T-R PHOTO BY MIKE DONAHEY Black Iron Barbell owner Jake Reynolds is shown recently at a bench-press station in his training facility in Marshalltown. Behind him a poster announcing a powerlifting competition held at the local Midnight Gardens held in 2024.

The sweat coming form members working-out in Marshalltown’s Black Iron Barbell training facility was made possible by “sweat equity.”

The latter is a common term defined as the “value of work that is put into a project or business instead of paying for it with money.”

After purchasing a vacant building that previously housed the Diamond Vogel Paint Retail store at 104 E. Linn St., Reynolds remodeled it on his own into a modern business catering to customers interested in powerlifting, bodybuilding, strongman, speed and agility.

Previously, Reynolds’ business was in the Marshalltwon Mall where he opened Jan. 7, 2023.

The mall’s electricity was shut off in November 2023, by Alliant Energy due to non-payment of its invoices by the mall owner. Consequently, Reynolds and other tenants had a challenge attempting to conduct business with power off to the air-conditioning, lights in bathrooms, hallways, parking lots and more.

“I could have stayed at the mall a little bit longer but I kind of saw the writing on the wall,” Reynolds said during an interview at new training facility. “I knew I wanted to grow … I knew I wanted a bigger spot … the mall was a good starting spot. I did not want to grow too fast … it was not part of the five-year plan.”

Reynolds decided to look for a new location, but In the meantime, he purchased a lot next to his Marshalltown home and erected a building. There, he made it into a private gym and a power-lifting club for fellow devotees.

Reynolds said his initial interest in going into business was understanding there was a need.

“I want to give people something different … that is what I am looking for,” he said. “My biggest thing is people working out together … community. I grew up working out with partners … a supportive community. That is my goal.

With that in mind, he opened the business Jan. 27, 2024 on East Linn Street.

Reynolds cited Sam Upah at United Bank and Trust for significant support in getting a small business loan to help make the updated version of Black Iron Barbell a reality.

He acknowledged income from his full-time job as a UPS delivery-truck driver wife Nicki’s income from the Marshalltown YMCA-YWCA helped significantly with the loan down-payment and more.

Now he is thrilled with the extra square footage and room to grow.

He rents one of his suites to another business and another suite is for rent.

Aa an example of “community workouts,” he cited one of his current programs for members: “Doughnuts and Sandbags’ held on Saturdays.

Participants work out with sandbags ranging in weight from 25-pounds to 250-pounds. He cited a member – a woman who was three months post-partum and wanted to get her strength back … a young new mom.

Reynolds also cited a woman with a prosthetic leg who is in the program working out with members of advanced fitness levels.

“We do it as a group … it does not cost extra,” he said. “we have doughnuts afterwards as a reward … again – I am pushing the community effort … we have 10-15 people showing up … working out together. Primitive, but one of the best workouts you have ever had … picking up the sandbag … putting it over your head and more.”

For other members, there is clean and modern weightlifting equipment ranging form incline bench press to squat racks.

Reynolds is a Marshalltown resident along with Nicki and two children. He is strongly pro-Marshalltown and wants to see the community grow and prosper. He grew up in Albion but attended Marshalltown schools. He went on to Marshalltown Community College for one year as a student-athlete playing basketball.

The businessman also plays slow-pitch softball.

“At some point I will retire from UPS, but in the meantime, I am working to build up the business and looking forward to working out with others in the community,” he said.

For more information, telephone 641-328-9027 or visit blackironbarbell.gymmasteronline.com/portalsignup?