What Makes E'Ville Different

​

At 4:30 a.m., the gym is quiet other than the steady music overhead and the movement of the few other people getting their workout in before it is time for work. This is when E’Ville Fitness matters the most to Haley Kelly.

​

“I’m there at 4:30 a.m. every morning pretty much,” Kelly said, “it just keeps me sane, lifting and exercising.”

While most of the word is fast asleep, E’Ville is fulfilling its purpose of being a safe place and grounding component of members’ lives. This isn’t just a place to get a workout in. 

​

E’Ville s a locally owned gym in Edwardsville, IL. It has evolved after a transition in ownership in January 2025. Jared and Megan Roosa have continued to grow the facility while maintain the sense of familiarity that keeps members returning every week.

​

“Our members are generally great people, and you know you see the same people at the same time almost every day. Everyone is helpful too. There is always someone willing to help with a spot or form,” Jared Roosa said.

​

That level of consistency is what defines the culture inside E’Ville. Unlike a typical, corporate gym, E’Ville Fitness offers a quieter and more personal form of community. A community built on routine, recognition, and respect among members. 

Kelly describes the atmosphere as noticeably different from other gyms. “If you walk into a Planet Fitness at any time, you go there and it’s just overstimulation, but at E’Ville it’s very laid back, people from all different kinds of fitness backgrounds are there. The trainers are there at any time,” Kelly said. 

​

It isn’t just the people that differentiate E’Ville, but also how they interact with each other. In a 24/7 gym without an abundance of structured classes, connections and relationships between members are formed organically through familiarity and reliability. 

​

Even as the gym continues to grow, the foundation of E’Ville remains the same. Members don’t only show up for themselves but for others too. The gym has a different meaning to each member, however they all show up each and every visit for themselves and for their community. 

​

For trainers like Drew Dintelmann, a personal trainer operating out of E’Ville Fitness and owner of ATC Sports, the meaning of E’Ville transforms from routine to responsibility. 

​

“Gym businesses probably have one of the highest failure rates… there are ebbs and flows in my client’s lives,” Dintelmann said. 

​

Dintelmann works with a range of clients from middle school athletes to adults trying to improve their lives. Through these experiences, he sees firsthand the realities of the fitness industry. 

​

“People don’t understand how they gained weight in the first place. They’re looking for a reason and a solution, but there is no quick fix. You often need a lifestyle change… the first step is walking through those doors,” Dintelmann said.

​

In a consistent, patient, and supportive environment, like E’Ville, lifestyle changes can begin, especially with the help of personal trainers, like Drew Dintelmann, and supportive members, like Haley Kelly.

​

Whether it is a 4:30 a.m. workout alone or a 3 p.m. session with a trainer, E’Ville Fitness has become more than just a gym. It has evolved into a place for progress to be made one step at a time and community is created through shared experiences and familiarity.