Iron House Gym powers a new era of wellness in Weston

Lori Kaye Lodes

Contributor

January 5, 2026

WESTON – When entrepreneur and Weston resident Jeff Evenhouse sold his long-running medical waste business after COVID-19 reshaped the industry, he said he didn’t picture himself opening another business, much less two.

But the opportunity to give back to his hometown, Evenhouse said, steered him toward first building a health-forward cafe – the Weston House Cafe – and most recently, a purpose-built gym called Iron House Gym.

Today, Evenhouse said the two businesses share a building at the corner of Birch and Schofield avenues, and present a destination for all things health and wellness.

He said they also share the term “house” – a nod to his nickname growing up: “House.”

Take two

Evenhouse said the two ventures mark the second stage of his business career, which started with working for his dad’s medical waste business in 1989 and assuming ownership of it in 2001. 

During his tenure as its leader, Evenhouse said he grew the medical waste business from a two-person operation with a truck into a multistate operation running six trucks across five states.

Then, when COVID-19 hit, Evenhouse said demand surged – and that’s when he decided to pivot.

“It was a niche business, and with COVID-19, there was more demand than ever,” he said. “I did well with it but chose to sell the business to try to do something positive for the community and to give back.”

Designed for wellness

Evenhouse said he purchased the property and built the building on Schofield Avenue in Weston intending to offer both healthy food options and a gym. 

He said he envisioned a building with a street-facing cafe and a gym entrance at the back.

The cafe part of the vision, Evenhouse said, opened first, launching as Weston House Cafe in May 2024.

Since its opening, he said the cafe has become a go-to place for acai bowls, smoothies, protein shakes and a variety of healthy breakfast and lunch items. 

“It’s most well known for its build-your-own acai bowls, but there are smoothies and shakes and people are really loving it,” he said.

Though the cafe’s customer base grew, realizing the vision for the gym, Evenhouse said, took longer than expected and involved several twists and turns.

Fortunately, he said his prior experience as a business owner helped him stay the course.

When an initial lease with a CrossFit tenant fell through, Evenhouse said he had to quickly develop a plan B.

After a local weightlifting gym closed, Evenhouse said he seized the chance to purchase its memberships and move forward with the gym he had envisioned behind his building.

Certain challenges, however, like issues with the gym software, caused delays in promoting the new facility.

While preparing to open, Evenhouse said he built the gym according to his vision, featuring polished floors, hexagonal lighting and top-quality equipment to create a welcoming atmosphere for the public starting in November.

He said he prioritized an intentional design with an open floor plan that allows ample space for lifting, cardio and functional training without feeling crowded.

Evenhouse said the expansive gym offers a wide array of equipment, from cardio machines – like treadmills, ellipticals, bikes, a stepmill, climbmill and rowers – to strength machines, including leg press, chest, shoulder, lats and pec fly/rear delt. 

He said it also includes a functional training area, free weights, benches, a mezzanine training zone, modern locker rooms with showers and a sauna planned to open in January.

Evenhouse said a single door connects the gym to the cafe, giving members the convenience of stopping by for a snack or placing an order from their phone while working out.

“We have a table with a menu in the gym, and if they tell us they’re in the gym, the cafe worker can bring their order right over,” he said. “The whole idea is that a person can have a good workout and then the cafe and healthier options so they can live a healthier life.”

Mind, body and spirit

Evenhouse said Iron House is more than a gym – but represents his philosophy of holistic wellness.

The flags flying outside the building, he said, emphasize mind, body and spirit, underscoring his belief in the importance of nurturing all three.

“It’s not just [taking care] of your body that’s important,” he said.

And as a faith-based business, Evenhouse said he considers Iron House Gym a place to connect, encourage and grow together within a community.

“I’m looking to create a community of good people who are like-minded in improving themselves in mind, body and spirit,” he said. “We have a great community already.”

Evenhouse said he’s eager to expand the gym’s reach with targeted marketing aimed at the Greater Wausau area, introduce new classes – such as HIIT, Pilates, HYDROX and aerobics – open the sauna to members and staff the 24/7 gym during peak hours in the morning and late afternoon/evening.

Collectively, he said, these additions will enhance the gym’s existing high-end amenities and attract more members. 

Evenhouse said he places a strong focus on keeping the gym clean, inviting and well maintained, which he views as major selling points.

“We currently have about 200 members, and we hope to double that in the next year,” he said. “We have a lot of space for more members.”

Throughout the process of launching the gym, Evenhouse said he has remained driven by the same principle that sparked the project: creating something lasting.

He said that’s the result of several people’s hard work, including Gym Manager Riaan Gobler, Cafe Manager Maddie Hessey, the gym’s co-manager and several other team members.

“I had a vision for how I want this to be, and we’re making it happen,” he said. “My personality is to work hard and get it done. I have sacrificed several things these past few years to put this together, and it’s really turning out.”

For more details, head to ironhousegymwi.com.