BRONX, N.Y. - The weights, ropes and machines at the Brutal Boxx Boogie Down went unused for months, after the coronavirus forced gyms across the state to close.

Jose Morales, who owns the gym on Jerome Avenue, feared he might lose his business for good.

“We were forced to shut down and lost all types of income,” said Morales.

He lost $20,000 each month he was closed, to be exact. The rent was still due.

Morales started training his clients virtually and in local parks. When that became a burden for his clients, he decided to set up shop right outside his gym. In July, he started hauling exercise equipment to the sidewalk every morning, and putting it back in the gym at night.

“Being locked down for so long, people get depressed and frustrated. The moment I announced that we were going to do outside workouts, everybody returned and we are just having fun with it now,” said the gym owner.

Working up a sweat on the sidewalk is not what Margaret Valenzuela is used to, but the pandemic has taught her to adapt. She is among the 100 clients who turn out for the outdoor classes.

They are held along a commercial strip known more as a place to tune up cars than bodies.

“He does a really good job of trying to bring the indoor gym outdoors so that it’s not that big of a difference. I am so happy to be back lifting weights, pumping iron,” said Valenzuela. 

The inside of the gym has been transformed in anticipation of reopening eventually. There are marked boxes to keep people six feet apart, equipment for temperature checks and supplies to keep hands clean.

Morales said state guidelines requiring indoor gyms to operate at 33% capacity are not ideal, but he’ll make it work. 

“You can never get comfortable. You’ve got to go to plan B. You have to make it work. I’ve worked so hard for five years to build in this community and industry, and I’m not going to let it go down the drain,” Morales said.