Small Robbinsdale Gym Urges Governor to Ease COVID-19 Restrictions
A Robbinsdale business owner is urging Governor Tim Walz to allow small gyms to reopen. The owners of Lions Gym and Wellness Center says COVID-19 restrictions have dramatically impacted their business.
“It is frustrating not to be able to open right now fully,” said Leah Menya, co-owner of Lions Gym and Wellness Center.
Lions Gym pushes to lift restrictions on small gyms.
Lions Gym offers treadmills and other gym equipment for customers. It also offers holistic and chiropractic services, the part of the business that is still open.
Some gym owners expected Governor Tim Walz to reopen gyms June 1, but that didn’t happen. Menya thinks there needs to be some differentiation between large and small gyms.
“Protocols and safety guidelines and sanitation guidelines should be easy to meet for smaller gyms. Some of which only do one-on-one personal training,” Menya said.
Small Gyms Start Petition
Menya and her co-owner husband, Stephen Menya, have joined other small gyms in urging the governor to reopen their facilities. A recent ad was posted in the Star Tribune.
“Small gyms have collaborated to start a petition to the governor to allow and consider small gyms to open,” explained Menya.
She says the group worked with governor Tim Walz for over a month to set up strict guidelines. But she says the work is stalled.
Lions gym staff painting and cleaning to be ready to reopen.
“Guidelines were never approved, even considered essential. It is somewhat crazy that Minnesota is one of the healthiest states in the country, and yet right now you can go have a beer, get a tattoo, eat a cheeseburger, but if you want to go workout, you can’t,” said Menya.
Menya says she understands that some people might not feel comfortable coming to the gym. But she says if people want to exercise, they should be able to do it in a safe environment.
“Gyms should be set up with guidelines to follow like other businesses and allowed to reopen,” she said Menya. “The gym is probably cleaner than a grocery store because things are getting wiped down constantly. Not only by the staff but the people there as well.”
Staff at Lions Gym and Wellness Center are tidying up to make sure they are ready when they get the okay to open, but until then, the gym is offering free online classes via YouTube. It’s also accepting donations.
