‘Hanging in there’ » Albuquerque Journal

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Copyright © 2021 Albuquerque Journal

Ninja Drive Impediment Health club instructors Sowelu Lottimer, proper, and Cameron Gurule lead a parkour class Jan. 7. (Adolphe Pierre-Louis/Albuquerque Journal)

For almost 20 years, Josh Kronberg labored as a waiter at numerous eating places in Albuquerque.

The gymnastics expertise he acquired throughout his adolescence had been barely put to make use of – however for distinctive hand-to-eye coordination useful throughout a rush.

However then alongside got here American Ninja Warrior.

Josh Kronberg

It wasn’t the potential fame or TV publicity that attracted him. It was extra about conquering the problem of the obstacles. He constructed obstacles in his entrance yard, and yard, and educated. Some days, those that drove by his home would honk, and he took it as encouragement to maintain going.

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The constructing and coaching led him to turn out to be a contestant for six seasons on American Ninja Warrior, however much more life-changing, chasing his desires resulted in Ninja Drive Impediment Health club at 2513 Comanche NE in Albuquerque.

Just a little over 5 years in the past, he helped begin Ninja Park Health club, however quickly determined to go in a distinct route. Thus his dream to start out Ninja Drive.

For the previous 4½ years, with the help of his household, Kronberg constructed Ninja Drive into a robust enterprise.

Then got here 2020.

The coronavirus pandemic compelled two prolonged shutdowns for a lot of companies in New Mexico and the virus risk made potential purchasers fearful.

In early 2020, previous to the outbreak, Kronberg had constructed Ninja Drive Impediment Health club to the purpose of potential enlargement to manufacturing of obstacles and tools. Like many small enterprise house owners in New Mexico, his enterprise was thriving in early 2020.

It’s a a lot totally different story as of late.

Teacher Sowelu Lottimer watches 5-year-old Jack McElvany bounce throughout a parkour class Jan. 7 at Ninja Drive Impediment Health club.at 5812 Sign NE.

“You place your coronary heart and soul, your blood, sweat and tears into it, all of your free time,” Kronberg mentioned. “I sacrificed my household time to get this gymnasium up and operating. We maxed out each bank card we had. We refinanced our home. We refinanced our automobile, simply to get it. And, it was lastly to the purpose the place it was nice. And, now it’s again to the best way it was yr one: simply barely making it.”

The brand new yr yields new enterprise for many health facilities, even specialty health gyms, since they supply alternative for dedication to New 12 months’s resolutions. In 2021, the brand new yr merely provides hope.

Kronberg – together with Sandra Rubi of Sandra’s College of Dance, husband and spouse Phillip and Kristine Blackman of Blackman’s Championship Martial Arts gymnasium, and Aaron Bubbico of Crossfit Albuquerque – is grateful to be open after such a difficult 2020.

Sandra Rubi leads a bunch of kids in a faucet class Jan. 13 at Sandra’s College of Dance.

All of them relied on federal, state and metropolis authorities loans to pay the payments and keep afloat. Some purchasers and members continued to pay charges even with out utilizing the ability or taking digital lessons, the enterprise house owners mentioned.

Kronberg, nonetheless, couldn’t have digital classes as a result of his enterprise requires the obstacles.

The enterprise house owners mentioned they really feel hopeful about 2021, believing the vaccine will assist ease members’ fears and extra will return to their services. However for now, there may be merely uneasiness.

Kronberg has observed a lift this month with new faces on the 10,000-square foot warehouse facility.

Nonetheless, the enterprise should adhere to the 25% capability rule as a consequence of state pointers. And Kronberg can’t maintain the birthday events and clinics that when had been an enormous a part of Ninja Drive’s income.

‘Nonessential’

At Sandra’s College of Dance, Rubi received’t enable mother and father into the ability when their kids are available in for dance class.

Sandra Rubi

Rubi has had her College of Dance enterprise, which teaches solely kids, for the previous 38 years. The College of Dance studio, a ten,000-square-foot facility at 1528 Eubank NE, has been in its current location for the previous 7 years.

Up to now, mother and father might sit and watch their kids be taught and dance. Now, they drop off their kids for sophistication and decide them up later at the back of the studio.

“We’re down about 75% (in income) from final yr,” Rubi mentioned. “We’re hanging in there. We’re in all probability one of many fortunate companies. Right now final yr we had been bursting on the seams, busy and excited, and competing in all places. And now it’s mainly nothing in comparison with that.”

Rubi and the opposite house owners consider they need to be allowed extra members of their facility as a result of they’re clear and since they observe the rules.

Kristine and Phillip Blackman, house owners of Blackman’s Championship Martial Arts at 5812 Sign NE.

For the reason that first shutdown final March, Rubi mentioned she feels focused and was devastated to be informed that her enterprise was nonessential.

“I believed I used to be important to the youngsters and to the mother and father,” Rubi mentioned. “How can somebody let you know that what you are promoting will not be important, when that is what you do for a dwelling? I don’t assume I’d do that for 40 years if I didn’t assume it was important.”

Rubi mentioned there needs to be extra communication between the Governor’s Workplace and enterprise house owners, particularly relating to opening as much as full capability.

“Sooner or later they must get out of their ivory towers and see what we’re doing to make issues protected,” she mentioned. “We really feel focused.”

Wet day fund gone

The Blackmans, who’ve been in enterprise for the previous 27 years, really feel annoyed as a result of their sister gymnasium in Florida is absolutely open.

“It’s not a great time to be a small enterprise proprietor in New Mexico,” Kristina Blackman mentioned.

When the Blackmans needed to shut their martial arts gymnasium at 5812 Sign NE in March, they instantly went digital. Nonetheless, they misplaced a big quantity of enterprise.

December is often their greatest month of the yr as a result of they provide particular registration offers. However this previous December they suffered a 47.7% gross revenue loss from December of 2019, Phillip Blackman mentioned.

In 2020, they noticed their scholar depend go from 500 members to 217, he mentioned.

Along with loans, the Blackmans had been additionally capable of climate 2020 with funds that had been tucked away for an emergency.

“We had been saving for a wet day, not a pandemic,” Phillip Blackman mentioned.

Stated Kristina Blackman: “We by no means in 1,000,000 years thought we must use it. We had been about to have our greatest yr ever. We simply thought that cash would go to our retirement. Now, I don’t know if we are going to ever have the ability to retire.”

Getting inventive

Bubbico is the third proprietor of Crossfit Albuquerque at 6501 Eagle Rock NE, which first opened in 2008. Right now final yr, he was into his second month because the proprietor. He had large plans for the gymnasium, however they shortly modified when the pandemic got here and he centered on simply retaining members.

Aaron Bubbico, proprietor of Crossfit Albuquerque.

Crossfit Albuquerque has skilled solely a ten% loss in members from final yr, he mentioned. After the shutdown in March, the lessons went digital and he loaned out the vast majority of the gymnasium’s tools.

“I really feel like our gymnasium was capable of develop right into a neighborhood that’s totally different from what it was in the beginning of the yr,” Bubbico mentioned of 2020. “Most individuals are totally different from who they had been a yr in the past. How will you undergo this pandemic with out being modified? The neighborhood right here has grown. We’re extra appreciative of one another. We take extra care to look out for one another. We put on masks, and it’s ‘I’m not doing it for myself, however doing it for you to not get sick.’ We’re taking good care of each other and rising.”