All American Gym

Thirty years of blood, sweat, and tears. That's what Louis Baltz says best describes his quarter century of experiences in owning and operating the All American Gym in Lakeland, Florida. The gym actually gets its name from the city of Lakeland. At the time, Lakeland was referred to as the "All American city", so Louis decided to call his gym in Lakeland, the All American Gym. Louis had thought about starting his gym in Brandon, Florida, but a friend of his already had started a gym there. Louis did not want to try and compete against his friend, so he decided to start his gym in Lakeland. The All American Gym officially opened its doors on May 19, 1979. The gym started out in a 20X100 previous storefront in an old building. For many years the gym was the only business on the entire block in downtown Lakeland. The gym was like a tunnel with no windows except for the storefront windows, which did not open. It has a glass front door and a metal back door. Louis did start out having air conditioning in the gym for about the first year of operation, but after about every other member changing the thermostat to their liking he shut it off...permanently! Yes, no air-conditioning in the sweltering Florida summer heat along with the near 100% humidity. A hardcore environment that sometimes make you feel like you are lifting the Earth's core! Louis then established the gym's motto: If you didn't come here to sweat, go home!
Louis built all the equipment for the gym as he still does today. It was first equipped with two borrowed York 400lb. Olympic with sets, one imported 300lb. Olympic set, dumbbells in pairs ranging from 10lbs. To 120lbs. In 5lb. Increments, an n e-z curl bar, two bench presses, one tier squat rack, one lat pull-down, and a deadlift platform.
The deadlift platform, which was located in the back right side of the gym, was built of plywood and 2X4s. Louis purchased it from the City of Lakeland Parks and Recreation Department for one dollar. It was painted red, white, and blue. The concrete floor underneath the platform actually started to slope downward after years of heavy deadlifting. A sign displayed on the wall above the platform read, "The Bullshit Stops Hear". The two-tier squat rack was set-up across from the deadlift platform on the other side of the gym. In the front left side of the gym was a small crude gray desk were the 3X5 membership cards where kept, along with the latest issues of PLUSA magazine. The two bench presses were located in the front right side of the gym. The york plates, dumbbells, and bars were neatly kept in Louis' well-built racks designed for them. The mirrors came from a gym that went out of business in Tampa and the drink cooler was purchased on an extensive payment plan from Gore's.
The gym had a one-person bathroom and shower in the very back along with a small locker room. The locker room had a couch where Louis slept for many nights trying to save money to keep his gym thriving. It wasn't until 1980 when he finally moved in to an apartment with a friend. Louis has always had a passion for the sport of powerlifting as well as bodybuilding. In the 1980s he was a fierce competitor in both events. He admits having used steroids and stopped them abruptly in 1987 when they became an illegal drug. He has had a drug free gym since then and continues to promote drug-tested contests. In 1980, Louis hosted his first powerlifting contest at the Lake Mirror Civic Center in Lakeland. In the years that followed, Louis continued to host powelifting contest and branched out into hosting bodybuilding, arm wrestling, bench press, squat, and deadlift contests. He started the Mr. Lakeland bodybuilding contest and at one time was the Florida State Chairman for the American Powerlifting Federation.
When Louis first opened the gym he did not expect any females to workout there due to the environment of the gym and the fact that very few females in the 1970s worked out in gyms. In 1983, Louis expanded the gym by acquiring the space next to him, which had the same dimensions as his existing space. He essentially doubled the size of the All American Gym. This acquisition paved the way for more female members because he now had male and female locker room. Louis built several new pieces of equipment to outfit the expansion.
After being in the same location for over 22 years, Louis moved the gym in December of 2001 to its current location at 309 West Main Street in Lakeland.The space where Louis established and operated the All American Gym for 22 years in now a sports bar. The owner paid tribute to Louis by calling it "The Gym". He also kept old glass All American Gym sign and put it on display in the bar. All powerlifting, bench press, and deadlift meets are now held at the All American Gym. Louis probably holds some record having the most consecutive meets. He has continuously hosted meets every year in Florida since 1980. (Note: cool sounding bar.)
Throughout the 25 years the All American Gym has been in existence several great lifters have evolved from its methods of pulling, pushing, perspiration, and pain. World-class lifters such as Gene Bell, James Henderson, Amp Stevens, Brian Strickland, and Ken Snell have trained here. The All American Gym and its lifters have been featured on CNN, The Today, Show, The Maury Povich Show, Inside Edition, as well as several local television stations. Louis' strength equipment has been featured on The Tonight Show, MTV, Disney's Wide World of Sports and several other prominent institutions. The Super Bowl Champions and Tampa Bay Buccaneers have been using strength-training equipment for years as well as many colleges, universities, high school, and other organizations. Several world powerlifting records have been set on Louis Baltz's All American Gym Equipment.
Louis is still building top quality fitness equipment which can be seen on this website under Products. Today, the All American Gym is still going strong, no pun intended. The facility is the biggest and best so far. It now has an upstairs equipped with boxing bags other related gear. The downstairs is completely outfitted with free weights and machines. The gym can now boast of have 72 York 45l. Olympic plates, 4-100lb. York Olympic plates, 10 Olympic power bars, one Monolift squat rack, one Ultimate squat rack, a professional lifting platform, and tones of other equipment. Is it now air-conditioned? Only if there is good breeze blowing through the opened windows! In today's society of multi-million dollar fitness chains, spas, wellness centers or whatever you would like to call them, Louis Baltz has remained steadfast in pursuing his goals, doing it his way, and surviving. Twenty-five years is a long time for what some call a "hardcore" gym to exist. He has some small words to place on the door to the All American Gym, but they have a huge significance!! We've been here in four different decades.

IF YOU DIDN'T COME TO SWEAT...GO HOME!

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