Club History

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History & Philosophy:  Health Club Celebrating Our 29th Anniversary In Current Location!

Northgate Health Club, under the ownership of Rochester Fitness, Inc. began operations at 1112 Seventh Street NW on October 23, 1991.  In this location prior to this date, a health club was operated by two different owners:  first, Cosmopolitan Sports & Swim Club opened its doors in 1968.  Second, Northgate Health Club, Inc. took over the business in the fall of 1980.  Northgate Health Club, Inc. operated the health club until Rochester Fitness, Inc. purchased certain assets in the fall of 1991.  Through all three owners this health club location has faithfully served the Rochester community without interruption for over 35 years.

Northgate Health Club is a private, for-profit club with usage restricted to paying members, guests of members and guests who pay  a daily or monthly fee.  By choosing to be a "private" rather than a "public" facility, Northgate hopes to cultivate a "club culture."  By "club culture" we mean a place where members feel like they are a permanent and integral part of a group; attached, interested and committed to the Club, its functions and their activities.  The Club becomes a vacation home away from home.

The Club's facilities and programs are primarily designed to serve adults and their fun/fitness needs.  However, the Club also offers family time and limited youth programs to help parents enhance their children's interest in the benefits of fitness and a healthy lifestyle.

It is the desire of management that this Club be service-orientated.  The Employee Team Mission is "Be Legendary" in both attitude and action.  Our goal is to put a smile on every member at every opportunity as we attempt to meet their needs and exceed their desires.

Over the years, the Club has seen its share of facelifts - almost too numerous to count.  Ownership/management believes in aggressively adjusting to the ever-changing needs of its membership.  When the doors first opened as Cosmopolitan Sports & Swim Club, the Club featured 16,000 square feet with (2) locker rooms, swimming pool, (2) universal gyms, (4) Schwinn exercycles, (2) self-propelled treadmills, a small amount of paramount and free weight equipment, nursery, and nutrition/snack bar.  At that time, personalized fitness programs were emphasized and no fitness classes were offered.

But "times... they were a changing."  Over the next decades more space was added and the interior re-designed and re-re-designed.  In addition, new facilities, equipment and programs were introduced to the members.  Today, Northgate features over 24,000 square feet including the following:

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individualized fitness programs designed and supervised by certified personal trainers

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(2) locker rooms with tiled whirlpools and dry heat saunas

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indoor swimming pool for individual swimming/workouts & water aerobics classes

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(3) fitness class rooms including our unique "Spinning" Studio with (24) Johnny G. Spinning bikes

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comprehensive group fitness  program featuring over 40 classes per week including Spinning, POWER HOUR & Pilates

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one of the largest free weight rooms in southern Minnesota featuring over 8,000 pounds of York plating and dumbbells

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total fitness area featuring the finest in cardio and toning/strength equipment

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16-station Nautilus Circuit

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11-station Cybex Circuit

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Gravitrons

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Star Trac Treadmills

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Stairmaster & Climbmax Steppers

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Star Trac Crosstrainers

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Life Fitness & Star Trac Cycles

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Motorized Climbing Wall

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Stretching/Ab Area

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TV system in cardio area featuring (10) 32-inch TV's with audio picked up on a personal walkman

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indoor walking track

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nursery with rooms designed for the various age groups

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tanning center featuring (4) Wolf system 20-minute tanning beds and (1) Peacock 10-minute stand-up system

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supplement center featuring Optimum Nutrition products

Northgate's success is built on the loyal patronage of its members.  We are cognizant of their wish to have a vital, high functioning club... but a club that is not overcrowded.  Our goal for the near future is to reach our member roster ceiling for this location and begin a membership waiting list.

With this membership ceiling in mind and the growing wish for a full-service fitness facility for women, Northgate added a second location in Rochester called Lady Northgate.  Announced in September, 2005, and opened in December, 2005, Lady Northgate brings women's fitness to a new level.

Located in the new River Center Plaza (formerly Northbrook Shopping Center ), Lady Northgate is a 5400 square foot fitness / wellness facility for women.  

Lady Northgate's mission mirrors that of Northgate Health Club:  to "Be Legendary;" to give members the utmost in personal attention while providing the most complete fitness facilities and programming possible.  Not self-service or a "card key" club, Lady Northgate prides itself on providing full service.  On every visit our goal is to welcome you by name and put a smile on your face at every opportunity.  

In addition to a fitness center, Lady Northgate features a full locker room with showers and changing rooms; a nursery for children 2 months to 10 years; fitness classes such as POWER HOUR, Yoga and Pilates; and complete tanning salon. 

The Lady Northgate fitness center includes a Paramount Express Fitness Circuit, a cardio center with treadmills, cross trainers and fitness bikes; free weights; Pilate’s Allegro boards and multi-functional fitness trainers by Precor.  As with Northgate Health Club, Lady Northgate’s fitness programs are designed and supervised by certified personal trainers.

The fitness movement is growing, Northgate's future is brighter than ever and we look forward to serving the Rochester Area's adult fitness needs through the next millennium.