SETS Brings Successful New Jersey Fitness Concept To New Tampa 

The only Florida location of SETS Hybrid Training gyms is set to open and host fitness classes by the end of this month. 

Located in the Pebble Creek Collection, less than two miles south of the Pasco/Hillsborough county line on Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd.), SETS New Tampa is bringing a successful New Jersey-based fitness concept to New Tampa. 

Owner and New Jersey native Phil Diaz has worked with SETS for the last four years. Phil believes in the concept so much that he left everything behind in his home state to introduce SETS to Florida. 

SETS currently has 12 locations, including three corporate locations in Jersey. All of the other locations are franchises, including seven in the Garden State, one in Murfreesboro, TN, and the new one in New Tampa. 

“It’s a growing company that has only been around since about 2015,” says Diaz. “It’s super successful.” 

He says that with a caveat, though. SETS isn’t growing quite as fast as some other franchises and he says that’s because all franchise owners also are required to be on-site managers. 

That means owners, including Phil, have to be in the gym ensuring that members get what they need, and the facility is more than just a moneymaker for some off-site investor. 

That fits with the SETS philosophy, which emphasizes relationships among those who work out together. 

“The biggest thing we do that is different is that we’re very big into community,” says Phil. 

That’s why SETS New Tampa will be hosting a happy hour every month for members, an annual Christmas party and organize teams to participate in local events, such as Spartan (obstacle course)races. 

“It’s super competitive,” Phil says of SETS and its members, “but it’s fun as well. It’s more than just working out.” 

The community is bigger than just the gym members, too. Phil says public servants, such as those who work for fire and police departments, in health care, education, and active duty and military veterans receive discounts on membership. 

Of his decision to move to our area, Phil says, “It was the greatest decision of my life. I love this place. It’s amazing.” 

In scoping out Florida locations to grow SETS, he considered many options, including Clearwater and St. Petersburg. 

“New Tampa was the choice because we fell in love,” he says. “Looking at the demographics, we see the growth in this area and love how everything in (nearby) Wesley Chapel is new.” 

While he recognizes the New Tampa location isn’t convenient for many Wesley Chapel residents, he hopes to open a total of three locations in the first three years he’s here, so people in our reading area who don’t feel they live close enough to the New Tampa SETS may end up with a location closer to them in the near future. 

Fitness For Everyone 

SETS offers its group fitness classes several times a day. Each class is completely different, so you’ll never be bored. Free weights and machines are used in the group fitness setting. 

“Many people get intimidated because they think it’s just for a certain type of athlete or for fitness gurus,” Phil explains. “But, we’re literally for everyone. Some of our members are college athletes, others just got out of surgery or are in their 60s and haven’t been in a gym before.” 

To be able to accommodate people at every level, Phil and other coaches are always happy to demonstrate modifications for every exercise or movement. There’s always an advanced way for serious athletes to perform each exercise, Phil says, and a safer way for beginners and those who are rehabbing an injury. 

“Some people always get nervous trying it out,” Phil explains of SETS, “but I want them to feel relief because we are always happy to scale it down so they can feel comfortable.” 

Once you join SETS, classes are booked through the SETSBuilt app. Each class lasts 50-55 minutes, and Phil promises that the sessions “sell themselves.” 

“Every day is totally different,” he explains. “We change the movement up so it’s never the same. It could be leg day, full body day, or chest day, but it’s always a good mix of strength and cardio.” 

Many Membership Options 

SETS New Tampa offers a number of different types of memberships, but Phil says most members choose the unlimited classes option. He says the majority of members will take three to five classes each week, while some work out every day and others only take one or two classes a week. 

“You come whenever you’re available,” Phil says. “All you have to do is go on the app and save yourself a spot.” 

Phil wants you to come in and try it out, so he offers specials for those who just want to give it a try. Give him a call or stop in at the location to learn more about free trial classes. 

One major perk of SETS New Tampa is that there are no long-term contracts. Each membership is paid on a monthly basis and only a 30-day notice is required if you decide you need to cancel. 

The SETS New Tampa Grand Opening will be held on Saturday, April 27, featuring a number of vendors, classes and a ribbon cutting ceremony. 

Since it hadn’t opened yet when this issue went to press, no members of the New Tampa SETS were ready to tell us about their experience yet. However, there are SETS members in New Jersey who miss Phil and hope that people in the New Tampa/Wesley Chapel area will take advantage of the opportunity to join SETS and work out with him. 

Brianna Schoeneberg is a SETS member in Barnegat, NJ. She says she first met Phil a couple years ago when he started working at the SETS gym where she trains. 

“I’ve been working out for about 10 years now,” she says, “and he’s been one of the best. The energy is always high and any type of modification you need, he has it. And he’s literally one of the friendliest guys ever.” 

Brianna says that when she travels, she visits lots of different gyms but she always prefers to come back to her home gym. 

“It’s more about community and your personal goals,” Brianna says. “Every coach is positive and high energy, and the classes are never the same.” 

Brianna says she loves the hybrid training format and that it works for all fitness levels. Club members are a strong community, but include a wide variety of ages and abilities. 

Brianna thinks Phil will be able to bring the same positivity, energy, and focus on community to SETS New Tampa. 

“Everyone here loved him but we’re super happy for him on the journey’s he’s taking,” Brianna says. “It’s a big thing to move from Jersey to Florida to start something new, but it’s pretty cool that he’s taking it to Tampa. I feel like everyone there is lucky to have him, because we miss him here in Jersey.” 

Phil is excited to be able to offer pre-opening members of SETS New Tampa a “Founder’s Rate” of just $129 per month for unlimited classes, with no enrollment fee, and free classes until the end of April. 

He notes that the Founder’s Rate is for unlimited classes, although SETS New Tampa also does offer other membership levels for those who don’t necessarily want or need unlimited sessions. 

SETS New Tampa Hybrid Training is located at 19651 Bruce B. Downs Blvd., Suite E-6, in the Pebble Creek Collection. For more information, visit SETSBuilt.com, @sets_newtampa on Instagram, “SETS NEW TAMPA” on Facebook.