SYRACUSE — University CrossFit, LLC, which does business as Urban Life CrossFit, has plans to expand its space in its current location, adding a spinning studio.

The company also plans to open a second location on the Syracuse University (SU) hill that too will focus on spinning, an indoor-cycling workout.

The second studio is a space in the CVS Pharmacy building at 704 S. Crouse Ave. in Syracuse.

The company wants to stay ahead in the fitness trend, says Jamar Clarke, co-founder and head trainer at Urban Life CrossFit.

“We want to stay cool. We want to stay new and we want to keep things different,” says Clarke.

His two business partners include Eric Hinman and Stephane Lasher. Each man has equal ownership of University CrossFit, LLC.

Clarke spoke with the Business Journal News Network on July 28.

A CrossFit gymnasium targets people who are working to generate a healthy lifestyle and offers a group of trainers “that can give you feedback on changes to better your life,” Clarke said in an interview last year prior to CrossFit’s opening.

“CrossFit is a strength and conditioning program … to optimize physical competence in each of 10 recognized fitness domains [that include] cardiovascular and respiratory endurance, stamina, strength, flexibility, power, speed, coordination, agility, balance, accuracy,” according to the website for Chicago–based CrossFit Defined.

Urban Life CrossFit, which opened in October 2013, is located on the fourth floor of Rockwest Center at 1003 W. Fayette St., next door to O Yoga, a yoga studio.

O Yoga has plans to move to a different space in Rockwest Center to accommodate University CrossFit’s expansion, according to Clarke.

Clarke describes the company’s upcoming spin studio as “dance club meets cycling studio,” with roughly 20 to 40 spin bikes and an instructor.

“It’s a healthy, safe way to burn a large amount of calories within a 45-minute to an hour class,” he says.

The company plans to open both its expansion in Rockwest Center and the location in the CVS building — at the corner of South Crouse Avenue and East Adams Street  — in September, he says.

Both locations will operate under the name Urban Life Spin, says Clarke.

Urban Life CrossFit currently operates in a 4,800-square-foot space. The expansion at Rockwest Center will nearly double its space to about 9,000 square feet, says Clarke.

The space for the spin studio inside the CVS building is about 2,000 square feet, he adds.

Clarke declined to disclose how much it is costing to expand with the spin studios but says the owners are using their own assets to pay for the work.

Guy Easter is the landlord for the structure where the pharmacy operates, says Clarke. He learned about the space’s availability from John Vavalo, the owner of J. Michael Shoes at 173 Marshall St., who he says introduced him to Easter.

Sam Lampuri, landlord at Rockwest Center, will handle the work necessary to prepare the space at CrossFit’s current location, says Clarke.

In addition to the new South Crouse Avenue space, Urban Life CrossFit also has plans to add a retail area and a smoothie bar where members could grab a salad when they’re done exercising if they choose.

Syracuse Fitness Store will supply the spin machines, says Clarke. J. Michael Shoes will supply the merchandise for the retail section, along with Montreal, Quebec–based Cory Vines, a retailer of exercise apparel, he adds.

The additional space at Rockwest Center will include the spin studio, a front desk area, a conference room, a lounge area, and the retail space, says Clarke.

Urban CrossFit is seeking to hire four additional part-time CrossFit trainers and six to eight part-time spin instructors, he says.

The company currently employs six people, including Clarke, who is one of three full-time trainers.

Urban CrossFit also plans to work with interns through SU’s sports-management program to allow the students “… to get the experience on how to run a gym facility.” 

The students will also operate the food bar and the retail area.

CrossFit currently conducts seven classes, including four in the morning (5 a.m., 6 a.m., 7 a.m. and 8 a.m.), one during the noon hour (12:30 p.m.), and two in the afternoon (4:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m.).

It plans to add an eighth class on Aug. 25, beginning at 6:30 a.m.

The classes range in size from 15 to 40, but most classes include average participation between 20 and 25, he says.

CrossFit currently has 285 members, according to Clarke.

Contact Reinhardt at ereinhardt@cnybj.com