SWEATSHOP (SAINT PAUL, MINN.):

Inspired by Jane Fonda's workout book in 1981, Gayle Winegar founded the SweatShop Health Club shortly after in the Loring Park neighborhood of Minneapolis in 1982. The fitness center expanded to six locations, including Rochester, Minnesota. With the financial support of philanthropists Sage and John Cowles, Winegar purchased a site at the intersection of Snelling and Selby in St. Paul, Minnesota in 1991, and consolidated the fitness center operations into one site.

The SweatShop's training and health programs focused on women's empowerment, health, and body positivity. In 1999, the club received national attention for its Real Swimsuit Calendar, which parodied the annual Sports Illustrated swimsuit publication. Winegar's programming helped train and mentor some 1,800 personal trainers and pilates instructors, many who went on to serve celebrity clientele.

In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic brought restrictions and challenges to the fitness club. Despite its efforts to adapt with virtual classes and other programming, its staff was reduced to a third of its size, and the business continued to struggle with staffing shortages and staff burnout. In August 2022, Winegar decided to sell the business to Paster Properties, and the last classes were held in December 2022.

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Availability:

The collection is open for research use.

Preferred Citation:

[Indicate the cited item and/or series here]. SweatShop. Organizational Records. Minnesota Historical Society.

See the Chicago Manual of Style for additional examples.

Accession Information:

Accession number: 17,971

Processing Information:

Processed by: Leif Kopietz, September 2024

Catalog ID number: 9989864740204294

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This collection is indexed under the following headings in the catalog of the Minnesota Historical Society. Researchers desiring materials about related topics, persons or places should search the catalog using these headings.

Topics:

Bathing suits -- Calendars.

Body image -- Calendars.

Health -- Calendars.

Physical fitness -- Social aspects.

Physical fitness centers -- Marketing.

Pilates method.

Aerobic exercises.

Aerobic dancing.

Physical education and training.

Persons:

Cowles, Sage.

Winegar, Gayle, author.

Zimmern, Andrew, author.

Document Types:

Photographs.

Titles:

Health and fitness.

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