Building Around the Clock: How 24e Health Clubs Redefined Fitness Access and Community

Photo (left to right): Wayne Alford, Owner, 24e Fitness; Adam Galey, Controller, 24e Fitness; and Sam Renta, President, Alliance Capital

Fifteen years ago, Wayne Alford opened the first 24e Health Club in Hoover, Alabama, with one goal in mind. “We wanted to create a gym that fits around people’s lives,” he says. That meant 24/7 access, every day of the year—something no other big-box gym in the area was offering at the time.

Today, 24e has six locations across Alabama, including a new, 30,000-square-foot flagship in Gardendale. “This club is a game-changer,” says Controller Adam Galey. “We went from 9,500 square feet to nearly 30,000, adding premium features like group training, dry saunas, a smoothie bar, childcare and pickleball courts.”

Building the Gardendale location from the ground up was a first. “We bought land from the city and a local church, combined it and designed everything from scratch,” Wayne says. “It took time, but we wanted it done right.”

Financing the project required the right partner. “We’ve worked with Sam Renta at Alliance Capital Corporation for over a decade,” Adam says. “He knew how to structure the SBA loan so we could go from a short-term lease concept to a long-term investment. That made the project possible.”

Despite pandemic setbacks, Sam helped secure a lender with fitness industry experience. “He knows our story,” Wayne adds. “And he knows how to help lenders see our growth.”

At its core, 24e is about accessibility, consistency and community. “Whether it’s a first responder stopping in at 3 a.m. or a family enjoying group training on a Saturday morning—we’ve built something people can count on,” Wayne says. “That’s what makes 24e different.”