New Westborough retailer can outfit a home gym
By Nancy Brumback, Contributing Writer

Mike Ezzo, fitness consultant and certified personal trainer
78 Turnpike Rd. (Rt. 9) Westborough store
Photo/Bonnie Adams
Westborough- Why buy exercise equipment for the home instead of a gym membership?
Fitness Equipment Northeast, a new store in Westborough, offers some answers. The company opened its third Massachusetts store, on Route 9, in September, bringing a large selection of treadmills, elliptical machines, exercise bikes and cross-training machines to the Metrowest market.
“Precor, our primary line, has always sold very well in this area, and now folks don’t have to drive to our Newton store to shop,” said Mike Connolly, owner and president of the retailer, which also has stores in Peabody and Nashua, N.H., and two showrooms in Portland, Maine. He started the business in 2008.
Fitness Equipment Northeast’s experienced staff is knowledgeable about exercise regimens and the best equipment options available. They can advise which equipment to start with, based on a customer’s goals and fitness level.
“We encourage people to come to the store dressed to work out and spend as much time as they like on different equipment. We even encourage them to wait and see how they feel the next day when they are comparing equipment,” Connolly said.
“When people ask what equipment they should start with, we ask what exercise they enjoy. If they like walking, a treadmill may be best. If they like walking but have bad knees, an elliptical may be a better choice. And we suggest they put it where they will see it and be reminded to use it.”
Connolly offers several reasons to choose home equipment over a gym. “People’s schedules are so tight today. With equipment at home, you can be finished with your workout in the time it takes to go to the gym and come home. Plus, you don’t have to worry about germs during flu season, and you don’t have to wait for a machine.”
The store’s primary brand for exercise machines is Precor, and it also carries a full line of free weights, exercise balls, resistance bands, mats and other exercise gear. “The 2015 Precor line has just arrived,” Connolly noted.
The Precor Elliptical Fitness Cross Trainer or EFX has the low-impact benefits of an elliptical machine, but also offers ways to exercise different muscle groups “so you can spread a 30-minute workout over more muscles,” he noted.
“Precor has the best low-impact technology of any brand. They invented the entire elliptical category and were the first to place low-impact technology on treadmills. That’s important for people who have any issues with their knees or joints. The whole idea behind functional training is to train the way you live, and training on an elliptical while standing offers the proven benefits of weight-bearing exercise without the impact.
“Most people are familiar with Precor from commercial uses such as gyms and hotel fitness centers. But they don’t realize Precor makes an entire range of exercise equipment for home use with the same quality and warranty. It is extremely robust and durable, but exceptionally smooth, natural and kind to your body,” Connolly said.
The store offers delivery and setup of the exercise machines it sells for $199, and Connolly said most customers opt for that since the equipment can be heavy. “We unbox it, carry it in, build it and test it?and remove all the packaging material,” he said.
Fitness Equipment Northeast is also matching Amazon’s pricing on equipment for the holiday season. “We’ll look up the price on Amazon while you’re standing in the store, and, if it goes on sale within 60 days of your purchase, we’ll refund the difference,” Connolly said, adding that buying in a store gives customers a chance to try out the equipment and provides local service and support.
The Westborough store, at 78 Turnpike Rd. (Rt. 9), is open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday; 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday and Saturday; and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday. Additional information is available on the company’s website, www.fitnessequipmentne.com, or by calling the store at 508-329-5102.
Editor’s Note: The preceding is not an endorsement and is presented for informational purposes only.