Today we’d like to introduce you to Kevin Dickhut.
Hi Kevin, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
During my military career, I had the opportunity to travel extensively throughout the United States and around the world. At the same time, I was competing as a professional powerlifter, which meant that everywhere I traveled, I was always looking for a good gym where I could train for my next competition.
Those travels gave me the opportunity to experience a wide variety of gyms, meet countless people, and see firsthand what made certain facilities special. For years, I had dreamed of eventually opening my own gym and training people after retiring from the military. All of those experiences helped shape my vision of what I wanted that gym to look like, how I wanted it to operate, and most importantly, the kind of environment I wanted to create for the people who walked through the doors.
Fast forward to 2023. I was about a year away from retiring from the military when I found out that the gym I had trained at for years, a place where I had made countless memories was going to close. I remember lying in bed one night thinking, Maybe this is the time to finally do this. I wasn’t planning on leaving the area anytime soon, and it felt like the opportunity I had been waiting for was right in front of me.
My first thought was to try to keep the gym I already loved alive. I contacted the owner, who was also a friend of mine, and we explored the possibility of me purchasing the gym and continuing its operation. We had several conversations, but ultimately, the deal fell through.
At that point, a few close friends who knew I had been working toward opening a gym of my own approached me about the possibility of becoming partners. We got together, talked through the idea, and decided that if buying the existing gym wasn’t going to work, we would build something of our own from the ground up.
From there, the real work began. We worked through the city paperwork and requirements, searched for a location, and traveled all over the region sometimes driving nearly eight hours to find and acquire the equipment we needed. At the same time, we were working to turn our vision into an actual business.
After months of hard work, setbacks, and plenty of challenges, we finally found a location, secured the building, and began putting everything together. We moved into the building around March 2024 and spent the next couple of months getting everything ready. On May 1, 2024, Southside Barbell officially opened its doors.
Opening a new business has certainly come with its share of hardships and challenges, but looking back, I wouldn’t change the decision to take that leap. What started as a dream I had carried with me for years has become a reality.
Today, I couldn’t be happier with where we are and what Southside Barbell has become. More than just opening a gym, we’ve been able to build the kind of place we had envisioned throughout all those years of traveling, competing, training, learning and that has truly been a dream come true.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
There have been plenty of challenges and hardships throughout the process of building Southside Barbell. One of the biggest challenges from the very beginning was simply finding a location. Commercial real estate, especially in this area, can be extremely difficult to navigate, and it took numerous attempts before we finally found a place that would work for us.
A few months after opening, we faced another major challenge when several of our original partners began creating issues within the business. Ultimately, we had to make the difficult decision to remove them. Working with multiple partners, personalities, and different ideas can be challenging in itself, and learning how to navigate those situations was an important part of the process.
There has also been the ongoing challenge of growing the gym, acquiring equipment, bringing in new members, and continuing to improve the facility. We have funded the growth of the gym ourselves. We didn’t take out business loans or rely on grants to build the facility. Like most new businesses, we operated at a loss for quite some time, which meant covering those shortfalls ourselves while continuing to invest in the gym.
That has certainly been stressful at times, but there is also something very rewarding about knowing that everything we have built has come from our own hard work and commitment. There is a lot of pride in being able to say that Southside Barbell is truly “Built, Not Bought.”
Another major challenge was dealing with the city and navigating all of the requirements involved in opening and operating a business. The permitting, paperwork, inspections, and other requirements made the process much longer and more complicated than I initially expected. Looking back, one of the biggest pieces of advice I would give anyone considering opening a business is to thoroughly research those requirements before getting started. I wish we had spent more time understanding that process beforehand because it would have made things significantly smoother.
Despite all of the obstacles, every challenge has taught us something. We’ve had to adapt, solve problems, make difficult decisions, and keep moving forward. Those experiences have played a big part in shaping the business we have today, and they have made reaching the point we’re at now that much more rewarding.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Southside Barbell?
We are more than just a gym. We are a specialized strength facility built to serve a wide range of people. Whether you’re an experienced competitor looking to take your performance to the next level or someone simply looking to make positive changes in their life, there is a place for you at Southside Barbell.
We specialize in multiple areas of strength and fitness, including powerlifting, strongman, bodybuilding, and general fitness. We have a large variety of specialized equipment that allows athletes in each of these disciplines to train specifically for their goals. We also host several competitions throughout the year, giving our members and athletes opportunities to test themselves, compete, and experience the sports they love.
One of the things we are best known for is the variety of equipment we offer. We have equipment and specialty pieces that you simply won’t find in most traditional commercial gyms. But just as important as the equipment is the atmosphere. We have worked hard to create a welcoming, family-friendly, and hardworking environment where everyone—from experienced competitors to someone walking into a gym for the first time—feels comfortable.
I believe that combination of specialized equipment and our atmosphere is what truly sets us apart from other gyms in the area. You can come in and train as seriously as you want, but you are still surrounded by people who are willing to encourage, help, and support one another.
One of the things we are most proud of is that Southside Barbell is truly self-built. As I mentioned earlier, “Built, Not Bought” isn’t just a phrase we use—it’s a reflection of how this gym came to be. Everything we’ve accomplished has been built through hard work, personal investment, and a commitment to creating something we can be proud of.
We’re also extremely proud of the role we’ve been able to play in the community through the competitions, charity events, and other community events we host throughout the year. Those events allow us to bring people together for something bigger than simply working out.
Ultimately, Southside Barbell is about more than lifting weights. It’s about creating an environment where people can challenge themselves, support one another, and become a better version of themselves. We want to Set the Standard in not only in the quality of our facility and the training we provide, but in the way we treat our members, support our athletes, and contribute to our community.
Whether you’re preparing for your next competition, chasing a personal goal, working to improve your health and fitness, or simply looking for a place where you can come in, work hard, and enjoy training, you’ll find a friendly, welcoming, and supportive environment here. That’s what we want Southside Barbell to be a place where everyone can come in, put in the work, and feel like they belong. Here at Southside we Set the Standard.
Do you have any memories from childhood that you can share with us?
Honestly, when I think back on my childhood, my favorite memories aren’t necessarily one specific event or moment. They are the memories of simply hanging out with all of my friends.
We didn’t need anything elaborate to have a good time. We would spend hours together just being kids. Laughing, getting into the usual mischief, playing sports, and finding ways to entertain ourselves. Looking back, I think those simple moments are some of the most meaningful because we didn’t realize at the time how special they were.
There was something different about growing up when you could just go outside, meet up with your friends, and spend the entire day together without worrying about schedules, responsibilities, or what was happening tomorrow. It was just about enjoying the moment and the people you were with.
Those memories have stuck with me over the years because, at the end of the day, it wasn’t really about what we were doing. It was about who I was doing it with. Those friendships, the laughs, and the simple experiences of growing up together are probably what I remember and appreciate the most.
Pricing:
- $50/Monthly
- $65/Month to Month
- $15/Day Pass
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/southside_barbell_va/
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