S & S
Hardcore Gym # 68
(Don't tell anyone, but S&S stands for Strong and Shapely)
East Rutherford, NJ
Last month we went to WI and visited a gym with a name that was hard to say, and we shortened it to Muscle Mill. This month we go to NJ to visit a gym with a name that's hard to say with a straight face, and we'll shorten it to S & S. There is only one letter in this gym name, so if you call and ask us how to spell it - we'll say kiss my 'S'.
Tony Monchinski first contacted me about the S & S gym, so in just a second I'll let him talk for a bit. But first - a note about pronouncing "Monchinski." There's a reason so many Southern boys are named Bubba, and it's not just to save letters on the trailer-house mail-boxes. But the mailbox is a good reason, too. Down here, Tony Monchinski would simply be known as 'Big T' and it would be painted on the tailgate of his truck in case we got drunk and forgot it. I digress; back to Big T's info:
In 1984 Bob Bonham opened Strong and Shapely Gym (www.strong-and-shapely.com) in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Bob was making a living with his own alarm security company at the time but his schedule was working him into the ground. Investing $6000 in a 2,500 square foot space, Strong and Shapely was born. Like the powerlifters, bodybuilders, and strongmen that call it home - over the years Strong and Shapely has grown. Today S & S measures 25,000 square feet.
Most of Strong and Shapely's members are regular Joe and Jane Schmoes looking to get and stay in shape. But the gym also has its share of hardcore power-lifters, bodybuilders, and other strength athletes. Exactly who trains at Strong and Shapely? 800-pound bencher Joel Toranzo and his crew train there regularly. Contractor Peter Ortolano explains that since he started training with Joel his bench went from 215 to 375 in five months, adding "and that's drug free—it's important that people understand that." Dave Reliford, who has benched 440 in a single ply at 207, says his bench went up 100 pounds after he joined Joel's Friday night benching circle. "They're always there, they're reliable, and they're helpful. They give you a boost. It's like a family." Joel's cousin Jose Cabrera (510 bench at 198) concurs. "I've learned a lot training with Joel," he says. "For the last seven years we've been traveling this road together. I can't see myself training without him."
"Joel is a strict but kind hearted man," says forty-nine year old Peter Ortolano, "He's very respectful with me and it's comfortable to be around him." Joel's kindness and work ethic appears to be contagious. "The guys who work out at S & S are all focused on helping one another," notes Dave. "Everyone helps everyone else, from bodybuilders helping powerlifters, to powerlifters helping strongmen." (Notice that no one wants to help the bodybuilders. It's because they are so grumpy from dieting. Rick)
PL USA coverman and he of a 595 RAW bench at 198, Dennis Cieri, often trains at Strong and Shapely. "It's a hardcore environment," says Dennis, who owns two health clubs himself. "Plus what can I say? It's convenient - I live across the street." Former New Jersey State Chairman of North American Strongman, Inc., Cameron Gardner has been working out at Bonham's gym since he was a high school freshman. "A who's who of strength (athletes) in the area have flocked to this gym," explains Cameron. "There's a competitive attitude, but it's all good, sort of a healthy friendship-rivalry thing between everyone there."
What brings powerlifters to Strong and Shapely? "The atmosphere, the comraderie, and the cleanliness," cites Peter. "The atmosphere helps a lot," posits Jose. "When you go to a Bally's or a regular place the atmosphere is different. There aren't many people who compete; nobody's on your wavelength. When you go to Strong and Shapely all these powerlifters, bodybuilders, Olympic lifters, strongmen, track people, they're all there, a nice variety of different people and athletes, so everyone kind of relates."
The equipment is also a draw. Bonham has stocked his gym with thousands of pieces of equipment, many of which he's had custom welded and are unique to Strong and Shapely. There's a monolift and a deadlift platform, an old Iron Maiden to torture women with, chains and bands and specialty bars and sleds, dumbbells that run up to 200 pounds and a special 250-pound pair former Mr. Olympia Ronnie Coleman heaves around when he's in town. The sheer quantity of benches and squat racks means you rarely if ever have to wait for a piece of equipment.
There is one line everyone who works out at Strong and Shapely agrees you do not want to cross. "Bob might not want to hear about this," laughs Cameron, "but every time somebody leaves a plate anywhere he turns the music off and gets on the microphone. That's been going on for years. If there's a ten pound plate left on a curl bar he'll ask three times and then turn the music off and he won't turn it back on until somebody puts it away." With a smile Jose warns, "You definitely gotta clean up after yourself or Bob will call you out." "He's like the soup Nazi," laughs Dave. "He's very particular about his gym, but you know that's part of what makes it great training there." Peter doesn't disagree. "Bob's very strict about that and that's why I get along so well with him," he says. "When we lift and we're using chalk I always go into the janitor's closet and mop up the floors when we're done. Everybody gets a kick out of that, but you know what? Other people see us doing in and they pick up on it too."
There are literally hundreds of gyms in the metropolitan New York-New Jersey area. What sets S & Sapart is its atmosphere, sheer size, the equipment available, and the personalities that can be found training there on a daily basis. Bob Bonham's business acumen and attention to detail help make Strong and Shapely a place you'll want to train at.
Thanks to Big T for the cool update on a great gym! Even if Strong & Shapely sounds pretty mainstream, we can all remember the hard-core single letter version of the gym name: S & S. Plus, the owner has only 3 letters in his name; way to go Bob! I wanna go there and train - even if I end up mopping the chalk up off the floor. And I hate to mop.
Next month we'll visit a gym named after a power-lifting command. What could be easier than that? Even Bubba, Big T, and Bob can remember that. I need 3 things from you: info about your local gym, comments about your local lifters, and photo-proof. Without good clear pictures, there's no way to prove anything - that's what I tell my Parole Officer all of the time.
Comments & info: rick@houseofpain.com
