Boston's fitness guru Aykanian equips top stars

by Tom Vartabedian

Published: Monday January 02, 2012

David Aykanian with Boston Bruins star Patrice Bergeron.

Boston - Take it from Boston Red Sox stalwart Dustin Pedoria. If you want to stay on top of your fitness game, seek out David Aykanian.

"He helps me stay in shape," says the all-star infielder. "When you want the best, you deal with the best."

Same with Boston Bruins Stanley Cup captain Patrice Bergeron and sure-handed New England Patriots receiver Rob Gronkowski. They both swear by Aykanian and the fitness arena he has created throughout New England.

It's not only the athletic world but others like Aerosmith guitarist and singer Joe Perry. He's quick to tell you that Aykanian "takes care of me."

"The only thing he doesn't do is lift the weights for you," added Perry.

Aykanian is a byproduct of his own experience. In between his own daily jaunts and workouts, he manages to find the time to operate not one but six physical fitness outlets. As owner of Precision Fitness Equipment, he touches all parameters and VIPs.

Other names that carry his products are world cellist Yo-Yo Ma, ageless crooner Tony Bennett, actor Adam Sandler and Steven Tyler, another Aerosmith entertainer.

Politicians jump aboard Aykanian's bandwagon with people like ex-Massachusetts governors Mitt Romney and William Weld, along with Attorney General Martha Cloakley.

"We used to sell to Whitey Bulger, too," Aykanian admitted.

The most notorious criminal in Boston history who was captured this year after evading justice for two decades?

"In the early 90s, James "Whitey" Bulger would frequent our store and purchase chrome dumbbells," Aykanian recalled. "Some of the products would be special order and we would call him at his check-cashing business in Dorchester. He'd show up with one of his big associates to see how much weight they could lift on the gyms."

Whitey did much of his business with Aykanian's associate Steve Nahabedian. The two go back to their Camp Haiastan days during the 1970s and have been a business duo ever since.

"Bulger would brag to Steve about the time he had spent in Alcatraz back in the 60s," said Aykanian. "He would show off his Alcatraz belt buckle."

Those who attended Camp Haiastan back a generation ago remember Aykanian as a dishwasher and hardly the sort that would manage six fitness stores, 23 employees and a core management team that averages 19 years in seniority.

The partnership with Garabedian spills out into the Armenian community where they are members of Holy Translators Church in Framingham. Its pastor Der Krikor Sabounjian is also a client. Both were active AYFers with the Framingham Chapter.

"We're both very active with local charities and give back to the community every year," Aykanian maintained. "We're a corporate sponsor at ALMA and donate to local Armenian churches, Abaka Armenian School and Armenian Heritage Park."

Aykanian showed up at Fenway Park this past fall with TV sports personality Bob Lobel by his side. The two were there for a Heritage Park fundraiser which raised $100,000 in endowment money.

Lobel bought a treadmill from Aykanian back in 1993 and the two hit it off immediately.

"Around that time, we started advertising on WBZ radio and I asked Lobel to endorse our company," recalled Aykanian. "We started advertising on ‘Calling All Sports' and our business started to take off. We've become very good friends over the years and talk on a daily basis."

Lobel suffers from a degenerate muscle disorder which finds him on crutches these days. He remains indebted to Aykanian for the rehab equipment that's been provided and all the moral and physical support that's been included.

"I owe him a lot," Lobel was quick to admit.

Around the same time, Massachusetts House Speaker George Keverian called for a treadmill, He visited the Natick store and the two chatted about diet and exercise, hoping to shed much of that obesity.

"Keverian told me he really wanted to lose weight and had grown very frustrated," Aykanian remembered. "We delivered the treadmill and he would call periodically to give me updates. He came to us because we were an Armenian-owned business. He generally wanted us to be successful and said he would refer other business to us. He was always very nice to me."

Aykanian's connection with the fitness world appeared self-ingrained. He started running road races in the early 80s and suffered a knee injury that required surgery. He was unable to run during the rehab and purchased an exercise bike from a department store.

The bike broke down after a week and he exchanged it for another, only to have that one malfunction a few days later.

"I immediately envisioned the concept of a high-end fitness equipment specialty retail store," he brought out. "The plan was to have a showroom and also provide delivery and service."

Aykanian found a small fitness equipment retailer in Hartford, Conn., and asked the owner if he could work for him with the intent of opening a store in Massachusetts. The year was 1987 and Aykanian spent it in Connecticut learning the business from the ground up.

The following year, he contacted his good friend Nahabedian, a competitive runner with a healthy lifestyle. They opened their first store together that November and never stopped growing. Along came a second store two years later, followed by a third outlet in 1993.