Ian Smith, a co-owner of the Atilis Gym in Bellmawr, told Fox News on Monday morning that “we’re ready for whatever consequences come our way,” while also noting that he is a big supporter of law enforcement. A crowd of gym members and supporters gathered outside before the facility opened its doors at 8 a.m. According to Fox News and local media reports, police were on the scene when the gym reopened.
“We’re standing up for what we believe to be right,” Smith told Fox News. Frank Trumbetti, co-owner of the gym, then jumped in to back up his partner’s comment.
“And we truly do believe it’s right and the [police] officers took an oath and they don’t have to do this,” Trumbetti said. He argued that the state order did not apply to the gym because it is not open to the public and is a members-only facility.
“We have members. Once you buy a membership, you separate yourself from the public and you are doing your own thing,” the co-owner said. “It makes us different,” he added, as some in the surrounding crowd cheered.
Newsweek reached out to the Atilis Gym as well as local police for further comment but did not hear back before publication.
According to ABC 6 Action News, the Atilis Gym owners took precautions to encourage social distancing while members work out. Only 44 members will be allowed to enter the facility at any given time. Additionally, signs have been posted to instruct members to practice social distancing, while workout machines have been taped off to emphasize spacing requirements. Disinfectant has been made readily available so machines and equipment can be cleaned regularly.
In a video posted to Facebook last week, Trumbetti noted that his own mother has been hospitalized with COVID-19. He asserted that he understands the seriousness of the outbreak but believes he should be allowed to reopen his gym.
“We would like to get all the support we can all day long. We would love to fill the parking lot by 8 a.m. and allow members in, in accordance to the safe distancing guidelines, to get their workout in in a timely fashion and have them stick around all day as a sign of solidarity for our rights as citizens,” he said in the clip.
As of 9:30 a.m., the gym was still open, with supporters gathered outside in the parking lot, according to NBC 10 reporter Katy Zachry.
“Crowd still gathering outside Atilis Gym in Bellmawr, NJ. They opened today at 8a, defying Gov Murphy’s current order. Gym operating under new health and safety rules they created to keep members safe,” she wrote in a Twitter post, sharing an image from the scene.
As of Monday morning, New Jersey has reported 146,334 confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus. Of those infected, 10,356 have died. Governor Phil Murphy, a Democrat, eased some lockdown measures on Monday, allowing nonessential construction work to move forward and permitting curbside pickup at nonessential businesses.
