Meet the couple bringing a national franchise to St. Francisville

Like many people who spend time in St. Francisville, Megan and Lyn Kenley fell in love with the close-knit community, finding it vibrant, friendly, and charming. The town also struck them as the perfect place for their dream business – a welcoming fitness facility where all walks of life would feel comfortable pursuing their wellness goals.

Their dream becomes a reality later this month when the Kenleys open St. Francisville’s first Anytime Fitness location in Live Oak Centre. The 4,400-square-foot facility includes state-of-the-art equipment, personal and group trainers, and a variety of exercise classes. 

“We love the Anytime Fitness brand and its core values,” says Megan, a finance professional. “Fitness is something Lyn and I have always done together, and we had been looking for a place to open our first franchise for a long time.”

While the couple resides in northern Louisiana, they had become acquainted with St. Francisville through Lyn’s work as a project manager with Volkert, Inc., the company overseeing the construction of the new Bains Elementary School.

“Off the bat, we loved the community,” says Megan. “However, we noticed on our visits that there was something missing – a place to work out. We always try to stay near an Anytime Fitness when we travel, but found there wasn’t a location in St. Francisville.”

Megan and Lyn began researching the area’s demographic data, confirming that St. Francisville had the population and household income to support a gym. They also knew that the community was growing. More young families were moving to the area, thanks to a long list of quality of life hallmarks, including strong public schools, well-known natural beauty, and historic charm. 

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These factors, along with the couple’s business acumen, helped them gain approval for a franchise with Minnesota-based Anytime Fitness in late 2018, later traveling to that state (in the midst of a blizzard!) to receive extensive training at the company’s headquarters. Back home in Louisiana, they began work on finding the perfect location, ultimately settling on a space in Live Oak Centre, a new development that is already home to several thriving St. Francisville businesses.

The Kenleys worked with Aimee Cook, Vice President of Commercial and Real Estate Lending, on securing the financing for building out the space. “We tried to go to a couple of different larger banks, but found that Bank of St. Francisville took time to do things the larger banks wouldn’t,” Megan says. “Aimee was super comforting, like a friend and mentor. She walked us through each step of the process, which included using an SBA loan and a home equity line of credit.”

“We tried to go to a couple of different larger banks, but found that Bank of St. Francisville took time to do things the larger banks wouldn’t.”

After several months of design and construction, the highly anticipated facility is set to open in mid January. In keeping with the Anytime Fitness brand, it is accessible 24 hours a day and features a bright, cheery interior. The gym’s open floor plan includes a space dedicated to cardio and strength training equipment, while a large, functional movement area allows for high intensity interval training, or HIIT, classes. Personal trainers will be on site to provide one-on-one or group training sessions, and instructors will offer Zumba and yoga classes. Megan says the facility includes a medical grade body scanner to measure muscle mass, water weight, body fat, and other helpful data.

Another exciting aspect of the Anytime Fitness model, says Megan, is that every member is assigned a coach who provides an initial fitness consultation and regular check-ins to help members achieve their goals, as well as set new ones.

“Everyone has a fitness journey, no matter how small your first steps are,” says Megan. “We’re really excited to be able to bring this to the community and help people transform their lives.”

To learn more about how Bank of St. Francisville can help establish, grow, or expand your business, click here or call 225-635-6397 to make an appointment. 

GIVEAWAY: Click here to enter to win a FREE 30-day Training Experience at Anytime Fitness in St. Francisville. The package includes 10 team workouts or group sessions, a full body scan, and two before and after fitness evaluations with the gym’s personal trainer.