The Rock Lands In Astoria
By Seth Wharton

Photo Seth Wharton Tony Maniscalco stands before the eponymous climbing wall that gives The Rock its name.

Prior to standing derelict for 17 years the building at 22-15 31st St. in Astoria had been a roller rink and a bowling alley; now it's been brought back to life as one of the largest fitness clubs in Queens.

Beyond simply being large—the Rock Health and Fitness Club is 30,000 square feet in area—-the club makes good use of the space with a roster of services, classes and equipment like few other clubs in Queens. "You rarely find a health club that has all the services wrapped up in one," says General Manager Anthony Maniscalco.

Maniscalco can't overstate The Rock's inclusiveness. Perhaps the most impressive piece of equipment included in the litany of perks is the club's namesake: a 30-foot-tall indoor rock climbing wall.

It was just one of the items the owners knew they wanted to offer, one that no one else in the area offered. And the owners took great care to see that they developed a club that not only rivaled other clubs in the city, but also provided a workout like no other.

"The energy in here between 5 and 9 p.m. is just amazing," Maniscalco says, alluding to the nearly 1,400 members the club has already garnered in its first month of operation who flood the facility in the evening to enjoy a live D.J. while burning calories and toning muscle.

Some members are busy learning the ropes, literally, in the club’s full-size boxing ring. Led by former Golden Gloves Boxer and co-owner Tommy Demaras, the boxing classes have drawn a regular crowd of men and women alike.

"There's nothing like stepping into a boxing ring," Maniscalco points out. The popularity of the class seems to bear out that sentiment. The club also teaches kick boxing.

While the boxing ring is tucked away in its own room, right outside is the largest collection of free weights to be offered in Astoria in 12 years. Members work their way through the free weights, take on the hammer strength gear or take advantage of the full line of brand new cardiovascular equipment in the Cardio Theater. A set of headphones is all the runner needs to listen to any one of several large televisions while pushing out those last few miles on the treadmill. It helps also that mothers and fathers who bring kids with them can check in on the kids periodically via the televisions while a licensed child-care specialist provides personal attention.

The facility’s owners culled its amenities from close study of other such facilities and trips to the West Coast for seminars on creating and running a gym. The owners—guys from the neighborhood, as Maniscalco describes them—worked hard to make a gym that not only clients would like, but also one they themselves would enjoy. They've been working out for years themselves, he said, so Phillip DePippo, Andrew and Peter Latos, Tommy Demaras and Stergios Tallides knew what the serious athlete would want in a gym.

Anyone serious about working out knows that the weights, the cardiovascular equipment, the rock climbing wall, the dance studio and boxing ring are quite a lot, but a truly unique gym would address the full body experience. The Rock does just that.

The Rock has begun construction on a full-service spa located in front of the gym and a health food store downstairs for just that reason. Never let it be said Astoria lacks a gym that does it all.