Gym Spot owner celebrates 30 years
Energy, passion for his sport and a devotion to children have driven the owner of a gymnastics training center to the next level.
Norbert Bendixen, who launched The Gymnastics Spot three decades ago in a small storefront in downtown Libertyville, recently relocated his business to a 24,000-square-foot facility at 915 Tower Road in Mundelein.
Over the years, the business operated from the gym at Lincoln School in Mundelein and then in two separate buildings simultaneously in an industrial area on Shaddle Avenue.
"We've been looking for the right location for about 10 years," Bendixen said. The business, now known as the Gym Spot, has changed over the years to accommodate the needs of the community. Dance programs, fitness, a non competitive cheer program and tumbling team have been added to the recreational and competitive gymnastics programs.
The expanded location features three large floors, one for cheer, another for competitive gymnastics and one for recreation floor exercise. The facility also features more equipment for competitive students and an increased number of educational tools.
"It gives us more opportunity to teach the style that we like to," said Bendixen, 53, who enjoys teaching recreational and preschool classes. "That's my passion," he says.
The business owner, a former gymnast at Mundelein High School and Northern Illinois University, created a mission beyond gymnastics when he launched the business.
"We use gymnastics as a tool to teach positive life values in a nurturing environment. Gymnastics teaches goal setting, hard work, self discipline and control in a fun and exciting fashion..." the mission states.
Because the owner is committed to seeing gymnastics being used for a worthier purpose than just competitive awards, he has held the position of the USAG Women's Illinois State Chairman for more than 15 years.
About 750 students are enrolled at The Spot, which employs about 20 coaches, eight of them full time. Many coaches are athletes that were involved at the gym when they were younger.
Bendixen points to the staff as the main reason for the success of the business. "They're loyal and passionate," the owner said.
When Bendixen graduated from Northern Illinois University, he took a teaching and coaching job at Libertyville High School. He really enjoyed the coaching aspect and less than two years later launched the business with a partner who is no longer involved.
He says the coaches want the passion for the sport to prevail in the athletes they coach.