They're going strong

Arizona Health, a Tucson fitness equipment store, has opened a second location on this side of town.

Co-owners Scott Thompson and LaMonte Hunley bought a piece of property at 6205 N. Travel Center Drive and built the second store, which is a showroom and a warehouse in one place.

When Thompson looks out of the window of the new place, Interstate 10 traffic is flowing by on the west and cars are driving right next to the building to take a shortcut from Casa Grande Highway onto River Road on the east side — a combination that promises exposure and many customers, he said.

"It's really exciting to get back to the North Side again," said Thompson, 45, who grew up here.

Thompson, formerly a professional strength and conditioning coach, founded Arizona Health in 1985, when more and more clients asked for assistance with buying workout equipment. Due to health problems, he retired from coaching in 2000.

In 1993, LaMonte Hunley, a former University of Arizona All-Pac 10 and National Football League linebacker, joined the team as a managing partner and few years later was made vice president of Arizona Health. He now owns 40 percent of the business, said Thompson, the company president.

Karsten Hagen, the West Coast territory manager for Vision Fitness, one of the equipment suppliers for Arizona Health, said he is impressed with the new place and highly satisfied with how the company operates.

"It's a beautiful store and a great location," he said. "The minute they opened the store, they improved significantly."

Arizona Health sells products ranging from ellipticals to treadmills and home gyms, but it also stocks smaller products including dumbbells and other accessories. The prices range from less than $100 to several thousand dollars, Thompson said.

Since its founding years, Arizona Health has been growing about 15 percent to 20 percent each year and with the expansion of the facilities, hope to hit the $5 million mark in sales within the next year or two, Thompson said. He said that currently the strongest-growing field is equipping fitness centers at businesses.

One of those is Raytheon, whose fitness director has been working with Arizona Health for five years, he said.

"Oh yeah, they do a good job, their state-of-the-art equipment is easy for our patrons to use, it's the latest that's on the market," said Bob Pratt, the owner of RNL Fitness, who is under contract as Raytheon's fitness director.

Raytheon's roughly 5,000-square-foot fitness center is equipped with about 80 percent Arizona Health products, said Pratt, who is adding new pieces every year.

Despite the local success, Thompson and Hunley do not plan to expand, but rather to concentrate on the Southern Arizona market. Thompson said he strongly believes in doing business locally and trusts that the community gives back what he invests into it.

"Arizona Health is successful because of the local fitness enthusiasts that love to exercise as part of their lifestyle," he said.

Currently, Thompson and Hunley have 12 employees, a team of fitness experts, parts managers and technicians whom Thompson credits with much of the firm's prosperity.

Among Arizona Health's customers are Annette and Bob Simper, owners of Ms. Fit Health Clubs, who said they use only the company's equipment both at home and in their business.

"It's second to none as far as the industry goes," Annette Simper said. Thompson "is an honorable guy and he and his staff take really good care of us. I can't say enough about them."

Bob Simper said he has known Thompson since the 1970s, when both worked for a spa. In the early 1980s they got back in touch when Simper needed equipment for the gym chain Naturally Women Fitness Centers, which he owned until he sold it in 1998.

He said he especially likes Arizona Health's high-quality equipment and service department, which does repairs "in a minute's notice"

"I found that Scott would always take care of me," Bob Simper said. "He is terrific and I have got nothing but raves for him. LaMonte is also a terrific guy and so are the people on staff."

The lowdown:

● The Arizona Health Northwest Showroom and Warehouse is at the I-10/Orange Grove Plaza, 6205 N. Travel Center Drive. Hours are 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. weekdays and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays. Contact the store at 888-6000.

The East Side Showroom and Customer Service Department is at 6245 E. 22nd Street. It is open 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. weekdays and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays. Contact the store at 790-5377.