The former Gulf Breeze Aerobics & Fitness is now the Community YMCA at Gulf Breeze, effective today.
“We know that Gulf Breeze, like many areas of the community, has been eager for a Y presence for some time,” said YMCA CEO Michael Bodenhausen. “This model makes it much faster and easier for us to establish a footprint in Gulf Breeze and begin offering a Y experience, including programs and mission outreach, than it would be to build a new YMCA from the ground up.”
The Y and GBAF helped each other when Hurricane Sally struck in fall 2020. After the Pensacola Bay Bridge was damaged during that storm, the two entities joined forces to offer reciprocal access to members who were impacted. The experience worked well, paving the way for future opportunities to work together. When the GBAF owners decided they were ready to sell the business, they turned to the Y, citing an organization “with a proven track record in our local community.”
The ownership change will be a transition. “We want to maintain the same friendly experience that current members have enjoyed, while also creating a broader YMCA experience,” Bodenhausen said. That will include expanded programs for youth and families, access to other Y locations and services, and financial assistance for those in need.
This location will remain a 24-hour facility, with staffed hours during the core of the day. All current Y members with regional membership will have full access to the Community Y at Gulf Breeze once the full ownership transition has been completed, which will take 8-10 weeks.
Learn more about the Community Y at Gulf Breeze.