24Seven Family Fitness & Tanning Center

24Seven Family Fitness & Tanning began with Eric Washington & Mark Eaton, who met in Dothan Alabama in the early 1990’s. Eric had been consulting and setting up different franchised gyms for a number of years and he was doing some work for the owner of a couple of fitness facilities in Dothan and Enterprise Alabama. While there he met Mark Eaton; who was working part time at those facilities and Flying helicopters full time for the army. The two hit it off immediately and became good friends.

The first 24Seven family fitness opened in early 2000. Their concept was well on the way to success. Eric and Mark were working on opening their next facility in late 2001, when the tragedy of September 11, 2001 occurred. The two decided to hold off and see what was going to happen with the economy. To their amazement they ended up doing even better! People were not traveling and not spending as freely on big ticket items, but wanting to still do something and to relieve stress these people turned to the gym which was more affordable for them.

So now Eric and Mark committed to their next facility at the beginning of 2003. While deployed Eric continued to grow the Brand and to date they have 14 locations. All of their corporate locations are debt free and as they keep expanding they plan for the franchisees to own and operate the vast majority of their stores.