Eastside Barbell

Eastside Barbell is more than a place to workout or train, it’s a team and a family! A place where you can come to get strong and make great friends!! The entire gym community embraces the process and we push each other to be the best we can be! It’s truly a home away from home!

I was looking for a place where I could focus on improving and get more serious about lifting. What I didn't plan for was meeting gym mates and people who genuinely want to see you succeed. From day one, everyone was welcoming and enthusiastic. You could be lifting triple digits or 20 kg, the energy is always there and the screams are just the same. The format was a bit different than I was used to, but after a couple weeks, I got the hang of it. Like anything, it is an adjustment, and you have to give things time to work. The people are friendly, the coaching is great, plenty of parking, the facility is clean and organized. This is a place where I don't feel pressure to be perfect and, in fact, are encouraged not to be.

Lifting at Eastside Barbell has been an awesome experience. If you’re looking to anchor a lifestyle change in a fitness community that’s positive and team oriented with phenomenal coaching, this is a great place to start.

As a high level competitive weightlifter (multiple national and world records as a masters lifter) I couldn’t be happier with Eastside Barbell. I feel blessed to have the support of an amazing team (including a large masters contingent) at an outstanding facility that regularly hosts local competitions (great for athletes who are just gaining experience with competitions and also team members who need to hit qualifying numbers for national meets). Eastside has a deep bench of experienced coaches (all with USAW L2) and the programming provided by Coach Mel has enabled me to continue to improve my strength and my lifts in my later 60s. Our coaches travel to regional and national competitions to support us as athletes, a resource I lacked early in my competitive career and especially appreciate. Eastside Barbell Rocks!!!

I’ve been a member at Eastside since April of 2021 and these people are my FAMILY! Never had a more inclusive and incredible group of teammates and coaches as I do with this crew. Not to mention the facility is huge, with top notch equipment and the cutest gym dog (Elenor) that you ever did see. All around a very knowledgeable and supportive gym to be a part of. HIGHLY RECOMMEND 💪🏼❤️

I started at Eastside in 2021 looking for a coach to help me with my Olympic lifting since at the time I was very into CrossFit. Mel and Lauren were so kind and inviting the second I started working with them. Being from Florence I was doing remote training with 1 session in the gym per week. The days I went into the gym were my absolute favorite. The team was incredible inviting and helpful since I was just learning lifting in KG. I instantly fell in love with the idea of competing and decided to go to a fairly large competition for my first. Mel made the entire experience so enjoyable and I felt so at home with the entire team that went.Fast forward to now 2023 and I have moved full time to competitive olympic lifting and have made some life long friends in my teammates.Eastside barbell is more than a gym it’s a family that Mel and Lauren have created. They are both so incredibly knowledgeable in the sport of Olympic lifting and no matter where you are at in your fitness journey they are there to accommodate you and your needs.I feel honored to call myself an athlete of Eastside barbell club and am so thankfully for all the opportunities that Mel and Lauren have given me not only as an athlete but as a coach.If your looking for a gym that is respectful of every person not matter what, this is the gym for you.

This is top notch coaching and community! It is a support system and will help you grow as a person and an athlete! My experience with the east side barbell team and Coach Mel has made me feel like I can accomplish higher heights in my lifting as a remote masters olympic lifter.

I’ve been training at Eastside Barbell for about 18 months now. I primarily train remote (90-mile commute) but visit the gym on a minimum of 3 times per month basis. This does not prevent Coach Mel from refining my technique as I share my lifts by video, and she breaks down my moves and provides coaching tips/tricks and constructive criticism (wink!). My favorite benefit I find at Eastside is the incredible community of world-class athletes who I get to call my teammates. Whether it’s the grueling work of the daily training or the road trips to meets across the country, we band together to learn from and encourage each other. We celebrate wins often, whether they are workout day lifts or our very large collection of national and world class medals. All coaches at Eastside, led by Coach Mel and Lauren are currently competing lifters themselves – there is never a shortage of encouragement, teaching and learning. And the bonus - a #gymdog named Eleanore!!

You really can’t overhype Eastside Barbell. I came in with no weightlifting experience, and while I’ve never been interested in sports in my whole life, I’m now completely obsessed with Olympic weightlifting. Coach Mel has patiently trained me over the past few months and I’ve received overwhelming support and kindness from my teammates. Mel works with my disability/chronic illness. She holds strong principles about how a gym should be; she ensures women and queer people are able to participate, and that the gym and equipment are treated with respect. I would highly recommend the place to anyone.

I am so glad I joined this gym and the sport of olympic weightlifting. They have amazing coaches that help you on an individual level to achieve your goals. They are super inclusive of all ages, sizes, genders, etc. The atmosphere is super welcoming and fun. I highly recommend Eastside Barbell!!!