Powerhouse Gym has been operating in Plainsboro for the past two years — most recently in the eye of the economic storm that has swept across the Plainsboro Plaza shopping center. But Wilson and Lisa Pena, husband and wife team and West Windsor residents who are two of the gym’s owners, couldn’t be happier.
“When we moved to Plainsboro two years ago, we were welcomed with open arms by the community. We moved into the space [in Plainsboro Plaza] vacated by the NY Sports Gym nearly five years ago. So we were really filling a need for a family-oriented, community gym, and our customers are very thankful to have us. And we are thankful to them for all of their support,” Wilson says.
“We are a family-owned and operated gym. Our gym is designed to make all customers of all ages and all levels of fitness feel comfortable. Our customers are known by name, greeted with a smile, and sent off with a wish to have a nice day,” he says.
Says Lisa: “Most of our customers are local, and many are whole families. They sign up together and work out together. We also have a fully staffed daycare facility here, for those with younger children. Fitness is our lifestyle. We have encouraged our daughter, Gabrielle, to value a fitness lifestyle, and want to pass that on to our customers.”
Wilson was born in the Dominican Republic but moved to the United States as a young child, first to Puerto Rico and then to Weehawken in the seventh grade. As a high school wrestler he was a district champion and team captain. He then took up martial arts and has studied a variety of types since then, most recently Brazilian Jiu-jitsu.
“I took Daddy-daughter classes with Gabrielle for three years, until she was eight. Now she is 13 and a seventh grader at Grover Middle School. She comes to our gym to work out with her friends and is involved with ballet and acting at Tomato Patch,” Wilson says. “My father inspired my love of fitness. He was a physical education teacher, and was part of the Dominican Republic Olympic Committee. My mom encouraged me as well.”
In addition to owning and operating Power House Gym, Wilson is a project development manager at Dow Jones in South Brunswick. “I studied international studies and economics at New York University. But my passion has always been fitness. Lisa and I hope to turn this into our full-time work someday; something for our retirement.”
Lisa admits that her passion for fitness comes from Wilson. “I was born in Colombia and also moved to the U.S. as a young child,” she says. “I grew up in Jersey City, and when I met Wilson, he introduced me to the importance of physical fitness. It is now part of my lifestyle as well. We have been married almost 27 years. We embrace fitness as a family, and that’s why it is so important for us to have the type of gym that caters to families and people of all skill levels.”
Lisa has become certified as a personal trainer and also in specific fitness areas such as zumba, cardio fitness, and kickboxing, among others. She teaches many courses at Powerhouse Gym, and coordinates the fitness program. “I have lots of help. We rely on Lucy Caruso, our operations manager, very heavily. She has been with us 13 years and is the core of the gym. She keeps everything running here. And my group exercise program assistant director, Ellen Knutsen, who has been with us for 17 years, is my right hand. She is also a personal trainer and fitness instructor, and I couldn’t run the program without her. We really are a big family here.”
Powerhouse Gym is owned by three families: the Penas; Dave and Archie Christino; and Remy and Tiffany Feniello. Dave, who now works for the Department of Homeland Security, was a former NCAA wrestling champion; and Remy, who works as a pharmaceutical rep manager for Novo Nordisk, is also a fitness model.
The two met Wilson and Lisa through a gym connection. “Our original gym was in Cranbury, known as New Jersey Gym. It was opened by a brother and sister team. Dave was their first customer, and I was their second,” Wilson says. “A few years later, we became the gym owners, and Lisa became our first fitness instructor. That was 20 years ago, and we have been in business ever since. Remy, who is much younger than we are, was a teenager working out in our gym when we first met him.”
“We moved the gym from Cranbury to East Windsor, to a bigger facility with a larger customer base. It was a natural progression. However, we were in the Superfresh Plaza there, and when Superfresh closed, and several other businesses closed their doors, we got worried and decided it was time to move to an even better space.
“That is when we relocated to Plainsboro. Our lease in East Windsor was up, the plaza was being sold, and this space was vacant and was already set up for a gym. I was now working in South Brunswick, instead of New York, and we had moved from East Windsor to West Windsor because of the school system. So the commute was better, and we were already part of the West Windsor-Plainsboro community. So it seemed like the right time to make the move. We are very happy here.”
But, as Lisa says, “the closing of the Plainsboro Superfresh gave us a bit of a scare. Twice in a few years! Of course we have been impacted somewhat because Superfresh brought in a lot of traffic. But the bulk of our customers come from customer referrals, which is the best way to get customers. It means our customers are satisfied and happy to refer us to others.”
“Luckily, our business is still thriving, despite the Superfresh setback,” Wilson says. “We are in our second year, and feel more secure and confident here. We have met with the potential new owners of the Plaza, and they have assured us that they will be investing a lot of money into renovating the Plaza, bringing in more restaurants and other tenants, and doing their best to bring in another supermarket. After speaking with them, I see light at the end of this tunnel.”
Wilson prefers not to identify the potential buyers of the center, since the purchase is not yet final.
When asked how the other Plainsboro gyms — CanDo, Snap Fitness, and the newly opened facility at Princeton hospital — may affect Powerhouse Gym, neither Pena seemed particularly worried. “We are completely different from CanDo or the hospital. They are more high-end than we are, and cost a lot more.” Prices at Powerhouse range from $20 to $40 per month.
Says Lisa: “If someone is looking for a pool, or other high-end amenities, I recommend one of the other gyms to them. I hope they do the same for us. And Snap Gym is much smaller — it is a circuit, open 24 hours a day. There are no classes or many of the other things that we offer. If someone is looking for that type of facility, where they can work out at 2 a.m., then I send them to Snap Gym. Ours is the only family-oriented gym in Plainsboro. Our membership fees are much lower, and are all-inclusive.”
Powerhouse Gym, 10 Schalks Crossing Road, Plainsboro. Gym equipment and fitness classes for adults and teens age 12 and up; personal trainers; daycare facilities. Monthly membership rates: $19.99 two-year membership; $29.99 one-year membership; $39.99 month-to-month. 609-799-2800 or www.njg-fitnesszone.com
Two-year anniversary party and open house, Saturday, April 6, all day. Food, beverages, specials. Zumba party 4 to 7 p.m.
