There is plenty that could be potentially intimidating the moment you walk into Iron Sport Gym in Glenolden, PA, just outside of Philadelphia.
It could be the massive amounts of weight in the 7,200-square foot gym owned by Steve Pulcinella.
It could be the monolift, the EFS competition benches, the 160-pound dumbbells or the wide array of barbells.
It could also be the logs that sit in the corner or the stones that weigh up to 415 pounds that cater to the strongman crowd.
It could also be the 800-pound tire, the EFS Prowler or the Conan’s Wheel.
But intimidated is the last thing you should feel the moment you walk into Iron Sport.
“One of the things I like to get across is this is a party, not a war,” Pulcinella said. “You don’t come here to be angry, this is the place to come when you’re happy. I’m the owner and I set the general attitude. I want to have fun. I want people to be happy in here. It’s like, ‘Let the party begin. Let’s work out.’ There’s just a really cool energy in here.”
It’s also a completely different vibe than any other gym in the area.
Pulcinella has the only monolift within 75 miles of Philadelphia, which means people in search of an intense and results-driven place to train are seeking out Iron Sport. At the same time, the cookie-cutter fitness chains have altered the mindset of some and it’s been detrimental to Pulcinella.
He currently has around 550 members at his spacious and impressive facility, but Pulcinella admits to some recent difficult times in an era where a chain gym can offer miniscule prices.
“Membership really dipped a few months ago after two chain gyms opened two miles from here,” Pulcinella said. “These other gyms open up at $11 a month and it kind of cuts into your crowd a little. Around here, you’re surrounded by every major chain. But people that come here don’t want to go to those gyms. For them, they know this is their last hope.”
Pulcinella opened Iron Sport in 1999, keeping an old-school feel that broke free from the chain gym mode. From there, he’s developed an ideal atmosphere and environment, adding a vast array of equipment. Besides the monolift, Iron Sport has a tremendous amount of options for the lifter that has any goal in mind.
To wit:
Four platform areas
Two Olympic lifting platforms
Bumper Plates and Olympic bars
Glute Ham Raise and Reverse hyper
Atlas stones from 160 to 415 pounds
A 10” log and a 12” log
Two custom-made 9-foot racks
Two custom-made Smith machines
Dumbbells up to 160 pounds
Specialty bars include safety squat bars, buffalo bars and fat bars
Full Hammer Strength line
Squat boxes, boards, bands and chains
Tires that weigh 255, 470 and 800 pounds
Weighted kegs
Conan’s Wheel
Super Yoke
“We’ve got everything you need and nothing you don’t,” Pulcinella said. “What makes me smile are the people enjoying it.
“We’ve got Olympic lifters in here, a bunch of monsters on the monolift, strongmen doing their workout, guys flipping tires. It’s just a cool feeling. Once people come down here, they’re hooked.”
Pulcinella also takes pride in the atmosphere he’s created at Iron Sport. He’s convinced it differs greatly from any gym close to him, which makes for another unique option other gyms can’t offer.
“This is just a better gym. You don’t get hassled for deadlifting or making noise,” Pulcinella said. “You can do a real workout. Now, when you make a noise in the gym, you get shushed. You come here; you can make a little bit of noise. This is a gym where you’re really training. The chain gyms have turned me into a specialty item. I’m putting out a premium product.”
To stay relevant and keep growing, Pulcinella knows he has to continue to set his gym apart from others. He trains numerous athletes and has a big summer crowd that can use the wide selection of options to train intensely for their respective sport. The goal is to get Iron Sport to the level where people are sending athletes to train at Pulcinella’s gym, but he’s happy with the progress he’s made thus far.
“I still enjoy it, every day,” Pulcinella said. “There’s always people in here doing all this crazy stuff. It’s great.”
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We recently started training here at 9am on Saturday mornings to use the monolift. They gym is incredible and Steve really takes pride in the place. You’ve got a great mix of Power and Olympic lifters along with Strongman, Bodybuilding, and a “get fit” crowd. Everyone fits together and it’s like a huge family when you’re training. There’s been times we’ve stopped to see some amazing Oly lifting and they’ve turned around to watch some good deadlift sets. Today I went out after squatting and deadlifting and did some tire flips and farmers walks with the Strongmen. If you’re in the area there simply isn’t a better place to train.
I train there on saturdays. Steve is the nicest, coolest gym owner i have met. The gym has tons of great equipment in it. And so far all the dudes i have meet there have been very friendly and socialable. Definetly a great place to train.
i heard he was trying to sell the gym, any truth to this?
Ironsport is hands down the best gym I have ever trained at, including my own.
Thanks guys. Eric, every business is for sale, you just have to make the right offer.
i am so jealous
Great guy and great place. I highly suggest checking the place out.
The iron can be intimidating but Steve and the members quickly make you feel at home. I have been training at Iron Sport for about 2 years and, although I am quite a bit older and less experienced than many people there, I get coaching and guidance, generously offered, from some of the best strength athletes around. There is no other place like it in the Philadelphia area, for sure.
Even though it’s 40 minutes away, I’m seriously considering getting a membership here.
YEA i def plan on hittin there in the next 2 weeks….. i heard they had a monolift n im not a fan of havin to walk out when i gotta max out on my squats
We have a crew that squats on Saturday mornings. We start at 9am. Anyone interested feel free to hit me up. Barbaccio@gmail.com Kevin, 40 minutes isn’t too bad. I joined Iron Sport after traveling 1 1/2 hours each way every Saturday for the past 4 years. Iron Sport is only 30 minutes away for us. Trust me, it’s worth it.
I wish there was a gym near me that had have of the equipment Steve has. My gym has no deadlift platform, one squat rack, a sub-par cable crossover, and some alright stuff here and there. I salute you Steve for making a gym that men can train at.
That really sounds like the best-equipped gym available to the general public I’ve ever heard of – no joke. It’s tempting enough to make a day trip out of going there one Saturday.
Thats an awesome gym, I wish it was near me
Great looking gym!
I am kinda hoping gyms like these start coming around. The “fitness” industry is leaving out the basic, most effective weightlifting products, Barbells, Dumbbells, power racks and squat racks.
Retro fitness is taking over most of the gyms around here in North Jersey, for 20 bucks a month its a bargain. However lining up just to use the one squat rack withing in 20,000 square feet is getting old. When asked about the possibility of getting a power rack, the response from the owner was, “whats that?”
I joined about a month ago, travel about 30 mins to get there, best gym in Philly hands down. Im usually the guy dragging the sled around outside
Way to go, Steve! Great gym!
These large chains are all just trying to make all gyms seem like a commodity like gas stations. And the buying public is letting them do it. I didnt build this gym for the buying public. I built it for the people that know the difference between a gym and a health club. You guys.
We train strongman around noon on Saturdays as well.
Good crew and you can pretty much find someone doing Olympic lifting, powerlifting, and strongman most days.
You won’t find anywhere in the surrounding area with as much equipment / bars / implements.
Straight monthly fee and no hidden costs as well!
Day passes are available to if you are traveling near Philyl.
Very well equipped gym impressive.The place also seems to be very clean two thumbs up!!
Dan, do you know what the cost is for a day pass?
It’s just $10 for a day pass, $30 for a monthly membership.
I love Ironsport. I squat and pull there on Saturdays with Tony and Tim (above). I also have had some interest in strong man events and having access to all the equipment is great. I can see myself being here for many years and making lots of progress.
I also want to add that our Saturday group has a big range of strong guys ranging from a balls strong 168lb guy all the way to Tony and me at Superheavy. We hit it hard and have a good time doing it. I’ve personally made gigantic gains in the past few months from working out with these animals.
Steve — I am planning on trekking outside of the city to get superior training. I’ve been doing Wendler’s 5/3/1 with great results, and now I am to the point where I feel my [commercial] gym is hindering me. Lack of equipment, poor clientele, awful trainers, even worse music and rules, etc.
I’d like to come down and meet you guys. Maps says you are only 21 minutes door to door. Thanks – Brian.
PS — hands-down, your “IRON SPORT ROBOT” video on youtube is the funniest thing I have ever seen.
So cool!
Iron Sport rules! I’ve been training there for just over a year, and the facility is top notch. It’s like a playground for strength and conditioning! And all the more experienced guys and girls have been nothing but friendly and helpful. Steve even sponsored me so I could play rugby for the Fight this summer. I really couldn’t ask for a better place to train.
P.S. I recently moved from Philly to Maryland, and I drive 1 hr. and 15 min. one way to train at this place. It’s worth it. Do yourself a favor: Get in there and train!
Steve, I live in IN and have been wanting to start a gym exactly like yours for some time. I gave it a shot in the wrong area and it sunk but I’m wanting to try it again the right way. Is there anyway maybe we can chat for a bit on how you got your gym rolling and all it took to collect all the stuff you have in it?
Not much to add here, just wanted to let you know that that place looks fucking amazing Steve. Better believe if I lived within an hour drive of that place I would be a member. Keep up the good work and best of luck, it sounds like you’ve got the right people coming in.
Oh, and I just read through some of the other comments, only $30 for a monthly membership?? Why the HELL would anybody leave just to pay $20 less per month? $30 sounds like a steal.
Iron Sport is a great gym with a great bunch of guys that are always willing to help and support….HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
My little brother is a member at Ironsport and is always telling me how awesome it is. I’m visiting him from Washington state and we went and lifted this morning. The gym was absolutely as great as all the above comments say it is, and for those of you thinking “wow this place sounds cool,” you should be aware that it’s better than it sounds. I saw the Saturday morning PL crew doing box squats from the monolift and it was impressive as hell. Back west I work out at a gym on post (I’m active duty) and there’s not much really heavy lifting or deep squatting going on. It was a really cool and motivating experience and I’m jealous of my bro for being so close.
Ive trained here since i was 12 years old and this place is amazing. Steve personally trains me and has gotten me up to 240 lbs. of solid muscle. training with the great equipment and atmosphere there has helped me become a dominant athelete in my high school sports. Steve and everyone who lifts there are great people and everyone is always willing to help teach and guide me through effective workouts. i would recommend this gym to everyone, theres no other gym like it within 100 miles of Glenolden and im very fortunate to be able to train here. no matter how far away you live e-mail Steve and stop by, i guarentee youll have a great time.
I travel like 45minutes from a suburb North east of Philly every Staurday and it is worth the time and effort. Steve respects everyone and because of this he gets it and everyone seems to respect each other, it is a family environment of lifters.
Like some one said before there is not a time when something amazing is not happening to make you stop and watch.
The equipment is great and is kept in grade ‘A’ condition you cannot expect to find a better palce to train in the Philly area.
Steve,
You should consider starting a franchise (kinda like planet weakness, I mean planet shitness, I mean planet fatness, I mean planet fitness) and expand geographically. But instead of catering to weak-minded individuals like PF members, you will attract hardcore lifters. There are enough people in America who would pay top dollar to have the opportunity to train at “Steve’s Fitness.”
I live near philly, and I’m considering moving just so I can be withing walking distance of this gym. I don’t know what kind of area it’s in though. Anyone live nearby?
I will hopefully get orders to Maryland from Texas (active duty) next year which should put me about 2 hours away from this place – stoked.
Wowee.
You guys are lucky having such a well equipped and dare I say it, sensible gym to go to. Down here in Au I’ve never even SEEN an olympic platform at a gym let alone two of them.
The only place around here doing anything close to this is Doherty’s and it’s too far for me to travel.
Keep up the good work, maybe one day i’ll come to visit