Survivor: Joe Cirulli’s Journey of a Lifetime

Joe Cirulli overcame early struggles in his career before building Gainesville Health and Fitness Centers into a successful company,which has earned him Club Industry’s Lifetime Achievement Award.

Joe Cirulli, who has owned and operated Gainesville Health and Fitness Centers since 1978, is the 10th recipient of Club Industry's Lifetime Achievement Award. Photo by Migdalia Figueroa.

Joe Cirulli's Timeline

1953: Joe Cirulli was born on Dec. 13 in Elmira, NY.

1973: At age 19, Cirulli arrives in Gainesville, FL, and works at the Steve Spurrier Health Spa.

1978: The first Gainesville Health and Fitness Center opens in a 2,500-square-foot space in Creekside Mall.

1984: The 9,500-square-foot Gainesville Health and Fitness Center for Women opens. It eventually expands to 14,000 square feet.

1986: The main club moves to a 22,000-square-foot space formerly occupied by a Winn-Dixie grocery store. It eventually grows to 31,000 square feet.

1988: The first ReQuest Physical Therapy center opens.

1996: The main club moves to a 51,000-square-foot facility at its current site. It eventually expands to 66,000 square feet.

2001: A ReQuest satellite office opens in Alachua, FL.

2007: A new 25,000-square-foot coed club and a ReQuest center opens in Tioga Town Center in Gainesville.

2012-2013: The main club undergoes expansion that will take it to 78,000 square feet.

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