From left: Tina Kozma, Dan Tarasewich and Peter Kozma are looking forward to the reopening soon of Vengeance Fitness and Kobau Lanes. (Keith Lacey photo)
Fitness fanatics and bowlers in Osoyoos will be very pleased to know that Vengeance Fitness and Kobau Lanes will soon be reopening more than a year after a devastating fire closed down both businesses last Canada Day.
Dan Tarasewich, who owns the building that housed the gym and bowling alley, announced on Friday that a new and improved Vengeance Fitness is set to open on Aug. 1 and bowlers can start accumulating strikes and spares on Sept. 1.
The interior of the building suffered immense smoke damage when an arsonist started a fire in the early morning hours of Canada Day in 2015.
No one has been charged in relation to the fire at that building.
“Ninety-five per cent of the damage was smoke damage,” said Tarasewich.
When Vengeance Fitness re-opens in two weeks, the new owners will be Peter and Tina Kozma, who will be leasing the 3,800 square foot space from Tarasewich to operate the gym.
Peter Kozma spent seven years of his childhood in Osoyoos from age nine until his middle teens and he and his wife have spent many years spending vacation time in this community.
They always worked out at Vengeance during their vacations in Osoyoos and got to know Tarasewich.
Kozma’s father also lives in Osoyoos and it was during a visit last year with his dad that he discovered Tarasewich might be interested in leasing the space to another proprietor.
He and his wife made some inquiries and worked out a deal several months ago, said Kozma.
Kozma and his wife own a huge gym in Mission, B.C. called Throwback Fitness, but they have hired managers to run that business and they will be moving to Osoyoos and working full-time at Vengeance Fitness once it opens on Aug. 1.
Kozma played professional football in the United States in the American Football League for 19 years.
Owning his own gym has been a dream since retiring from football and being able to own a second gym in his former hometown is exciting for him and his wife, because they love the weather and lifestyle Osoyoos offers, he said.
“Fitness training is my way of helping people,” he said. “When I lived all those years in the United States playing football, I couldn’t help but notice how obesity had become such a serious problem and I can tell you that Canada is not lagging far behind.
“My goal in life is to introduce people to fitness and leading a healthy lifestyle and I hope to help as many people as I possibly can, from young to old.
“My goal with this place is to get all of our members healthy and I particularly want to get older people into fitness … I know Osoyoos has a lot of older people living here and I’m hoping to be able to help as many as I can.”
Kozma and his wife will be stocking Vengeance Fitness with a wide array of state-of-the-art fitness equipment.
“Everything will be brand new,” he said.
Besides weight training machines, free weights and large assortment of cardiovascular machines, the new Vengeance Gym will also feature a Crossfit area in the parking lot to the side of the building, said Tarasewich.
There will also be a much larger front service desk that will also feature a variety of healthy wraps and sandwiches, health supplements and juice bar, he said.
The smoke damage from the fire was so severe, that the entire building had to be gutted, but the good news is the interior is brand new and looks great, said Tarasewich.
“Everything is completely brand new,” he said. “There’s not an electrical wire in the entire building that isn’t brand new. That includes new heating, new duct work and a brand new air purification system.
“It has been the longest year of my life since the fire … but the good news is we have pretty much a brand new building.”
Avid bowlers are going to be thrilled with the changes to Kobau Lanes, he said.
“All of the lanes will be brand new,” he said. “We will have the most automated bowling alley in British Columbia when we’re back in business on Sept. 1.”
Kozma, who is a certified fitness trainer, said he plans to provide hands-on service to his members for many years to come.
“I will be here from early morning until we close … I will be here all the time,” he said.
All memberships that were in effect at the time of the fire will be honoured in full. Anyone wishing to inquire about a new membership or status of their old membership can phone Vengeance at 250-495-7237. The phone lines are expected to be installed early next week.
You can also contact Kozma at 1-778-240-1654.
KEITH LACEY
Osoyoos Times
