Small Business Profile: MX3 Fitness

Ready for a better way to work out? This week we're taking you to MX3 Fitness, a boutique local gym with 4 locations in SF and a totally novel approach that their members LOVE.  

We sat down with MX3 co-owner Dave Karraker to find out more. 

Dave, we've been to a lot of gyms, but none quite like MX3. We can see why you won Best of the Bay! What inspired you to create something new? 

When we started MX3 Fitness in 2016, it was just a small personal training gym in Lower Haight. The game changer came when we opened our Castro location in 2018… then COVID hit soon after. We found ourselves with two gyms that were completely shuttered due pandemic restrictions on gyms. So, we did what so many small business owners do: we improvised. We found a statute that allowed us to actually move our gym out onto the sidewalk and the parking spaces in front of the gym. So, every day, we wheeled and carried 8,000 pounds of equipment outside for people to use when working out, then at night, pulled it all back inside. When we were finally allowed to move back inside, there were still distancing restrictions, so we created “personal fitness zones” – 150 sq ft gyms-within-a-gym with all the equipment you needed to get a great workout in your own personal area. No more sharing equipment. No more waiting for equipment. You used credits to reserve the spaces on our website in one hour blocks. The new gym layout was a smashing success. People loved the reservation system and the personal fitness zones, so when the pandemic ended, we kept them.

Why do you think that unique "reservation only" system works so well?

Our reservation system works so well because one of the biggest barriers for people enjoying their gym experience is overcrowding and waiting/sharing equipment. We removed that anxiety. Now people know that when they step foot in the gym, they are going to have access to all the equipment they need to get a great workout without compromise.

Your group classes are capped at 6 people max. What do your members love about that?

MX3 Fitness is really built around very personal service. We decided that classes of 30 – 40 people just didn’t give our instructors the ability to work directly with each member. As we all know, everyone’s bodies and capabilities are different, so offering a one-class fits all system serving up to 50 people at a time just didn’t fit with how we like to do business.

What are your members looking for that they can't get anywhere else?

Typically, we have found that our members come from about a four to six block radius to our gym. They are our neighbors and they want a personal, neighborly experience. They have tried the big box gyms and were turned off by the crowds or the general environment that they were just another number. We really take the time to get to know our members and they have responded so well to our reservation system and personal fitness zones. Our Noe Valley gym has a waitlist of more than 500 people, so we must be doing something right!

What are the advantages of a membership at a boutique gym vs. the big box guys? 

Big box gyms work for some and don’t work for others. Some people like a busier environment filled with friends or, perhaps, future acquaintances. Our members are primarily looking for an experience where they can get in, have a great workout, and get out. They want a premium experience that is catered to how they want to exercise and we think we provide that.

What SF neighborhoods have MX3 locations? 

Lower Haight, Castro, Mission, Noe Valley

What's next for MX3 Fitness? Any dream locations or services that you'd like to add in the next year or two? 

We are always looking for new neighborhoods that are right for our model, even outside the immediate San Francisco area. Our primary focus is neighborhoods that are underserved when it comes to gyms. Thankfully, we have a flexible business model that can as easily open a small 1,000 sq ft gym as a large 4,000 sq ft gym. It comes down to whatever best serves that community.

Why do you think small businesses are an important element of strong, healthy communities?

Small businesses are the lifeblood of any neighborhood. Without them, you simply don’t have a neighborhood… you have just a bunch of houses. Small retail businesses tend to pay better than large retailers, and we spend more of our money locally, which helps to keep the local economic ecosystem healthy.

Folks should really take the time to get off Amazon and down into the streets to support local businesses. It truly makes a difference in how much you ultimately love your neighborhood. Think of that little coffee shop or bakery or clothing store (or gym!). If that left, what kind of hole would it place in your life and the lives of those you live next to. Take the time to spend your dollars where your neighbors spend their dollars. It really does make a difference!