Marketplace Rewrite: Shelmar Tennis and Fitness Club

  • By Denice Rovira Hazlett
  • September 12, 2012
  • 410
                        
Summary: Joe Lebovitz opened the Shelmar Tennis Club in Wooster as an investment in both the community and for his family. Now, more than 40 years later, it's back in the family and better than ever. Teaser: It was the early 1970s, just after tennis' Open Era gave pros the opportunity to truly make a career of the sport. Household names like Jimmy Conners and Bjorn Borg, Billie Jean King and Martina Navrátilová were the newest celebrities, rock stars with rackets. More and more families were hitting the courts, turning to tennis as a way to bond with one another. Joe Lebovitz saw it all happening, and he had a plan. Lebovitz, a well-loved entrepreneur, already owned and operated a successful family grocery and discount store on State Route 30, Value Center, before Sam Walton had even considered it. Lebovitz' daughter, Shelley Matteffs of Bath, Ohio, remembers working at the well-stocked discount store every Saturday alongside her sister, Marcia, mother, Rose, her aunt and cousins. She remembers how people would come in, not only to see what Lebovitz had in store, but to chat with the man himself. Kids, in particular, loved visiting Value Center, being greeted by the kind shop owner who always had a gentle word and a sweet treat to share. But Joe Lebovitz wasn't getting any younger, and he wanted to be sure his wife and daughters were financially secure after he was gone. So, Lebovitz came up with a plan that would provide for his family as well as serve the community for many years to come. Story: Shelmar Tennis was established in the early 1970's on a 200-acre piece of property along Mechanicsburg Road, just minutes from the College of Wooster and the north-side shopping district. It was, and still is, the only public indoor tennis facility in Wayne County, with affordable prices, a clean, friendly environment, and tennis professionals on-hand to give lessons and pointers. Shelmar Tennis Club was named after Lebovitz's two daughters, Shelley and Marcia. After Lebovitz passed away in 1980, the building that housed Shelmar was rented out and the business was run by other individuals. Now, more than 40 years later, Shelmar Tennis and Fitness Club is back in the family, run by Shelley Matteffs and her husband, Charles. Matteffs says that now, after teaching school, and working as a travel agent, she feels she has found her calling. "I always wanted a job where I could be with people," says Matteffs. "This is definitely people-oriented. I'm able to visit with guests and learn about their lives. I just wish I would have discovered how much fun this was 20 years ago." The Matteffs are thrilled that the facility is back in the family and are excited about the major changes and improvements they've made to Shelmar since reopening as both an indoor tennis club and, now, a fitness center, proudly offering everything from a brand new roof and carpeting throughout the facility, a fresh coat of paint on every wall, powerful cooling fans, all new lighting, completely renovated locker rooms with new shower stalls, and, the biggest addition, a bright, beautiful fitness room fully equipped with new, state-of-the-art cardio and Selectorize machines, a free weight workout area, three flat-screen televisions, and Wi-Fi access throughout the center. The premier tennis facility features four Grade A indoor courts, classes, lessons and clinics for all levels, and fall and winter USTA leagues for men and women. Shelmar also offers complete tennis services, including racket and equipment sales, repairs and restringing, and well as how-to demonstrations. "It's clean, convenient, and family-oriented," Shelley Matteffs says. "There's an upstairs lounge for meetings and parties, and there's always a friendly face at the front desk during business hours." What's more, their reasonable prices and variety of membership options are even more affordable since they charge no initiation fees and even offer special tennis rates on Fridays and Sundays. As for services, in addition to their warm smiles and friendly greetings, Shelmar Tennis and Fitness Club offers personal training and nutritional guidance, Boot Camp classes, sport-specific speed and agility training, yoga and Pilates, and can even accommodate extended hours upon request. Now that the Matteffs have put so much work into bringing Shelmar Tennis and Fitness Club back to its former glory, they look forward to someday passing it on to their own children, just as Joe and Rose Lebovitz would have wanted. "That was its original purpose," says Shelley Matteffs, "security for their children and a way to serve the community." Shelmar Tennis and Fitness Club is open Monday through Thursday 8:30 am to 9 pm, Friday from 8:30 am to 6 pm, and Saturday and Sunday from 8:30 am to 3 pm. For more information, visit the club at 1578 Mechanicsburg Road, call (330) 262-8100 or e-mail shelmartennis@aol.com.


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