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At the Bayview Bash in 2018, I passed a bright blue building called the Shape Up Shoppe. People at the bash were crowding the streets, live music was blasting through speakers, and yet I couldn’t stop watching this group of women running demos of boxing outside as others passed out fliers and encouraged people to take a tour of the gym. I’m not sure if it was the large swordfish hanging from the ceiling, or the walls plastered in pictures of women working out in classic 80’s spandex and leg warmers (whom I later found out to be the owner and employees throughout the years), but something told me I was supposed to join this gym. And nearly 3 years later, I haven’t looked back.
The Shape Up Shoppe sits on the corner of Kinnickinnic and Logan in Downtown Bayview, and once you know it’s there, it’s hard to miss. The all-women’s inclusive gym is bright blue with a large mural by Jenny Anderson covering its South side. Since 1981 this building has been belonged to the Shoppe and run by owners Julie and Dennis Newman. This statement alone is a feat to be admired, as the Bayview neighborhood was not always the growing and prosperous community it is today. “Every morning before we opened, we would bring a paint bucket to the Shoppe and paint over the graffiti from the night before,” said Julie.
But not only did they remain defiantly open, they continued to encourage business owners to open their doors in Bayview, they dragged their friends and family to the neighborhood to support the local community, and they spent money at nearly every single organization right when it opened. The Shape Up Shoppe became a sort of welcome committee to people as they began to trickle into Bayview over the years, and it cannot be understated what an important of a role they have played to turn it into the thriving community it is today.
To this day, The Shape Up Shoppe has focused on strengthening women and nonbinary people. While their boxing classes are now open to any and all genders, if people join, they have to be comfortable working out around and taking lessons from some tough chicks.
Julie and Dennis’ experience and knowledge in fitness is seen immediately as well (and not just from Julie showing off her 6-pack abs on her 60th birthday). Julie regularly explains the purpose and muscle movement behind every seemingly silly dance move in her cardio classes, and knows how to choreograph a workout to meet your specific goals whether it be increased energy, shaping muscles, or losing weight. Dennis, a now-retired professional boxer, teaches accurate boxing form, strikes and defense while you burn off calories.
After 40 years of putting their customers first however, the Shape Up Shoppe is showing some of its age. It was announced just last week that their roof is in need of immediate repair and with the pandemic heavily limiting the amount of people allowed to enter their doors, the Shoppe needs the community they have always supported to lend a helping hand back to them.
If you have been to the Shape Up Shoppe, are a part of the Bayview neighborhood, or have even visited Kinnickinnic Avenue sometime in the past 40 years, we ask you to show your gratitude for this amazing wellness focused small business that has done so much for the Milwaukee community.
