At first I wasn’t sure what location to pick for project two but I’ve realized that Brooklyn has many extraordinary places that we don’t know about. After going on a walk around school something caught my eye. I had come across a gym, not any ordinary gym, it was Gleason’s gym! It is located on 77 Front Street, a 20 minute walk from City Tech. There is no other Gleason’s this is the only Gleason’s Gym in NYC! It’s the oldest active gym in the United States. This gym is exclusive because many famous boxers have stepped foot in it and have trained there to win their fights.

Getting to Gleason’s Gym is very simple to get to just by exiting City Tech through the main exit (Namm) and heading up towards Tillary Street. Once you get there make a left and walk all of Tillary Street until you get to Cadman Plaza E and make a right. From there walk straight up all Cadman Plaza E and continue walking up onto Washington St. You continue this walk until you get to Front St. and make a left and there you get to your destination, Gleason’s Gym. People may think that Gleason’s gym is contemporary but truth is Gleason’s gym is very unique.

Gleason’s Gym brought out existence to more than one hundred thirty two Professional world champions! Boxers such as Benny Paret, Jake LaMotta, Phil Terranova, Roberto Durán, Jimmy Carter, and other international boxers. Famous boxers also trained there like Adrian Broner, Mike Tyson, Miguel Cotto, and even Muhammad Ali who is known all over the world! Other than boxers there are artist/actors that go there today to train like Usher, Wesley Snipes. Many people who aren’t into boxing or going to the gym may not find interest in Gleason’s gym, but those who like to box or work out might want know about this particular gym or even decide go to Gleason’s Gym.

Gleason’s Gym first opened in 1937. The gym was founded by Peter Robert Gagliardi a former welterweight, who later in his career changed his name to Bobby Gleason. Today Gleason’s Gym is owned by Bruce Silverglade. When Gleason’s Gym first opened, the gym was located in the lower Bronx at 434 Westchester Avenue, near 149th Street and 3rd Avenue. In 1974, at age 82 Bobby Gleason decided to move the gym and moved to Manhattan. Gleason’s Gym was located at 252 W 30th Street. Where the gym was located began to change, the 30th Street building went co-op in 1984 and the gym was forced to find a new home. The gym moved to its current location, right under the Brooklyn Bridge on the Brooklyn side.

A friend, who is a boxer, and happens to train at Gleason’s Gym, is the reason I chose this place. I remember one day he mentioned to my friends and I that he was on the finals to fight for the Golden Glove tittle. The event was going to take place in Barclays Center and if we wanted tickets to witness his win we had to purchase them at Gleason’s gym. I immediately made my mind that I wanted to go but I had no idea how to get there. My plan to figure out the way to get there was look it up online and then afterwards I started my journey there. On my way there the walk was amazing, the view down from the gym was very delightful, you could spot the Brooklyn Bridge Park, you saw friendly people smiling, hotels, and many stores of all kind, restaurants, and the best view was the Brooklyn and Manhattan Bridge. Once I got there I looked up and in large letters you read “Gleason’s Gym” and under was a little door. I went up some narrow stairs, then there was two metal grey doors. On the right one said Gleason’s Gym so I went inside and it was a pretty big place with dark red walls. I personally thought the gym was going to be smaller, but I was wrong. There are four full size rings, and 10 heavy bags that still don’t take up space. This would be a magical place for all people who enjoying going to the gym, because there is a ton of assortment of free weights, stair machines, treadmills, stationary bicycles and common boxing equipment like speed bags, double end bags and jump ropes.

The neighborhood is so marvelous, new buildings around and so many stores around it, but then something else caught my attention. It was an old big Warehouse that stood out of the all contemporary buildings a good picture of juxtaposition. Juxtaposition is the fact that two things placed together are with contrasting effect, for this example the old and new or well maintained and in disrepair. Gleason’s Gym and all of the buildings around the neighborhood were all well maintained besides that big warehouse that was really old that was built in the late 1800’s.

Colson Whitehead states in City Limits “I was born here and thus ruined for anywhere else” I can relate to this because all of New York City is full of marvelous places like the location of Gleason’s Gym makes you fall in love with New York! I been to Pennsylvania, California, Mexico, and New Jersey no matter what other place. It’s nothing compares to New York for me like Whitehead says I am ruined to like any other place but New York. Another quote from City Limits “You start building your private New York the first time you lay eyes on it” what Whitehead stated, is true because when I first walked to Gleason’s Gym it was remarkable I still remember everything I walked by and seeing the colorful painting on the wall in York St and Washington St. Also able to see the Manhattan Bridge and the Brooklyn Bridge such a beautiful view and seeing the Brooklyn Bridge Park amazing! Inside Gleason’s Gym it was like everything I pictured a boxing gym like considering it as my first time entering a boxing gym ever! That when I added a new brick to my own private New York I wouldn’t leave it and definitely never forget it!

Works Cited:

 Whitehead, Colson. The Colossus of New York.2007. Print.