15 Year Anniversary

This is a behind the scenes story of the history of Baltimore Kettlebell Club and the 5 places we’ve called home.

BKC first opened its doors on August 15, 2011, on Wholesale Club Dr.

Jess and I were pregnant with our 3rd child and had our house up for sale when an offer came through a client (thanks Mark!) that was too good to pass up. The catch was that it was a month-to-month lease. Although the price was right (basically free) there was no guarantee of success. The whole thing could end with 30 days' notice.

I decided to go for it. On August 15, 2011, I got the keys to our first gym.

Originally Art & Strength

The bare essentials

Six months after starting a business we had a baby. 48 hours after having a baby, we moved into a new house. Six months after moving, we moved the gym.

In the span of exactly 365 days, I started a business, had a baby, moved my family, and moved my business. Craziest year of my life (also probably the best)!

That first move came with a 30 day notice (as was agreed upon) 2 weeks before a Art Scape, which was a major event I had been preparing for. I focused on the event and put finding a new spot on hold.

Two weeks before we had to be out I found a new space. 10 days before we had to be out I actually got to see it, and it was full of black mold. They got it cleaned up and with 1 week left I agreed to a 3 year deal. I signed the lease and got the keys the day before we had to be out.

The new location was so close that we decided to farmers walk the weights there!

Greg Lew, Alex Ducker, Steve Moore, Adam Espinosa, Amy Vu, Erin Diemel

Young Tom leading the way

RIP Guy Hall

We spent the next 9 years at our second location, by Skateland. This is where all of the growth I experienced as a trainer and businessman happened. I built trust in the community, refined my programs, invested in the business and brought on other trainers. And we had two more kids!

Before the KB rack upgrade

Before the squat rack upgrade

About the time the twins were born, my landlord built a gym on top of us — Empowered Fitness took three units to our one and encapsulated us. The relationship we had with them was not great. They didn't force us out, but they didn't make us want to stay, either.

An Empowered Fitness class being held out front of BKC, taking our parking spots and using our front door to do wall sits on.

Then COVID hit. That was hard on everybody, but our community rallied and supported us through it. We actually gained members in April of 2020, while the gym was closed. I would have closed the doors for good if it weren't for the people who said, "I want BKC to be here when this is all over."

In June of 2021, another opportunity came along and we moved to Perry Hall Festival. As soon as we moved in, the landlord sold the building, and the new one wanted double the rent. We were there three years before we had to move again.

Empowered Fitness - the gym that had once boxed us in and held classes in our parking spaces - went out of business. In June of 2024, we took over their space and bought all of their equipment at liquidation. That was a full circle moment and sweet revenge. Made even sweeter by having my jiu-jitsu school, Grapple Academy, upstairs and we were downstairs.

That lasted about 18 months. Once again, the landlord sold the building. The new owner gave a 30-day notice and kicked everyone out the week before Christmas. Our lease specified 90 days, which we got — it didn't make the situation any less stressful, but it bought me the time I needed to find a new place.

Then, through a prayer request from one of our members, another door opened. At a Bible study, someone asked the group to pray for Dan (BKC) and Greg (GAMA), that we could find new locations for our businesses. The leader of the study said, "Tell Dan to reach out to me — we might have some space."

On February 1, 2026, we moved into 4375 Ebenezer Rd — with a much better lease, and a much better landlord.

In 5 years, we've had to move 3 times. I'll spare you the words to describe how stressful that's been, but I want everyone to know how grateful I am to everyone who has ever supported me.

15 years is a long time when most businesses don't even make it 5 — and gyms have an even higher fail rate than most. There are days I question if it's all worth it, but there's really nothing else I'd rather be doing. The people I've met and trained over the years range from friends who worked out with me in my home gym, to seniors I've met at retirement communities, to kids I've watched grow up in the gym — including my own children.

15 years, 5 locations, and I'm still standing because of the people who showed up.

In part 2 of this article I will attempt to make mention who has contributed to this journey above and beyond what could possibly be expected by any member. It is you to who I owe a debt of gratitude!

— Dan