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Hernando Today

Powerhouse Closes Its Doors, But For How Long?

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By TONY HOLT

Hernando Today

Published: January 9, 2009

SPRING HILL - One owner said he controls 85 percent of Powerhouse Gym and the equipment is leased in his name.

The other owner said his former partner no longer has anything to do with the business and he is waiting on new state-of-the-art equipment before he reopens the gym with a new floor design.

In the meantime, the gym - located behind Staples along Commercial Way - has been emptied of its barbells, weights, cardio machines, carpet and lockers.

The trucks arrived Sunday and began hauling away equipment, said co-owner Steve Dillenbeck, who resides in Gainesville and manages a Powerhouse chain there. He is the one who said 85 percent of the business is his.

"I'm extremely disappointed," Dillenbeck said over the phone Thursday afternoon. "When I was running the show, we were profitable."

His co-owner, Daniel "Chip" Toth, was at the Commercial Way location that same day. He asked that photographs not be taken until after the trucks arrived with his new equipment.

He said he has a silent partner, James Hale. He no longer had any affiliation with Dillenbeck.

"He has nothing to do with this," Toth said.

Toth, who lives in Spring Hill, hoped to reopen by the middle of next week. He also plans to host a re-grand opening and offer specials to attract more members.

"With the climate being what it is, the rumor mill is crazy," he said in an effort to downplay the situation.

Other local gym owners and trainers said they had heard rumors - which varied from a temporary closing to an imminent declaration of bankruptcy. None would speak on the record.

"It is bad timing to have this happen," Toth admitted. "It's simply a renegotiation of leases to get out from under a tremendous amount of debt. I've refocused the business."

Powerhouse was one of the few gyms in the area open 24 hours a day.

Dillenbeck said the old equipment was leased in his name and that Toth and partners were unable to pay the bills. That is why he removed them and returned them to the loan companies so they could sell them.

There were more than 1,500 members at Powerhouse as of last year, Dillenbeck said.

Reporter Tony Holt can be reached at 352-544-5283 or wholt@hernandotoday.com.

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