A spin exercise studio is delighted to be back in downtown Red Deer after a temporary move to Gasoline Alley during the pandemic.
RYDE RD returned to its original downtown location on Oct. 23.
Owner Alex Wood said it was nice to be able spread clients out at the Gasoline Alley warehouse, and set up equipment outdoors weather permitting, but it didn’t have the same atmosphere as the downtown site.
“It’s nice to be in central Red Deer. We love the location. We love the set up we have there,” said Wood about the 4755 49th St. site on Thursday.
She said local businesses have a lot to offer, and the downtown is easily accessible to everyone in the city.
“In the summer, Red Deer has such a great trail system I ride my bike from the south to the downtown. It’s almost as quick as driving.”
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Reg Warkentin, policy and government relations manager Red Deer & District Chamber of Commerce, said optimism is returning to the downtown thanks to recent progress on the expansion planned for Red Deer Regional Hospital Centre.
He said with more hospital beds and the staff that go with them, doctors and other health professionals will be looking for office space. Nearby Capstone will likely benefit, and fuel further business development in the downtown.
“Soon enough with that Goliath of a courthouse, there’s going to be that many more professionals and people downtown wanting to take advantage of things,” Warkentin said.
“The tide is starting to turn on how the downtown is perceived by the business community.”
Warkentin said people are encouraged by construction starting on the addictions treatment centre in the city’s north end, and despite issues with needle debris and vandalism, crime in the downtown is on the decline according to police data.
“The trends have been moving in the right direction for years now. I know it doesn’t always seem like it. Statistically, whatever they’re doing is working, slowly but surely.”
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Wood said RYDE RD’s downtown site was closed for 579 days and the studio will continue to adapt to COVID-19 regulations as required. For some clients, the first activity they did outside their home during the pandemic was return to spin class.
She said the studio will even be open on New Year’s Day to de-stress by sweating it out, or starting on the path to a healthy 2022.
“It’s great to see all of the familiar faces, and continue to see new clients walk in every day. We really appreciate the support from everyone in Red Deer.”
szielinski@reddeeradvocate.com
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