Last edited 1:38 p.m., Nov. 7, 2024 [Editor's note: A statement from Macy Mitchell has been added.]
CrossFit Republic LLC is under new ownership.
Zachary Standeford said he and his wife, Lyndsey, bought the business on Oct. 31 from founders Macy and Jennifer Mitchell for undisclosed terms. A five-year coach at the Republic gym, located at 509 W. State Highway 174, Standeford said he exited his role last month as a business strategist at Springfield Business Journal for the business ownership opportunity.
"The plan for the business is to continue to make this place a beacon for health and wellness in our community," Standeford said. "My whole goal moving into the future was to build on that strong foundation."
With 360 members, CrossFit Republic started in 2013, Standeford said, noting the company has around 20 contractors who work in coaching, child care and front desk jobs.
"Macy was pursuing different things within the community and taking a bigger role within Republic," Standeford said, pointing to Mitchell's position as executive director of the Republic Area Chamber of Commerce. "He wanted somebody who could essentially be a lot more attentive to the [CrossFit Republic] community and already had a good pulse on the community."
Standeford said the Mitchells would remain involved with CrossFit Republic as coaches.
In a public Facebook post on Thursday afternoon, Mitchell said selling CrossFit Republic would allow him to spend more time at the Republic chamber, at the All American Home Rental & Sales family business and with family.
"While the thought of selling was extremely difficult and emotional, the level of responsibility outside of the gym has increased exponentially over the years and isn’t fair to our members, coaches and community to only have one foot in," he said in the post.
Declining to disclose the terms, Standeford said he and Lyndsey inked a three-year lease agreement with options for renewals with the Mitchells. The new business owners also have the right of first refusal to buy the building at a later date, Standeford said.
CrossFit Republic, which has an affiliation agreement with Washington, D.C.-based CrossFit Inc., offers strength and conditioning fitness training.
"Our goal across Republic is to show the barrier for fitness is really low. We want you here," Standeford said. "We want to dispel any myths about the brutalness of CrossFit. It's really the community that makes the entire sport a helpful tool."