How It All Started
Look, I'm not gonna feed you some perfect origin story. Back in 2019, I was just tired of seeing people waste their time at commercial gyms doing half-reps on machines while scrolling Instagram. There had to be a better way.
I started Varenth Forge in a 1200 sq ft warehouse space with some bumper plates, a couple bars, and zero clue about running a business. What I did have was 15 years of coaching experience and a stubborn belief that strength training shouldn't be complicated or intimidating.
The name? Varenth comes from an old family name meaning "forged in fire" - seemed fitting since we're literally building stronger versions of ourselves here every day. Plus it sounds way cooler than "Mike's Gym" or whatever.
We've grown a lot since those early days. Moved locations twice, brought on some killer coaches who actually know their stuff, and built a community that genuinely gives a damn about each other's progress. Still feels surreal sometimes.
What hasn't changed? We're still all about getting real results through solid programming, proper technique, and showing up consistently. No gimmicks, no 6-week transformations, no BS.
"Every person who walks through that door is starting their own story. Our job is just to make sure they've got the right tools and support to write it themselves."
- Marcus Chen, Founder & Head Coach
Our Journey
2019 - The Beginning
October 2019
Opened our first spot with just 8 members and a dream. Literally ran everything myself - coaching, cleaning, admin, you name it. Lost like 15 pounds that first month just from stress and never sitting down.
2020 - Growth Through Chaos
March - December 2020
Yeah, we launched right before COVID. Perfect timing, right? Had to pivot fast - set up outdoor training in parking lots, did virtual coaching sessions. Our members stuck with us though, which honestly kept us alive. Hit 50 members by year end somehow.
2021 - Expansion
June 2021
Moved to a 3500 sq ft facility on Granville. Finally had room for proper Olympic lifting platforms and brought on our first two coaches - Sarah and Tommy. Game changer having people who actually knew what they were doing helping out.
2022 - Competition Level
Year-round 2022
Started hosting local lifting meets and had our first members compete at provincial level. Added nutrition coaching because turns out you can't out-train a crappy diet (who knew?). Membership hit 120 people.
2023 - Team Building
January - December 2023
Brought the coaching team up to six people, all with legit certifications and competition experience. Added InBody scanners and started doing quarterly body comp checks. Realized I could actually take a day off occasionally.
2024 - Community Focus
Full Year 2024
Launched our athletic performance program for local sports teams. Started member socials and workshops. Hit 200+ members. Built a legit community where people actually show up for each other, not just their workouts.
2025 - The Future
Current
Still figuring it out day by day. Got some big plans for advanced programming tracks and maybe another location eventually. But honestly? Just focused on keeping this place somewhere people genuinely want to be.
