It’s training time at Seattle Strength & Performance
Published 5:30 pm Tuesday, June 23, 2026
Plenty of fitness-focused Mercer Islanders have pushed their way through the doors of Seattle Strength & Performance (SSP) since the grand opening of its new local gym on May 11.
Athletes as young as age 14 to other clients in their 70s have all come to train at SSP’s first location on the Eastside.
The coach-based, functional and inclusive facility features workouts using a mixture of equipment like dumbbells, kettlebells, barbells, medicine balls, resistance bands, valslides and more, according to owner and CEO Chris Travis.
SSP has set up shop on the Island at 8441 SE 68th St., Suite 105, and thus far has drawn in about 85 members. With two full-time coaches on board, personal training occurs in groups of four people and group strength and conditioning classes feature up to 12 attendees.
The training sessions are designed to prioritize functional strength, injury prevention and long-term health, according to SSP. Utilizing a community-focused approach, the all-fitness-level facility helps members build sustainable strength, athletic ability and confidence, SSP adds.
“It’s always fun to kind of bring what we do to new communities. Mercer Island was one of those opportunities that just came from my broker when we were looking around at spaces,” said Travis, noting that MI was one of numerous communities they were eyeing for a potential expansion. “This opportunity came up, and I always thought Mercer Island was just a great community to be in.”
While sowing the seeds of the SSP community on the Island, Travis said they’ve got the locals excited and invested in what the facility has to offer them. Part of the training includes trying to get people to build strength in planes of motion that will benefit them on a daily basis.
“One of the things that I love about bringing SSP to the community is just seeing the kind of joy and the impact that we can make on the people that come in the door for the first time,” said Travis, adding that SSP’s powerful core brand philosophy focuses on making people feel comfortable and supported while they’re engaging in their individualized workouts.
Travis jumped into the SSP realm in 2019 when he moved away from his Amazon corporate career by purchasing the SSP brand from original owner Jake De La Pena, who got the gym rolling in 2010 in Seattle. SSP currently operates other facilities in Queen Anne, Phinney Ridge, West Seattle and Ballard.
SSP notes that its “goal with each new location is to build lasting relationships and contribute meaningfully to the health and vitality of the community.”
One of the testimonials on the SSP website reads, “I feel like this is the gym I’ve always been hoping to find! I really appreciate the positivity, kindness, and welcoming attitude of every person (staff and clients) that I’ve met at the gym.”
For more information, visit: https://www.seattlesp.com/
