BUCHANAN — Former Niles Buchanan YMCA membership and marketing director Greg Schuman has opened a new 24-hour fitness center in downtown Buchanan.

The Fitness Industry, 400 E. Front St., opened Jan. 1.

After Schuman and the YMCA parted ways this summer, Schuman said he began thinking about opening his own fitness center.

“It is something that I always thought would be a pipe dream, but then I started seriously thinking about it,” said Schuman, who worked at the YMCA for nearly six years.

After doing some research, Schuman concluded Buchanan could use a 24/7 fitness center.

“I knew there were a lot of folks from Buchanan that were members of the (YMCA), and I knew that it was a big enough town that it could probably support a small fitness center,” he said. “That’s why I chose Buchanan.”

The 2,300-square-foot fitness center includes several forms of cardiovascular machines, including treadmills, elliptical machines, stationary bikes and stair-step machines.

There is also a variety of free-weight equipment available, including flat and incline benches, dumbbells and a cable crossover machine.

Schuman said the fitness center would be receiving a circuit of strength machines around the end of January.

Personal training is also available.

The facility will be open to members 24 hours a day, seven days a week through the use of a key or keycard system.

“Almost to a person, everyone has said this is something Buchanan really needs and has been wanting or a while. That’s been exciting to hear,” Schuman said.

For more information, contact the Fitness Industry by phone at (269) 409-6060 or online at thefitindustry.com.