OyChicago articles

For the past few years I’ve been working out at a small gym down the street from my condo. It’s intimate in size, everyone is nice, each machine has its own personal TV and they offer free apples at the door. It turns out my gym, Wicker Park Fitness, is co-owned by Chicagoan Dave Goldman and his partner Mason Goldberg, who’ve been best friends since 7th grade. Who said Jews can’t be athletic!

Dave and his partner are currently in the process of opening a new gym in the Southport Corridor just steps from the brown line. Recently, Dave took a few minutes from his busy schedule— the new gym is scheduled to be open by March 1— to answer our 8 questions.

So whether you love to workout, want to meet Genghis Khan, or dream of traveling to South Africa, Dave Goldman is A Jew You Should Know!

What is your favorite blog or website?
Tmz or Perezhilton. I like the gossip sites.

If time and money were limitless, where would you travel?
Cape town, South Africa. I’d love to go to Seal Island off the coast of South Africa, too. I’m very into sharks and nature. I love National Geographic and travel shows.

If a movie was made about your life, who would play you?
Mark Wahlberg

If you could have a meal with any two people, living or dead, famous or not, who would they be?
My grandfather would be the first one because I loved being around him and seeing him again would be an extra bonus. For the other person, I’d love to meet someone from way back in the past. Just to see what life was like for them. [Someone] like Genghis Khan. Life must have been so different. We stress about parking spots…they had to stress about surviving each day and fighting for land and territory.

What's your idea of the perfect day?
Walking into the gym at 6pm and no one is waiting for a treadmill at a peak hour and everyone is happy.

What do you love about what you do?
Honestly, I love what I do and have been doing this for 17 years. The gym serves a really healthy need. Seeing people do something positive for themselves is a great feeling. You’d have to dig very hard to find something negative about this job. I’m serving a good need.

What job would you have had if not the one you have now?
A professional athlete. Golfer or tennis player.

What's your favorite Jewish thing to do in Chicago?
Eat at a Jewish deli like Manny’s.