HALO Talks Fast Break: A History Lesson On Crunch Fitness
HALO Talks: Elevating Wellness
Release Date: 05/01/2025
HALO Talks: Elevating Wellness
Every Wednesday we release our all new “HALO Academy: 2 Minute Financial Drill" by Integrity Square Founder & HALO Talks host, on everything you need to know for financial literacy, unit economics, legal documents used for M&A and capital raises, capital sources you can access, understanding how financings are structured, valuation metrics and parameters, and what you need to know about your own business before engaging in cap raises and/or a potential sale. If you missed our email about this, you can re-read it here: ...
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In this episode, host Pete Moore reconnects with longtime friend and fellow Emory University alum, Marcus Gordon. They dive into the significant evolution of endurance sports over the years, and the business opportunities surrounding the endurance athlete community. Marcus shares his journey from collegiate athlete and marketing professional to passionate triathlete and entrepreneur—highlighting the explosive growth in triathlons, marathons, and ultra events across the globe. Pete and Marcus chat about the gaps in the market for facilities catering specifically to endurance athletes, the...
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On today’s episode, host Pete Moore sits down with Emma and Ben Stallworthy, the husband and wife team behind the Melbourne-based, Your Reformer. With a foundation built on serial entrepreneurship and a huge passion for Pilates, Emma and Ben share their story from reviving a rundown health club to scaling a successful chain of gyms, and ultimately selling their business to a major player. They dive into the challenges of pivoting from brick-and-mortar to launching their own Pilates equipment and digital content venture, all while (trying!) to balance family life, married life, and staying...
info_outlineHALO Talks: Elevating Wellness
Every Wednesday we release our all new “HALO Academy: 2 Minute Financial Drill" by Integrity Square Founder & HALO Talks host, on everything you need to know for financial literacy, unit economics, legal documents used for M&A and capital raises, capital sources you can access, understanding how financings are structured, valuation metrics and parameters, and what you need to know about your own business before engaging in cap raises and/or a potential sale. If you missed our email about this, you can re-read it here: ...
info_outlineHALO Talks: Elevating Wellness
In today's episode, Integrity Square Founder Pete Moore dives into the roots and current landscape of private equity (PE) — and why it matters to literally 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘰𝘯𝘦 in the HALO sector. Ignore at your own peril. • PE's Evolution: PE started when changes like the Prudent Man Act allowed institutions (think university endowments and pension funds) to invest in private companies. This ushered in a new era for higher-risk, higher-return investments. • The PE Playbook: Early pioneers like Kohlberg, Kravitz & Roberts (KKR) built the model we see today: Acquire...
info_outlineHALO Talks: Elevating Wellness
Every Wednesday we release our all new “HALO Academy: 2 Minute Financial Drill" by Integrity Square Founder & HALO Talks host, on everything you need to know for financial literacy, unit economics, legal documents used for M&A and capital raises, capital sources you can access, understanding how financings are structured, valuation metrics and parameters, and what you need to know about your own business before engaging in cap raises and/or a potential sale. If you missed our email about this, you can re-read it here: ...
info_outlineHALO Talks: Elevating Wellness
On this episode, host Pete Moore reconnects with Jaja Jackson, a longtime friend and fellow Harvard Business School alum, for a deep dive into the intersection of real estate, hospitality, and health. Jaja shares his path from developing homes and communities, to joining Airbnb in its pivotal years, where he helped bridge the gap between multifamily housing and the (then) cutting-edge world of home sharing. Now a leader at ICONIQ Capital, Jackson discusses how his team has reimagined multifamily properties to boost net operating income and create vibrant, HALO-focused communities. (Health,...
info_outlineHALO Talks: Elevating Wellness
𝗛𝗔𝗟𝗢 𝗧𝗮𝗹𝗸𝘀 𝙁𝘼𝙎𝙏𝘽𝙍𝙀𝘼𝙆-𝗔𝗱𝗱 𝗠𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗖𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗲𝘀! 🚨 Calling all boutique fitness studio operators! 🚨 Managing Partner & Founder Pete Moore is back as "Dr. HALO", and this is a must-hear for anyone running a boutique fitness studio. He's not mincing words either: If you’re only running a few classes a day and wondering why you’re struggling, it’s time for you to look in the mirror. A few things: Increase Class Frequency Most boutique fitness studios simply aren’t offering enough...
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Kyria Sabin began her journey with Pilates in 1991 while living in Los Angeles and working as an art gallery director. Teaching Pilates was never part of her original path. However, her lifelong interest in fitness led her to eventually catch the bug for Pilates. After attending a workshop with renowned Pilates "Elder" Ron Fletcher, he encouraged her to teach the method, though she initially resisted. Despite her intentions to head to law school, Kyria’s passion for Pilates ultimately changed her trajectory, shaping her future as a leading educator in the field. Pete and Kyria continue on to...
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Attention Indie Operators: You Have 36 Months. . . :( Ya'll know Pete Moore as "Captain HALO!" But for this episode he's temporarily changing titles to "Dr. HALO" (!) because he has a prognosis and it's concerning. 🚨 Big Shifts Are Coming to the Health Club Industry! 🚨 Private equity isn’t just knocking on the door—it’s about to flood the health club market nationwide. As someone who’s helped close over 100 deals in the HALO space, he is encouraging all independent operators to get ready, not just for survival, but to thrive. Key takeaways for health club owners and...
info_outlineA LOT has happened since Crunch's early days!
- Humble Beginnings & Early Growth: Crunch started in 1989 with Doug Levine, Roger Harvey (Crunch's first COO), and a powerhouse team, quickly making waves in the highly competitive NYC fitness scene.
- Big Deals & Bumpy Roads: Bally Total Fitness bought Crunch in 2001 for $90 million, but soon faced challenges. A few years later, Angelo Gordon (with Pete Moore himself on the deal side) acquired the company for half that price—$45 million.
- Growing Pains: Membership dropped from 92,000 to 72,000, forcing Crunch into bankruptcy in 2009. This time was all about resetting, restructuring, and prepping for the future.
- A Decade of Determination: Crunch worked hard to dial in their business model, launching a successful franchise program and slowly but steadily building momentum.
- Skyrocketing Success: By 2019, TPG Growth snagged Crunch to accelerate its franchising efforts, which paid off. Fast-forward to today: Leonard Green has acquired Crunch for a stunning $1.5 billion. The company now boasts 500 locations and 3 million members!
One solid takeaway? Spotting potential in a struggling business—and having the patience, grit, and right partners to see it through—can lead to incredible success. Crunch isn’t just surviving, they’re thriving.
With blue-chip private equity backing and a proven growth strategy, the future looks bright.
RESOURCES:
- Crunch Fitness: https://www.crunchfitness.com
- Sale of Crunch to TPG: https://www.tpg.com/news-and-insights/tpg-backed-crunch-fitness-announces-strategic-investment-from-leonard-green-partners
- Doug Levine's Live HALO Talks in NYC: https://youtu.be/h-qDEAS5LsM?si=kh0GclOgGmwXMxhS