The Monarch Gym officially opens in Hayward

The Monarch Gym in Hayward has officially opened its doors.

Focusing on health, wellness, and community, the gym includes a 24 hour workout facility, an indoor pickleball court, a full locker room with complimentary showers and towel service, an outside patio, and an in-house bistro.

The Hayward Chamber of Commerce celebrated the grand opening of the gym with a ribbon cutting ceremony. Construction for the gym began last year, and it officially opened on Monday.

“It’s exciting, it was a long time coming, it felt like. I mean the year went by super fast because it was constantly different things changing and having new ideas, or something in stock, or something like that. So it was everchanging,” says owner Bailey Slater, who co-founded the gym with John Keifer, the gym’s coordinator. 

Both graduated from Luther College with a Health and Fitness Promotion degree, and became good friends after being recruited for the school’s wrestling team. 

Slater says the two had always talked about opening a gym. He moved to Hayward after graduating college, and eventually convinced Keifer that it was the place to build The Monarch Gym.

He says the gym offers a wide range of unique equipment including a tension torque sled, and a four-way neck machine, gear that is more commonly found in professional training facilities.

Slater says he looks forward to seeing people in the community come together and build relationships around fitness and wellness.

“It’s a big push for communities to get together, talk, and challenge each other,” says Slater. 

The standard package membership for the gym is $65 a month. The Elite package, which includes access to the specialty sauna, tanning, and hydro massage rooms, is $100 a month. They also offer day passes for $10 during staffed hours. 

The gym is located at 10550 North Ranch Road. It is open 24/7 to members and the bistro is open 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. to the public.