Word on the Street: CrossFit Iron Buffalo opens at Iron Bird Lofts

The empty corner of Iron Bird Lofts that used to be home to a mixed martial arts studio in downtown Fresno’s Mural District will soon be drenched with sweat again when CrossFit Iron Buffalo opens in the space.

Owner Jon Akers expects this week to begin introductory classes to the high intensity group workout, which combines weight training with cardio exercises. Crossfit has grown in popularity over the years helping people work on things like balance, speed and strength, Akers said.

“Your (level of) fitness is only as good as your ability to handle all these areas,” he said.

Akers was co-owner of CrossFit Fresno, at Blackstone and Escalon avenues, for six years before selling off his half of the business. Then, he decided to take a look at downtown Fresno for a new start.

“I knew this was the place to go,” the Clovis resident said.

At first, Akers thought the 1,340-square-foot space at Iron Bird, on the corner of Fulton and Divisadero streets, was too small. But an unsuccessful search around the city’s urban core brought him back to the spot.

Restrooms are available, but no office. The key was to maximize use of the space, Akers said. Gymnastic rings hang on one side of the fitness alongside pull-up bars and next to a handstand pushup wall made of wood and emblazoned with the business logo – a big buffalo.

Small- to medium-sized classes with up to a dozen people each will be offered four times a day starting at 5:30 a.m. Akers would like to add a fifth class as membership grows and he hopes to have yoga by the end of the summer.

The monthly cost is $118. Packages are available and discounts offered for military veterans and public safety officers.

For more information, visit crossfitironbuffalo.com or call 559-492-6460.

This story was originally published April 3, 2016 at 1:28 PM with the headline "Word on the Street: CrossFit Iron Buffalo opens at Iron Bird Lofts."