Tanning, salon adds exercise wing

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EXPANSION: Tan-Fastic of Niagara, a Davison Road tanning facility, has been remodeled to offer customers a chance to exercise and workout. Employee Rachel Chapman gives some of the new exercise equipment a workout of its own. Joe Eberle/US&J

July 29, 2010

By Joe Olenick Lockport Union-Sun & Journal The Lockport Union-Sun %26 Journal Thu Jul 29, 2010, 12:53 AM EDT

Tan-Fastic of Niagara has a new look.

The Davison Road tanning salon recently completed a $25,000 remodeling project. As part of the work, Tan-Fastic has expanded to add an exercise wing that features fitness equipment such as treadmills and stationary bikes. Tim Kenyon, whose company, Kenyon Enterprises, owns Tan-Fastic, said Tan-Fastic now gives locals a private place to work out. Kenyon runs the company with his brothers, Kevin and William.

“It’s a neighborhood gym,” Kenyon said. “It gives those who might be intimidated to go to a gym a place to work out.”

As part of the remodeling, the number of tanning beds has been reduced to four and one tanning booth, down from 10 beds. Between the economy and the usual summer slow-down, indoor tanning has slowed some at Tan-Fastic.

“Tanning is on the decline,” Kenyon said. “But there are still a lot who tan.”

In 1991 when the Kenyons built the plaza on Davison Road, there was some empty space available. Stacy Kenyon, the Kenyons’ sister, started Tan-Fastic in Lockport and two other locations in Newfane and the University at Buffalo campus.

When Stacy passed away a few years ago, the Kenyons didn’t know what to do with the Lockport location. They kept it running, until deciding to remodel earlier this year. The exercise machines were bought from the YWCA when it closed the women’s fitness center on Main Street.

There is another addition to Tan-Fastic. Allison Knab is a personal trainer who will be working with customers who come to Tan-Fastic. The Newfane graduate recently earned her certification from Niagara County Community College in May and was looking for a place to start her career.

Knab’s training focuses on core development — that is, building up the body’s core muscles instead of the typical workouts like ab exercises. Each customer gets their own personalized routine, so no two routines are alike.

“I base the routine on what they can do,” Knab said.

And if the economy and health concerns about tanning weren’t enough to deal with, tanning salons found another challenge waiting for them. Earlier this year, Congress passed the health care reform bill, which included adding a 10 percent tax on all indoor tanning sessions. The tax, which replaced a tax on plastic surgery, took effect July 1. Kenyon said it really hasn’t affected Tan-Fastic’s business.

“There hasn’t been any drop-off,” he said. “It’s just a way to pay for the health care law. It’s like cigarettes — people aren’t going to stop tanning.”

So whether they’re tanning or not, people have a new reason to visit Tan-Fastic. The exercise portion has been popular, as people are already signing up for memberships.

“They seem to love it,” Knab said.

Contact reporter Joe Olenick at 439-9222, ext. 6241.

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