A prominent New Jersey businessman and mental health advocate, Arthur Imperatore Jr., is opening the state’s first and only high-end “hardcore” gym, Iron Culture, a 7,500-square-foot facility with top-of-the-line equipment. Since its soft opening this spring, Iron Culture has attracted visits from the fitness community across the tri-state area, including 2018 Mr. Olympia Shaun Rhoden and other top bodybuilders like Guy Cisternino, Steve Laureus and Shaun Clarida.
Imperatore, vice chairman of NY Waterway and president of Romulus Development Corp., and a bodybuilder himself, is the visionary behind Iron Culture, along with partners Sergio Granados and Charles Addessi. Imperatore and his team pumped $250,000 into the facility’s “makeover,” while an additional $250,000 went into leading equipment from brands like Arsenal Strength, Life Fitness, Matrix and Rogue.
“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. “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.”
Sherrie Campbell Instructs How to Flee a Toxic Family [Interview]
Interview with Williamsburg’s ‘Brooklyn Running Company’
The gym’s founders went as far as to visit the Arsenal Strength headquarters in Tennessee to test out and hand-pick every piece of equipment.
Since its soft opening earlier this spring, the gym has attracted over 300 members and over 6,700 Instagram followers, where staffers frequently post images of its results-oriented members and first-class equipment and setup.
“Our members and guests are coming from across the tri-state area – from as far away as Philadelphia, the Jersey Shore, Rockland County, NY and beyond – to get the essential Iron Culture ‘experience,’” said Charles Addessi, one of three partners at the gym. “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.”
From concept to renovation and a spring 2019 launch, the project took less than one year to complete. Iron Culture was born out of Imperatore’s personal mission to foster hope and healing through fitness.
After tragically losing his son Justin, a former college lacrosse goalie, in the fall of 2018, Imperatore grew motivated to create a new fitness community that emphasizes personal transformation through weight training and strength conditioning. Iron Culture is the realization of that goal.
Imperatore now aims to assist those who struggle with addiction and mental illness by creating a total wellness community that emphasizes strength and weight training.
Imperatore will be dedicating a plaque to his late son at the gym during the public grand opening event on Thursday, June 6, 2019.
