Warehouse Fitness Centre owners Aaron and Sam Vinci say it was worth all the work to keep it going.
Camera IconWarehouse Fitness Centre owners Aaron and Sam Vinci say it was worth all the work to keep it going. Credit: Supplied/Jon Hewson

South Fremantle’s Warehouse gym avoids closing doors for good

Jessica NicoCockburn Gazette

WAREHOUSE Fitness Centre, a South Fremantle institution for years, narrowly avoided closing its doors for good.

For more than 20 years the gym has been a mainstay in the local community, offering everything from exercise and weight equipment to classes and tailored programs, but owner Samantha Vinci said the gym’s future had been on shaky ground since 2014 when it was put it up as a development site.

“That’s when we decided to purchase the building to save the gym and guarantee its future,” she said.

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An old wool store from the 1950s, Mrs Vinci said the building had not seen an upgrade in 15 years and a decision needed to be made about what to do with it.

“We had to make the decision to refurbish now and secure some good tenants or keep trading and patching things as needed,” she said.

“We decided to move the gym to the upper tenancy, complete with a new fit out and it wasn’t long before local Fremantle architect Drew O’Dwyer of OX Studios had come up with a modern, industrial look, exposing the iconic saw-tooth roof.

“We couldn’t be happier; it was worth all the work. All we wanted to do was bring everything the Warehouse is and has been for 27 years and put it in a brand new environment so it could continue for another 27 years.

“The soul, spirit and people who make the Warehouse what it is will live on and now the building that has housed it for all these years will too.”

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