p.m., Clarke says.
Urban Life CrossFit is beginning with a special rate of $99 for two months to launch the business. Otherwise, the membership rate is $99 per month, Clarke says.
Finding the space
Clarke and his business partners were prepared to sign a lease for a different space in “the downtown area” near the Syracuse University area earlier this year.
Clarke then got a phone call from Tiffany Sisko, the owner O Yoga, who referred him to Sam Lampuri, landlord at Rockwest Center.
Clarke and Hinman eventually looked at the West Fayette Street space and felt they had found the right place for their business.
“Out of the five buildings we looked at, this was the only building we actually loved,” Clarke says.
The company has signed a five-year lease for its space with Lampuri. Urban Life CrossFit will begin operations with two full-time employees, including Clarke, and two part-time employees.
Clarke declined to disclose how much it is costing to open the gymnasium but says the owners are using their own assets to pay for the work.
The landlord is also handling the construction work necessary to prepare the space, he adds
Clarke met Hinman and Lasher through their involvement at SaltCity CrossFit in Syracuse.
“I used to train them in classes, and we ended up building a personal relationship,” Clarke says.
The trio began pursuing the idea of owning their own CrossFit gymnasium about four months ago, he says.
Hinman is also a partner in Rounded Development, located at the Syracuse Tech Garden, a digital agency that specializes in design and branding, websites and platforms, and mobile development, according to its website.
That company is also designing and building the Urban Life CrossFit’s website, Clarke says.
In addition, Hinman is also president of Hinman + Associates, LLC of Syracuse, a property and casualty insurance agency.
Hinman has also participated in triathlons and plans to be involved in the Ironman World Championships in Hawaii in October, he says.
Stephane Lasher, who Clarke refers to as “the business guy” among the partners, currently works as a financial advisor for D&L Financial Services in Fayetteville.
“Everyone has their own specialty … we just feel like we could benefit not only ourselves but the community as well,” Clarke says.
Clarke is a 2003 graduate of Corcoran High School in Syracuse. He earned a bachelor’s degree in exercise science from the State University of New York College at Cortland in 2007.
After graduation, he spent two years playing minor-league baseball with the Staten Island Yankees. After returning to Syracuse, Clarke landed a job as the head trainer at the East Area YMCA in Fayetteville before joining SaltCity CrossFit.
Contact Reinhardt at ereinhardt@cnybj.com
