Doug's Gym

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Doug Eidd put a $1k deposit on a little POS gym on Commerce Street in Dallas, Texas during the hot summer of 1962. He saw the future fitness kick coming way before Oliva Newton-John sang about it, Gold’s Gym preached it, and way before 24-Hour Fitness was dreamed up in some marketing meeting. 


Married with two small kids, the Korean War vet wanted to settle down in Dallas. Eidd reworked his new gym to maximize space for extra weights and calisthenics, revamped all the old bars and plates with a coat of black paint, and added a new sign that simply read, Doug’s Gym. 


Doug’s attracted the funky fringe of the “Let’s get physical” set. Members included muscle heads, pure lifters, professional wrestlers, and folks that just wanted to work out. Oh, and with Eidd’s guidance, they did workout. Hot summer afternoons, cold winter nights, and during intense Texas downpours, Doug’s was open, and the chalk was always dry. Turns out Eidd was right about this fitness kick, he soon had add a sauna and showers with cold and hot water or “luxuries” as he calls them. 


Over the years, the gym has became a community. A place where in-between sets you’ll hear members talk about personal stuff like politics, money, and relationships. It’s like sitting down for a family meal where lots and lots of protein is being served. Eidd sits at the head of the table chomping on his ever-present cigar just quietly watching form and occasionally spotting. The gym holds the record for the longest running solely owned gym in the United States. A fact that makes Eidd smile. 


Doug’s might have taken a hit from the big box guys with fancy machines, heated pools, espresso bars, and carpeting. But the funky fringe, they still favored Doug’s. Eidd saw a newer and hungrier set of lifters coming into his gym. Kids that remind Eidd of himself. Kids that would slap $1k deposit down for a little POS gym on Commerce.


In 2018 and after 56 years, Doug closed his gym. He holds the record for the longest running owned by a single individual in the USA, and maybe even in the world.