Remorca Fitness
M-F 5am-10pm; Sa-Su 6am-8pm
171 East 74th Street
“If I won the lottery, I would continue to do the same thing every day,” Dennis Remorca told me as I stepped off the elevator and introduced myself to him. Clearly passionate about his fitness centers on the Upper East Side, Dennis went on to tell me that he has been training children from the age of seven up to a woman who is ninety-six. He emphasized the importance of the relationship that he and his fellow trainers have developed with each of their clients. Laughing, Dennis said, “I have like fifty moms always making sure that I eat.” Trained in physical therapy, Dennis shared with me that he comes from a family who practice medicine, and they did not understand how he could make a career in PT. I believe that he has shown them that it is possible, for after four years owning his gym on 74th Street, he decided it was time to open yet another facility on 64th.
Upstairs in the newly converted Weston House – a building that was completed in 1881 by architect Theodore Weston, founder of the Metropolitan Museum of Art – the space is perfect for private training sessions. Filled with state-of-the-art equipment and a friendly staff – one was a principal dancer for American Ballet while another was a trainer for the Milwaukee Brewers – I have no doubt that this is a terrific environment for workouts. And, I learned from Antonia, the owner of Altesi downstairs, that in the warmer months, Dennis will be offering yoga classes outside in the garden of the restaurant followed by a healthy breakfast.
