Sonoma Fit opens Petaluma location; signs lease on Novato site

Valley members have unlimited access to all gyms, including new Novato site in 2019|

How it all began

Less than two weeks after 9/11, Adam Kovacs moved from Germany to the U.S. to work as a master mechanic. He said that he fell in love with the U.S. and quickly decided that he wanted to open his own auto shop. Within two years, he had opened first Kovacs Motors in San Rafael and then a second location in Sonoma. Kovacs Motors is celebrating its 15th anniversary this year. Today, the Marin location focuses on auto body work, while the Sonoma location at 19190 Sonoma Highway does sales and service for low-mile, late-model pre-owned cars. Kovacs said that around half of the shop’s 25-30 car sales each month are local transactions, the rest of their cars are sold to customers out of state.

The Kovacs recently purchased a large office building and 1.7 acre lot on Broadway which they are using as an ancillary lot while they decide what to do with it.

Last year, the couple announced plans for Noma Bowl, a bowling alley, bar and restaurant in the office space behind Sonoma Fit. That project is scheduled to open in late 2019.

The empire of Sonoma Valley entrepreneurs Adam and Jenny Kovacs is expanding.

The couple’s new gym, Sonoma Fit Petaluma, opens for business this week. The couple also announced that they have signed a lease for a third large gym to open on Grant Avenue in Novato in winter 2019.

The 20,000-square-foot Petaluma facility is located on the Sonoma side of downtown Petaluma. Both the new Petaluma gym and the planned Novato facility can be used by all Sonoma Fit members. The couple’s first full-service gym, Sonoma Fit, is located at 19310 Sonoma Highway and it opened in early 2016.

Sonoma Fit Petaluma will have three group fitness studios with more than 100 classes scheduled per week, according to Adam Kovacs. Classes include indoor cycling, TRX, yoga, circuit training, dance and senior fitness. There is also an outdoor turf area for members who want to take their workout outside.

An outdoor pool is planned for late summer 2019.

The facility also offers child care.

The Petaluma specialty program director is Jen Palter and long-time trainer Maddie Schwartz has been promoted to fitness director for the Petaluma site.

Sonoma Fit Petaluma is located at 1310 Casa Grande Rd. The Kovacs expect that beginning Thursday, it will be open Monday through Friday from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m., Saturday and Sunday 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. www.sofitpetaluma.com

How it all began

Less than two weeks after 9/11, Adam Kovacs moved from Germany to the U.S. to work as a master mechanic. He said that he fell in love with the U.S. and quickly decided that he wanted to open his own auto shop. Within two years, he had opened first Kovacs Motors in San Rafael and then a second location in Sonoma. Kovacs Motors is celebrating its 15th anniversary this year. Today, the Marin location focuses on auto body work, while the Sonoma location at 19190 Sonoma Highway does sales and service for low-mile, late-model pre-owned cars. Kovacs said that around half of the shop’s 25-30 car sales each month are local transactions, the rest of their cars are sold to customers out of state.

The Kovacs recently purchased a large office building and 1.7 acre lot on Broadway which they are using as an ancillary lot while they decide what to do with it.

Last year, the couple announced plans for Noma Bowl, a bowling alley, bar and restaurant in the office space behind Sonoma Fit. That project is scheduled to open in late 2019.

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