9Round

As COVID-19 continued to spread throughout the nation, shutdown orders swiftly closed businesses where a high number of people might congregate, such as gyms. As a result, local kickboxing gym 9Round had to transition their operations to accommodate for a more virtual experience.

During the shutdown, 9Round has offered guided workouts through Zoom. Members using their online portal have been able to take advantage of ‘Workout of the Day’ exercises, as well as various different sessions provided by the gym.

“This is not our typical business model,” said owner Noe Meza. “This is something that was developed very quickly to give people the same push and motivation from the gym while in their home.”

While the gym plans to re-open on May 18^th, Meza says that the franchise’s long-term goals include transitioning virtual workouts to a more stable platform, like an app. He also says one of the biggest takeaways from this experience was the franchise’s ability to “continue to provide services while flipping their entire business model.” Meza also credits local support for helping them get through this.

“One thing that was very valuable was the support that we’ve had from the Chamber,” Meza said. “Without the Chamber, I would have gone into this blind and not really have known what to expect. I’m very appreciative of everything they’ve done.”

To learn about becoming a 9Round member, visit https://www.9round.com/

McAllen Sports

For forty-one years McAllen Sports has put their customers first. Priding themselves on reliability and top-notch service, the retailer amassed a loyal following that only continues to grow over time. As owner Jorge Salcines puts it, “we’re nothing without our customers.”

With the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, McAllen Sports worked to put customer and employee safety top of mind. As well as both requiring and selling masks at the store, rigorous cleaning procedures have been put in place as well as curbside pick-up and delivery services. Reaping these benefits, Salcines mentioned that they’ve been working on orders of customized masks for different businesses, including schools, stockyards and municipal departments.

“We’ve never not come through with an order, for anybody,” Salcines said when talking about the shop’s workload. “When you’re in the business this long, your employees become family and your customers become friends.”

In Salcines’ eyes, “you’re only as good as the people around you” and while he admits that businesses still have a long way to go on the road to recovery, he is quick to acknowledge what a great support system can do. “The Chamber is going to play an important part in helping out businesses,” Salcines said. “There’s great people working there, knowledgeable people who actually care.”

To browse their inventory visit https://www.mcallensports.com/ or stop by their shop on 108 S 16th St.