‘Not giving up now’: Spartanburg gym owner plans to fight city request to relocate

SPARTANBURG — Since 1987, Nautilus Fitness Center has been a fixture in downtown Spartanburg.

It’s become a place not only for exercise but also fellowship among its members. When it moved from Union Street to South Church Street only a few blocks from the former Spartanburg City Hall building, there wasn’t much happening downtown. Spartanburg County Public Libraries, now located across the street from the fitness center, wouldn’t open for another 10 years. 

Nautilus owner John Lankford started the center in 1977 on Fernwood Glendale Road then moved it to Union Street where it stayed for eight years. Before moving his business to South Church Street from Union Street he had considered relocating to the city’s westside, since at the time that was an area of major growth. He doesn’t regret securing its current spot at 160 S. Church St. Membership has grown, with between 600 and 700 people working out at the 24/7 gym.

Now, with plans for a new city-county municipal building, parking garage and mixed-use development behind Nautilus at the former Spartanburg City Hall building location, the future is uncertain for Nautilus and Blue Moon Specialty Foods, located on the same block. Demolition of the former City Hall is nearly complete and conceptual design plans are being developed for the 5 acres bordered by Broad, Church, Kennedy and Spring streets.

As part of the process, Nautilus and Blue Moon were notified shortly after April 2022 they would have to relocate from their South Church Street locations since their properties were within the scope of the new complex planned by the city and county. Since then, the parties have attended only a few meetings to hash out the details. It had been said the two businesses would have an option to relocate in a private space within the new mixed-use development, but no deals have been reached.

Blue Moon declined to comment for this story.

Lankford hired an attorney in early 2024 and doesn’t plan to give up his property so easily. In the 1940s, the building was a Ford dealership. It was left vacant for several years before Nautilus took over the spot.

“It’s almost like they are trying to wear us down, but this guy is not going to wear down,” Lankford told The Post and Courier. “I am not giving up now. I have been in business for 47 years and been paying property taxes and now they are saying forget you. Growth is good, I understand growth but it’s like they are pushing us to the side.”

Lankford said the last meeting he had with the city was in October 2022; the county met with his attorney in April. He doesn’t anticipate a deal will be reached to move into the new mixed-use space.

He runs the business with his wife Marilyn and son Andrew. While other gyms in the city have come and gone, Nautilus has remained in part because of its location and the community it’s built within the gym. They hold Bible studies every Wednesday morning and get involved in community fundraisers. 

He has received no offer to purchase the property by the city or county, Lankford said. It was appraised in August 2022. They were told in January to move in three months and then in April given a deadline to move by July. Lankford doesn’t plan to go anywhere.

Spartanburg City Manager Chris Story said June 20 he hoped a solution could be reached.

“I think we certainly hope we can work something out that is in their business interest,” Story said. ” There have been a number of meetings and there’s been a good bit of communication but there are some uncertainties in any major project like that, but I believe we have been transparent as we can about our goals for the project and I think conversation directly with them will continue. Our communication and conversations are not done.”

Story said final plans for the new city-county municipal building and mixed-use development have not been approved and no construction start date has been set.

Nautilus’ signature blue building has become recognizable. There aren’t any other locations in the city that could match what the current building provides.

“We cannot duplicate what we have anywhere else in the city limits,” Marilyn Lankford said. “We want to stay here and it would be too risky to relocate. Our location is integral for us to survive as a small business.”

The Lankfords questioned the plan to include mixed-use development at the site and said it has become a harder sell to get new members or renew memberships because of the uncertainty about Nautilus’ future.

“Over the years, I’ve had Realtors asking me before about selling it,” John Lankford said. “It’s a prime location and we don’t want to sell it. It was a prime location when I first came here.”

The site was selected in April 2022 for a new city-council municipal building. Conceptual designs could be presented to Spartanburg City Council and Spartanburg County Council this summer. A new parking garage with up to 600 spaces is part of the overall plan. The new building would be paid for by the 1 percent sales tax increase that county voters approved in 2017 to replace aging infrastructure.

Nautilus’ customers have overwhelmingly supported the gym and hope an agreement can be reached to allow it to stay. Spartanburg resident Larry Watson has been a customer for the past 42 years. He’s angry the fitness center is being asked to move.

“It’s like watching small business being stomped by the corporations and rich people,” Watson said.

Norma Hughes of Boiling Springs has been a member for the past 10 years. Nautilus is near her workplace and only 10 minutes from her home. 

“I just prefer coming here,” Hughes said. “We have had several gyms in town through the years build up their membership and leave. Nautilus has been stable for all of us.”