If you haven’t read Part 1, click here to check it out first. It’s a quick 3-minute read!
After Will and I laid out the vision for MVMT Strength—a gym focused on community and proactive health—it was time to tackle a crucial piece: finding a physical space. Without it, our vision was just a dream on paper. We weren’t tied to any particular part of London, as long as the space felt right for what we wanted to build.
Somehow, word got around that a new gym (us!) was on the hunt for a location, and I received an invite to tour a potential spot at 100 Kellogg Lane. At the time, it was mostly a construction zone, but there was a buzz around what it could become. The only entrance was near The Factory, so I made my way through a maze of dust and renovations, picturing the possibilities.
As we walked, I was shown a massive, open area that had me thinking, Yes, this is it! But that excitement faded fast when we moved past the dream space, down a long corridor, and into what felt like a basement. It was dimly lit, had low ceilings, so many pillars and windows at the top of the walls—if you can even call those windows. It honestly felt like a bomb shelter. Safe to say, that wasn’t the vibe we were going for! We passed on that spot, but who knows—maybe MVMT HQ 3.0 will end up there someday!
We kept searching and checked out a few warehouse-style locations. We even looked at the gym space where I first met Luke and Brooke all those years ago. That gym had outgrown the space, and it was surreal to see it available. The landlord hadn’t changed much—even the goal board was still up! I’ve included some pictures of these spaces so you can take a look. But none of them felt like “home.”
Then, out of nowhere, my good friend Gord—founder of the 24 Hours of Heroes event supporting veterans and first responders with PTSD—gave me a call. He told me about a gym downtown looking to downsize and lease out most of their space. Downtown wasn’t even on our radar; I assumed it would be way too expensive and probably too small. But we decided to take a look anyway.
When we arrived at 206 Piccadilly, I instantly recognized it as the home of Modern Health and Performance (MHP) and Empower Conditioning. Empower specialized in team training and small group sessions. The building’s front was all windows—natural light galore. Inside, it was divided into three sections: MHP, a small gym for one-on-one training, and Empower’s space, which had a welcoming vibe with cubbies, change rooms, and a seating area leading to a larger training space in the back.
The gym was clean and well-organized—a rarity for strength and conditioning facilities. Will and I stepped outside afterward, and we could already picture our community growing in that space. We knew we’d need to knock down walls to create a larger front training area for group classes, while keeping the back open for personal training. Gord confirmed the structural changes wouldn’t be an issue, and things started to feel very real.
Soon after, we met with Kari, the owner of Empower Conditioning and the building. She had new ventures in the works and was ready to reduce her training commitments. Her proposal was a dream for us: we could lease the building, use her equipment, rebrand everything, and even take on some of her clients (many of whom are still with us today!). It was a golden opportunity.
The next thing I knew, we were signing papers, and MVMT Strength officially had a home. Now all we needed to do was build out the front space and somehow find the money for equipment. No big deal, right? ????
Okay, I swear I’m not trying to leave you with cliffhangers. I just happen to write slowly, and breaking it up helps me keep going. Next week, in Part 3, I’ll dive into the build-out of 206 Piccadilly and how Luke & Brooke came back into the picture!
Thanks for following along!
Isaac Morgado
Owner
MVMT Strength
