Gaetano's served lemon chicken, turkey meatballs and wraps among the spread inside Koko FitClub during the 447 Monroe Turnpike business's grand opening celebration Thursday, on an evening when nobody went hungry.
Under a tent in the parking lot outside, bags of donations for the Monroe Food Pantry piled up.
Koko FitClub's owners, husband and wife Jeff and Amy Pressman decided to encourage residents attending the event to bring non-perishable food donations for the pantry.
"It's a fantastic event," said Wendy Jolls, director of the pantry. "Amy and Jeff are huge supporters of the food pantry. Both have visited and they're planning to have more events to benefit the pantry — and we can use the help."
Monroe Chamber of Commerce President Raymond Giovanni was happy to see Koko FitClub include a food drive as part of its grand opening.
"It speaks to their community-mindedness as a family-owned business," he said.
Giovanni said the Pressmans joined the chamber several months before the building was ready for their fit club to open.
Teri Rotella of Monroe is a member of the club.
"It's like working with a personal trainer all the time," Rotella said of the smart workout machines. "It's based on the individual. It's just a whole new way of exercising."
During the event fit coaches gave demonstrations on how to use the machines and children crowded around Bryan Lizotte of Magic Moments as he made balloon art for them.
At a table near the front entrance, Jason Moon, owner of Nuvita Frozen Yogurt & Cafe at Clock Tower Square, used a blender to make tangerine smoothies.
Koko FitClub's grand opening culminated with a ribbon cutting ceremony.
"It was fabulous," Amy Pressman said of the crowd the event attracted. "It was beyond our expectations."
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