If you missed Part 1 or Part 2 of this story, click here to catch up!
In Part 2, I shared how we found our first home at 206 Piccadilly. As I mentioned, we really lucked out with this space—it already had the foundations of a gym, which made our build-out much simpler. At the time, Will had a solid roster of personal training clients, and we also inherited several clients from Empower Conditioning, the previous gym in the building. It was the perfect launchpad for MVMT Strength.
Since there was already a functioning gym in the back, our renovations were minimal. The biggest change was opening up the front space, adding a rig, and giving the place a fresh coat of paint. We wanted the front area to serve as the hub for our group strength and conditioning classes, while the back remained dedicated to personal training and small group sessions. This layout kept things organized and gave each coach a focused environment with minimal distractions.
Thanks to Gord (yes, Gord again!), the demo and reno process was quick and smooth. The walls came down in no time, and the rig went up without a hitch. One of my favorite touches was the big MVMT Strength icon on a blue wall, painted by Izzy, Gord’s daughter! Will handled most of the painting—ask him how much he loves painting gyms, haha—and then we laid the rubber flooring. My memory might be a bit foggy, but I’m pretty sure the entire reno only took a couple of weeks.
Once the space was ready, we started filling it with equipment. Again, we were incredibly lucky to have access to Empower’s existing equipment, which meant we only needed to buy a few essentials: bumper plates, a handful of bars, some rowers, and a couple of air bikes. Looking back, I’m really proud of how intentional we were with our purchases. Instead of splurging on everything at once, we focused on what we truly needed and grew our inventory over time—a philosophy we still follow today.
From the start, we also knew we didn’t want to be a gym where everyone had their own barbell. We believed in fostering connections, and sharing equipment naturally encourages interaction. It’s one of those small details that makes a big difference in creating a sense of community.
Looking back on that space now is wild. This was pre-COVID, so the vibe around big groups in small spaces was very different. To give you some perspective, the front workout space was about the same size as our current lobby at MVMT HQ 2.0, but in a nice square layout. It had a rig with two squat racks and three floating racks, and somehow, we managed to run 14-person classes in there. Tight? Absolutely. But it was a freaking blast!
We kept the structure of the classes the same as we do today—strength work first (squats, deadlifts, etc.), followed by conditioning. Members loved the energy of that small, packed space. To this day, we still have people telling us how much they miss the old, cozy front room.
Looking back, 206 Piccadilly was small, but it was the perfect place to start our MVMT Strength community. That little front space, with its tight quarters and shared equipment, set the tone for everything we wanted to build—a place where everyone knew each other’s names, cheered each other on, and felt like they truly belonged.
Even as we’ve grown and moved into bigger spaces, we’ve held onto those small-community vibes. At MVMT Strength, it’s never been about how much space we have—it’s about the connections we create, the high-fives after a tough workout, and the friendships formed over shared goals.
206 Piccadilly will always hold a special place in our hearts because it wasn’t just where we started our gym—it’s where we began building the tight-knit, supportive community that defines MVMT Strength to this day.
