“He helps me stay in shape,” says the all-star infielder. “When you want the best, you deal with the best.”
Same with Boston Bruins Stanley Cup captain Patrice Bergeron and sure-handed New England Patriots receiver Rob Gronkowski. They both swear by Aykanian and the fitness arena he has created throughout New England.
It’s not only the athletic world but others like Aerosmith guitarist and singer Joe Perry. He’s quick to tell you that Aykanian “takes care of me.”
“The only thing he doesn’t do is lift the weights for you,” added Perry.
Aykanian is a byproduct of his own experience. In between his own daily jaunts and workouts, he finds the time to operate not one but six physical fitness outlets. As owner of Precision Fitness Equipment, he touches all parameters and VIPs.
Other names that carry his products are cellist Yo-Yo Ma, ageless crooner Tony Bennett, actor Adam Sandler, and Steven Tyler, another Aerosmith entertainer.
Politicians jump aboard Aykanian’s bandwagon with people like ex-Massachusetts governors Mitt Romney and William Weld, along with Attorney General Martha Cloakley.
“We used to sell to Whitey Bulger, too,” Aykanian admitted.
The most notorious criminal in Boston history who was captured this year after evading justice for two decades?
“In the early 90s, James ‘Whitey’ Bulger would frequent our store and purchase chrome dumbbells,” Aykanian recalled. “Some of the products would be special order and we would call him at his check-cashing business in Dorchester. He’d show up with one of his big associates to see how much weight they could lift.”
Whitey did much of his business with Aykanian’s associate Steve Nahabedian. The two go back to their Camp Haiastan days during the 1970’s and have been a business duo ever since.
“Bulger would brag to Steve about the time he had spent in Alcatraz back in the 60s,” said Aykanian. “He would show off his Alcatraz belt buckle.”
Those who attended Camp Haiastan back a generation ago remember Aykanian as a dishwasher and hardly the sort that would manage 6 fitness stores, 23 employees, and a core management team that averages 19 years in seniority.
The partnership with Garabedian spills out into the Armenian community, where they are members of the Holy Translators Church in Framingham. Its pastor, Der Krikor Sabounjian, is also a client. Both were active AYFers with the Framingham chapter.
“We’re both very active with local charities and give back to the community every year,” Aykanian maintained. “We’re a corporate sponsor at ALMA and donate to local Armenian churches, the Abaka Dance School, and Armenian Heritage Park.”
Aykanian showed up at Fenway Park this past fall with TV sports personality Bob Lobel by his side. The two were there for a Heritage Park fundraiser that raised $100,000 in endowment money.
Lobel bought a treadmill from Aykanian back in 1993 and the two hit it off immediately.
“Around that time, we started advertising on WBZ radio and I asked Lobel to endorse our company,” recalled Aykanian. “We started advertising on ‘Calling All Sports’ and our business started to take off. We’ve become very good friends over the years and talk on a daily basis.”
Lobel suffers from a degenerate muscle disorder that finds him on crutches these days. He remains indebted to Aykanian for the rehab equipment that’s been provided and all the moral and physical support that’s been included.
“I owe him a lot,” Lobel was quick to admit.
Around the same time, Massachusetts House Speaker George Keverian called for a treadmill. He visited the Natick store and the two chatted about diet and exercise, hoping to shed much of that obesity.
“Keverian told me he really wanted to lose weight and had grown very frustrated,” Aykanian remembered. “We delivered the treadmill and he would call periodically to give me updates. He came to us because we were an Armenian-owned business. He generally wanted us to be successful and said he would refer other business to us. He was always very nice to me.”
Aykanian’s connection with the fitness world appeared self-ingrained. He started running road races in the early 80s and suffered a knee injury that required surgery. He was unable to run during the rehab and purchased an exercise bike from a department store.
The bike broke down after a week and he exchanged it for another, only to have that one malfunction a few days later.
“I immediately envisioned the concept of a high-end fitness equipment specialty retail store,” he brought out. “The plan was to have a showroom and also provide delivery and service.”
Aykanian found a small fitness equipment retailer in Hartford, Conn., and asked the owner if he could work for him with the intent of opening a store in Massachusetts. The year was 1987 and Aykanian spent it in Connecticut learning the business from the ground up.
The following year, he contacted his good friend Nahabedian, a competitive runner with a healthy lifestyle. They opened their first store together that November and never stopped growing. Along came a second store two years later, followed by a third outlet in 1993.
Both Armenian entrepreneurs spent the next 15 years building one of the most respected fitness equipment companies in the industry. In 2008 came the first of two New Hampshire stores. The company also has a commercial division that outfits schools, apartment complexes, municipalities, hospitals, and corporate fitness centers.
The stories keep coming. Not long ago, Aykanian received a phone call from someone who wanted an elliptical machine delivered to his yacht docked in Newport, R.I. Tony Bennett needed it the very next day before setting sail. Job done.
The singing Taylor brothers (James and Livingston) stopped by the shop and wanted a treadmill shipped to Martha’s Vineyard. Mission accomplished.
Money talks, especially if you’re a billionaire like Bertil Hult.
“He had a home that we outfitted in Cambridge,” smiled Aykanian. “He really liked our company and wanted us to outfit some of his other homes. We explained that we only sell and set up in New England.”
Hult wasn’t to be denied. He offered to fly the entire delivery crew to Marbella (Spain) and Stockholm (Sweden). All expenses paid.
“We took him up on the offer,” he said.
Aykanian is back running. He hits the trails at 5:30 a.m., putting in 30-35 miles a week, complementing that with strength training 3 times a week to keep his core strong. Evenings represent family time with a six-year-old daughter at play.
“My life is about consistency and routine,” he said. “Nutrition is just as important as exercise. I try to eat healthy and stay hydrated by drinking up to a gallon of water each day. There should be no overweight Armenians provided they stick with the basics and follow a good routine.”
Tom Vartabedian
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