By Joshua Burd
A well-known New Jersey business executive has launched a new fitness venture, offering what he says is the state’s first high-end hardcore gym facility.
Arthur Imperatore Jr., the vice chairman of NY Waterway, this week announced the opening of Iron Culture in Cedar Knolls. The 7,500-square-foot facility at 8 East Frederick Place debuted earlier this spring, catering to bodybuilders and other fitness buffs.
“Here at Iron Culture, we’re striving to recruit and build an entire community of like-minded fitness enthusiasts, and our exquisite facility reflects our commitment to grow in New Jersey,” said Imperatore, the president of Romulus Development Corp. “Our equipment is state-of-the-art and largely unseen in New Jersey. While some gyms have limited Arsenal Strength pieces, a majority of the Iron Culture facility has been outfitted with it.”
Imperatore, who is also a bodybuilder, has partnered in the venture with Sergio Granados and Charles Addessi. The team spent some $250,000 to renovate an existing facility at the site, while spending another $250,000 on equipment from brands like Arsenal Strength, Life Fitness, Matrix and Rogue.
From concept to renovation and a spring 2019 launch, the project took less than a year to complete, according to a news release. The gym to date has attracted more than 300 members and over 6,700 Instagram followers.
“Our members and guests are coming from across the tristate area — from as far away as Philadelphia, the Jersey Shore, Rockland County, (New York) and beyond — to get the essential Iron Culture ‘experience,’ ” Addessi said. “With unrivaled bodybuilding programming and competitions, customized workout and nutrition plans and other draws, Iron Culture will continue to make waves in the fitness community.”
The partners also noted that Iron Culture was born out of Imperatore’s personal mission to foster hope and healing through fitness. The executive lost his son Justin, a former college lacrosse goalie, in fall 2018, motivating him to create a new fitness community that emphasizes personal transformation through weight training and strength conditioning.
Imperatore also aims to assist those who struggle with addiction and mental illness by creating a total wellness community that emphasizes strength and weight training, the news release said.
