James Elizalde at Coastal Bend Fitness Service in his workspace at 4730 South Padre Island Drive, Suite 1 in Corpus Christi. Elizalde shares space with Hest Fitness Products. Photo by Carrie Robertson Meyer/Third Coast Photo
If you have a broken treadmill, James Elizalde at Coastal Bend Fitness Service is here to help. His business offers mechanical and electrical repair, moving, assembly and installation of fitness equipment, including ellipticals, weight machines and more.
Elizalde joined the industry about 30 years ago when he was hired at Hest Fitness Products.
“It’s been my only job,” he said. “I love what the fitness industry has to offer — promoting healthier lifestyles. I like that, and that’s what got me into it.”
Coastal Bend Fitness Service is located inside the same Hest store that hired Elizalde all those years ago. They have a mutually beneficial partnership.
“I am their primary service provider,” he said. “Everything they sell, I service. We help each other out.”
Coastal Bend Fitness Service specializes in preventative maintenance checkups on equipment.
"What many people don’t realize is how important it is to maintain their fitness equipment,” Elizalde said.
He recommends once-a-year maintenance for his residential clients. For high-use facilities such as gyms and apartment complexes, Elizalde recommends checkups every three months.
“Government workplaces, hospitals, junior highs, high schools — you name it — wherever there’s fitness equipment, I’ve been there,” he said. “I do house calls, too. I get them every day.”
Elizalde estimated his clients are 60 percent residential and 40 percent high-use facilities.
A preventative maintenance checkup begins with a service call. After gathering as much information as possible about the client’s equipment, Elizalde travels to the site with his tools. He examines the equipment, performs a deep cleaning and makes adjustments.
“Repairs are 80 percent of my work due to lack of maintenance,” Elizalde said. Treadmills top the list of breakdowns. “Treadmills are wear-and-tear items, and if they’re not properly maintained, the walking surface is the first part to wear. Then, there’s a whole chain reaction where it starts affecting the motor and electronics.”
Elizalde has learned a lot about being a small-business owner in Corpus Christi.
“I’ll tell you what, it’s not what most people think,” he said, “It was a huge eye-opener. It was a struggle for us. But taking this step in the business industry, I would never step back. I’ve already gotten this far, and I would like to see it through.”
Elizalde is enthusiastic about growing his business and customer base.
“I would never leave this town,” he said. “I’ve been here all my life, 45 years now. I just love the community. It feels like home.”
Coastal Bend Fitness Service shares a building with Hest Fitness Products at 4730 South Padre Island Drive, Suite 1, in Corpus Christi. Call (361) 334-9798 or visit the company’s Facebook page for more information.
