MONROE - Longtime friends Joey Vanmatre and Brandon Byrne aren't looking to get rich but instead are fulfilling their dream to run a hobby-based gym.
"The reason why we built this was for our friends and family to enjoy themselves," Vanmatre said. "And to build up the community in the sense where the people who come here actually want to work out and know why they're here."
The 2006 Monroe High School graduates opened Iron Haus in May on 19th Street, next to Papa Don's Horseshoe Saloon, but had to close for six months due to zoning issues. They reopened Feb. 1.
The gym's target audience is avid lifters, those who work out or lift every day, Vanmatre said. Most of their clients have found their way to the Iron Haus through word of mouth. The gym is open 24 hours and has a security and a key fob system. To join, prospective clients can sign a contract anywhere from one month to two years.
The key fob system allows clients to use the gym without Vanmatre and Byrne - who both have day jobs - having to be there all the time. Vanmatre owns Monroe construction company TruHome, and Byrne works for Terra Engineering & Construction out of Madison.
Vanmatre and Byrne have been friends as far back as they can remember. Vanmatre was the best man at Byrne's wedding and said Byrne will be the best man at his.
Byrne's passion for lifting started during his involvement in high school football, when he would lift every morning, and he continued to do so after graduating. Vanmatre started when Anytime Fitness opened in Monroe and he began working out in the evenings after he got off of work. Owning their own gym has been their dream for the last six years.
During their annual Christmas shopping trip for their significant others in 2016, Vanmatre mentioned to Byrne if they didn't open a gym in 2017, they probably wouldn't do it at all.
Not long after, Vanmatre found out a New Glarus gym was closing its doors and selling all of its equipment.
"It's now or never," he told Byrne.
They seized the opportunity and bought the equipment along with some additional pieces from the Chicago Barbell Compound, the same equipment used by professional lifters and bodybuilders.
The equipment sat in storage for a couple months before they found a financially feasible location. Although the monthly cost was right where they wanted it, the former welding shop required elbow grease to make it gym-ready. They painted the walls and scrubbed and power-washed the concrete floors, which give the space an urban feel.
The most rewarding part of opening Iron Haus is the accomplishment of their dream that had seemed far out of their realm, Vanmatre said.
They're slowly gaining back their clients after losing about 30 people when they had to temporarily close down. Vanmatre and Byrne encourage anyone interested to come check it out.
"The fact that it's a hobby is the biggest thing," Byrne said. "I think it opens up a lot of people's eyes because we're not looking to get rich. We have day jobs. This is something we do because we love it."
"The reason why we built this was for our friends and family to enjoy themselves," Vanmatre said. "And to build up the community in the sense where the people who come here actually want to work out and know why they're here."
The 2006 Monroe High School graduates opened Iron Haus in May on 19th Street, next to Papa Don's Horseshoe Saloon, but had to close for six months due to zoning issues. They reopened Feb. 1.
The gym's target audience is avid lifters, those who work out or lift every day, Vanmatre said. Most of their clients have found their way to the Iron Haus through word of mouth. The gym is open 24 hours and has a security and a key fob system. To join, prospective clients can sign a contract anywhere from one month to two years.
The key fob system allows clients to use the gym without Vanmatre and Byrne - who both have day jobs - having to be there all the time. Vanmatre owns Monroe construction company TruHome, and Byrne works for Terra Engineering & Construction out of Madison.
Vanmatre and Byrne have been friends as far back as they can remember. Vanmatre was the best man at Byrne's wedding and said Byrne will be the best man at his.
Byrne's passion for lifting started during his involvement in high school football, when he would lift every morning, and he continued to do so after graduating. Vanmatre started when Anytime Fitness opened in Monroe and he began working out in the evenings after he got off of work. Owning their own gym has been their dream for the last six years.
During their annual Christmas shopping trip for their significant others in 2016, Vanmatre mentioned to Byrne if they didn't open a gym in 2017, they probably wouldn't do it at all.
Not long after, Vanmatre found out a New Glarus gym was closing its doors and selling all of its equipment.
"It's now or never," he told Byrne.
They seized the opportunity and bought the equipment along with some additional pieces from the Chicago Barbell Compound, the same equipment used by professional lifters and bodybuilders.
The equipment sat in storage for a couple months before they found a financially feasible location. Although the monthly cost was right where they wanted it, the former welding shop required elbow grease to make it gym-ready. They painted the walls and scrubbed and power-washed the concrete floors, which give the space an urban feel.
The most rewarding part of opening Iron Haus is the accomplishment of their dream that had seemed far out of their realm, Vanmatre said.
They're slowly gaining back their clients after losing about 30 people when they had to temporarily close down. Vanmatre and Byrne encourage anyone interested to come check it out.
"The fact that it's a hobby is the biggest thing," Byrne said. "I think it opens up a lot of people's eyes because we're not looking to get rich. We have day jobs. This is something we do because we love it."