Business Matters: New Brooklyn Center Gym a Powerlifter’s Paradise
The former home of Earle Brown Lanes in Brooklyn Center now has a second life. The space has been transformed into Los Campeones — a gym that caters to folks with an affinity for weightlifting.
“This is essentially the Mall of America of gyms,” said Evan Harris, the senior manager of the Los Campeones in Brooklyn Center.
Nearly every gym has features like weights and cardio equipment. However, Los Campeones isn’t exactly like most gyms.
“To see dumbbells that go up to a 175 lbs, not that I’m ever gonna lift those, but it’s impressive,” said Patrick Durand, a member from Ham Lake.
The gym is a 35,000 square foot powerlifter’s paradise. Yes, it has amenities, just not the ones that are typically associated with fitness centers.
“This is where all the bodybuilders go to practice their posing routines for their bodybuilding shows,” said Harris, showing off a room filled with mirrors. “A lot of people who compete in powerlifting, they come here because we have the stuff that they’re gonna be using.”
Los Campeones occupies the former Earle Brown Lanes bowling alley. It’s located at 6440 James Circle N. in Brooklyn Center.
A massive transformation
Harris helped to transform the building from a vacant bowling alley to the gym you see today.
“It was an absolute mess, and it was totally gutted,” Harris said. “There was no bowling lanes. There was nothing. It was just concrete, garbage and dirt.”
After seven months of hard work to renovate a building that had been vacant since 2015, Los Campeones officially opened its doors two weeks ago.
“It looks great now. I mean, it’s crazy man,” Harris said.
The hope is that other folks will feel the same way. So far, the early reaction has been positive.
“It’s awesome,” said Emily Durand of Blaine.
Tuesday morning, Durand and her father, Patrick, took the day off to check out the new space and lift weights together.
“It’s like, the most inclusive gym as far as motivation goes. The environment is unmatched for a gym,” she said.
You won’t find a pool or sauna at the Brooklyn Center Los Campeones, but you will find a room dedicated to mixed martial arts.
“This is our first MMA room in a Los Campeones, a lot of our other gyms have bags and coaches that’ll do pads, but this is like our very first padded MMA room.
Sometimes, all it takes is a vision and a little determination to create what they call, “the best gym in town.”
“I really think that this gym’s gonna impact the community out here in Brooklyn Center in a really good way,” Harris said.
While the gym opened two weeks ago, Harris says more equipment is still on the way. Membership fees start at around $65 per month.
Emily Durand lifts weights with her father, Patrick, at the Los Campeones in Brooklyn Center.
Related: Los Campeones Gym To Replace Long Vacant Brooklyn Center Bowling Alley
