While sitting in classes at Seattle University, Aron Penski’s thoughts would often wander to how he could be training in the gym at that moment. Once, while attending class at the University of California at Santa Barbara, he saw a sailboat cruise by and the gym flashed in his mind.
Penski has always been a self-proclaimed gym rat, dating back to his days at Mercer Island High School (MIHS).
“Literally, the day I walked out of high school (my dream) was to open a gym on the Island,” Penski, 43, said while lounging outside of his Mercer Island Fitness (MIFIT) location on a recent afternoon.
While in college, the business and marketing major did some personal training on the side and continued that route while he was a hotel chef in south Florida for three years following his university days. When a hotel secretary told Penski that he needed to delve into personal training as a career, the proverbial light bulb in his head beamed profusely. He soon trekked back home, took a job at 24 Hour Fitness and began paving his path to gym ownership.
First, he thrived as owner of Kix and Spinz for 10 years on the Island’s south end. Following a pair of lengthy COVID-19 closures and Penski filing for bankruptcy after shuttering Kix and Spinz, he secured funding and leases to expand and rebrand his business in May 2021 as MIFIT. Featuring his previous business’ gym and now a dojo (formerly Karate West), MIFIT is nestled into just under 3,000 square feet of space at 8451 SE 68th St.
Penski said he was devastated and scared about the future of his business and wasn’t sure if he wanted to continue running a fitness facility on the south end.
He thought about his family and soldiered on.
“This is what I was born and bred to do, so I decided to make one last push at it. The push that I’m making is one that I’ve always wanted to make, which was expand, give Mercer Island a full fitness outlet,” said the MIHS class of 1997 graduate who played four years of varsity soccer and some basketball.
“I would always kick myself if I hadn’t done it,” said a thrilled Penski, who recently signed a five-year lease.
MIFIT features six trainers, including Penski, who focus on martial arts, yoga, personal training with weights, cardio, flexibility and core strength, and group classes. Their oldest client is 80 years old with their youngest in the 12-13-year-old range, and all training sessions are by appointment.
On the COVID safety front, Penski invested in black light air filtration systems following a community funding campaign for his business in March. Trainers are vaccinated and wear masks and they are constantly cleaning the spaces.
“The community has supported this, so that’s probably 75% of why I’m here. Kind of just one foot in front of the other. I’ve had little angels along the way that have helped me,” said Penski, adding that a man walked by one day and offered to help with remodeling and friends have provided assistance as well.
Penski isn’t sure what the future holds, but he’ll keep doing what he does best by offering fitness opportunities for Islanders. Since bringing MIFIT to life in May, it’s been a “trickling opening,” he said.
“Kind of bear with us. We’re going to get us all together one step at a time. We’re not sure if there’s another mandate coming or another shutdown coming. You keep going if you can — keep pivoting,” he said.
For client COVID information, go to https://mercerislandfitness.com/
