Entrepreneurial Spirit | Cycle Life Studio
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio — Dozens of entrepreneurs in the Mahoning and Shenango valleys navigated the challenges of the pandemic to launch a new venture, proving the entrepreneurial spirit is alive and well.
For Growth Report 2, The Business Journal spoke with owners of six local businesses who shared their experiences. They include Devyn Bellamy of Geras Home Solutions; Amy Javens of Cycle Life Studio; Lindy Lauro of Lindy’s Lunch; Monique Davis of Beloved Guardians Home Health Care; Sara Lee Grandelis of Lotus Art Center; John McDonald and Joe Driscoll of Easy Adapter Inc.; and Benjamin Warren of Big Benz Towing & Repair.
Each will be spotlighted separately online.
Cycle Life Studio | Amy Javens
Amy Javens started planning to open Cycle Life Studio before the pandemic. The triathlon coach and former professional triathlete had been working with JCL Development in Sharon, Pa., to renovate a space on Chestnut Avenue for her studio, which offers indoor cycling and other fitness services.
Javens had wanted to do something like this for years and was inspired by efforts of JCL and other entities to revitalize downtown Sharon.
“This was the perfect setup right here. It was exactly the square footage I wanted,” she says. “I loved the old building vibe.”
COVID hit and brought limitations on how fitness centers could operate. Then, when she was able to open, supply chain issues affected her ability to get bikes. Those began arriving in March 2021, around the time that vaccines started becoming available.
Following a soft opening in June, Javens had a grand opening in August. She says she is satisfied with how business has progressed so far. Summer, when indoor fitness centers typically are empty, was busier than expected. Conversely, while winter normally is a busy time for such studios, activity is lower because of the omicron variant.
Since opening, Cycle Life has expanded from having just one instructor – Javens – to 10.
“I’ve been in the fitness industry for a while and there’s nothing like having a community to help you become healthier and more fit,” she says. Even with the increase in virtual trainers, “People are still always going to want to be a part of a group and be part of a community.”
Read more of these stories of entrepreneurship over the next few days, or read George Nelson’s story in Growth Report 2.
Pictured: Amy Javens of Cycle Life Studio.
Copyright 2024 The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.
