Inside Char

Oct 12

By The Char Fitness Club team

From the street, Char Fitness Club doesn't look like much, and that's partly the point. Here's a look at what's behind the door at 8 Hartley Street: the space, the art on the walls, the classes we run and the small details people ask about before their first visit.

Members training on the turf inside the Char Fitness Club gym in Montclair, NJ

Behind the auto shop on Hartley Street

We're at 8 Hartley St., Unit A + B, Montclair, NJ 07042, just steps from Bloomfield Ave. You may have driven past without noticing us. We're tucked behind the auto shop on one-way Hartley Street.

Getting in is simple. Park on Hartley St., Washington St. or Bloomfield Ave, take a short walk, and come in through our step-free entrance.

6,000 square feet of turf

Inside is a 6,000-square-foot turf facility. That's plenty of room for a full class to move freely, and it means we train indoors all year round, whatever a New Jersey winter is doing outside.

The murals

The first thing you'll notice is the art. Our murals are by local artist Harun Zankel. Outside, the mural out front by Harun Zankel has bright, interlocking letters, and another wall carries a sweeping grey-and-white script next to the CHAR sign.

They're the easiest way to find us. If you can see the murals, you're in the right place. You can see more of Harun's work at harunletters.com.

Four classes, one approach

Every class at Char is coached. We don't have open-gym hours, so you always know someone has planned the session and is watching your form. You book through the Mindbody app, and classes run 45 to 60 minutes.

The Trilogy. All-in-one training: strength, conditioning and recovery in one session, with balanced programming that works every system. It's our most popular class, and it's included in memberships.
Strength. Weight training with a focus on form. It builds muscle, supports bone health and helps prevent injury, and it scales to any experience level.
Sweat (Conditioning). Cardio and high-intensity intervals to build stamina and heart health. The aim is to leave energized, not drained.
Stretch (Recovery + Mobility). Guided mobility and flexibility work to reduce soreness and improve posture. It's essential for long-term training.

What ties them together is functional training: a thoughtful mix of weights, HIIT and conditioning that carries over into everyday life, from carrying groceries to keeping up with your kids. Every workout comes with modifications, and we don't use barbells in our HIIT workouts.

Why we cap classes at 12

A class of 12 is big enough to have energy and small enough for a coach to know everyone in it. That's the whole reason for the cap. It means form corrections happen during the set, not after it, and a modification for a sore knee doesn't get lost in a crowd.

Members notice. As one put it in a Google review:

"Never been super into weights/strength work but they make it fun and focus on form/form correction more than any similar classes I've taken." — Calla Murphy

The practical stuff

The questions people ask before their first visit:

Lockers and changing rooms: yes.
Restrooms: two.
Showers: no, so plan accordingly if you're heading straight to work.
Drinks: we have beverages available (water, BODYARMOR, protein drinks and more), plus tap water.
Accessibility: the entrance is step-free.

Beyond group classes

Not everyone wants a group class, at least not every time. We also offer:

1:1 personal training, built entirely around your goals, whether that's recovering from an injury, getting ready for tennis or golf season, or staying strong as you age.
Buddy sessions for two or three people training together.
Small group sessions for four to seven.
Team sessions for groups of eight or more.

Locally owned since 2021

Char has been locally owned and operated in Montclair since 2021. The community helped us open our doors and backed us through our renovations, and that's still the feeling we want people to have when they walk in: everyone is welcome, beginners included.