St. Pete Strength Center, born out of Anytime Fitness DTSP, offers strength training old school – I Love the Burg

When news broke that Anytime Fitness DTSP was closing to make room for new construction, it left a huge hole in St. Pete’s robust gym and fitness scene. Along with The Annex next door, it had become a staple of Burg’s fitness community and its closure left many of us, myself included, wondering where to go.

Personal trainer Chris Werner, who opened and ran Anytime for the past seven years, now answers the question everyone has been asking him: What’s next? St. Pete Strength Center, located in 1936 1^St Avenue South will open this March bringing personalized strength training and physical conditioning to St. Pete.

The center is put together by a team of three, with Werner as owner working alongside physiotherapist Dr. Mitko Dimitri and personal trainer Dylan Carlson to create a small powerhouse of fitness professionals under one roof. The fitness center will be more like some programs from The Annex than the typical come-and-go big box gyms, as it focuses primarily on one-on-one training, workshops, and small group sessions.

The trio behind the St. Pete Strength Center combine three unique skills. Werner is a one on one strength coach with a focus on using tools to increase a client’s muscle mass and transform their physique, while Carlson specializes in flexibility and strength training, perfect for athletes of all ages. dr Mitko is the thought leader behind Plyogenix physical therapy, helping athletes and gym goers get back to the things they love pain free and will have his own private office within the fitness facility.

“We’re ready to cater to locals looking for a more private, customized workout experience in a room full of great gear,” says Werner of I Love the Burg. “Our facility aims to bring back an old-school style of training – back to a time when people exchanged training tips face-to-face and discovered one another.”

Werner also said he’s looking forward to starting what he calls “supergroups,” small groups of like-minded people who do strength training together twice a week, followed by prescribed “homework” to be done outside of the two in-person sessions. These groups rotate every six months to allow more people access to the program.

The St. Pete Strength Center currently expects to open in March, expansion is underway and those interested in individual or group training can email chris(at)wernerathletic.com for more information. Meanwhile, SPSC is continuing The Yard’s free monthly outdoor workout at Green Bench Brewing, a group fitness series that became popular when it was started by Werner and the team at The Annex/Anytime. Follow SPSC on Instagram for more updates.