Native son opens new gym “Fit Club” near Ocean Beach

Fit Club owner Marty Magnusen with his dog Goo

Marty Magnusen is not just a San Francisco native, he is an Ocean Beach native. He grew up at 44th and Balboa, is a former Ocean Beach lifeguard (and lifelong surfer), and just last month, opened up a new fitness center called Fit Club that is just a block from the beach.

I stopped by last week to check out the new gym, which is small but well-stocked with cardio equipment and free weights. It’s a simple setup designed for getting your workout on; there are no showers or locker rooms.

Magnusen said he deliberately focused on building a cardio-based workout facility to offer an alternative for residents who don’t always want to brave the fog and wind that can accompany outdoor workouts by the beach.

Rather than focusing on lifting weights, Magnusen wants to offer an environment where all fitness levels are welcome, and where customers can benefit from cardio workouts and injury prevention. While I was there, a woman in her twenties worked out on an elliptical trainer while a senior pedaled on a recumbent bike.

“My life is surfing and staying active,” Magnusen says, and it’s that same healthy lifestyle that he wants to bring to his customers. “I wanted to bring health back to the beach area.”

Magnusen, 32, isn’t new to the demands of running his own small business. He’s had a successful Christmas tree lot in the Sunset for the past few years, and he did all the remodeling on Fit Club himself, which used to be a Russian bookstore. He’s the one you’ll find behind the desk every day, along with his dog Goo, greeting customers and signing up new members.

Fit Club has two trainers on staff – one male, one female – to work with clients. The gym doesn’t currently offer any classes, and Magnusen says he’ll wait to see what interest there is from clients before expanding. His friend runs Barra Brothers, a Jiu-Jitsu academy just down the block that offers classes including a Brazilian bootcamp.

Fit Club (728 La Playa Street) offers day passes for $10 and monthly memberships that start at $49 per month ($30 for seniors and students). They also offer a special $90 monthly rate for couples.

The gym is open 7 days a week, beginning at 6:30am on weekdays and 8am on weekends, and closes at 9:30pm Monday through Thursday, and at 8pm on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Sarah B.