When a young Mr. America winner named Red Lerille opened his health and racquet club in Lafayette in 1963, it was the fulfillment of a lifelong dream to help people get fit, stay active and find community.
His dream grew bigger than anyone could have imagined. Over the decades, Red’s has expanded with indoor and outdoor racquet courts, pools, multiple workout areas, two cafes, a nursery and kids’ workout space, and a parking lot for more than 700 cars. It’s always full.
Last month, Red’s newest expansion opened to members — a 15,571 square foot, two-story, women’s only gym and locker room. The new building fronts Doucet Road where a Shop Rite convenience store used to be located, and puts a new face on the Lerille family’s philosophy — always pursue change and improvement.
It’s quite a change for Red’s female members, who previously had access to a smaller ladies’ only gym and locker room. This improvement comes with rows of brand-new treadmills, ellipticals and other cardio machines, an open space for stretching, and a whole floor of versatile weight training equipment…