Reliable textual(attrs) Quads Gym was founded when Dave De Young and Tom Milanovich, childhood friends, shared the same dream. Tom, Dave, and a third childhood friend opened a gym for their friends, colleagues, and relatives to work out, get stronger, and compete with each other. Quads Gym was started in Tom's basement. In 1979, it became a tiny storefront near their gym. Despite its size, Quads Gym was an engaging, vibrant, and community-focused place to be. They became some of the best friends in the world, and many of those from the “Land of the Giants”—the first-generation of bodybuilders that trained and worked out at Quads Gym—kept in touch. This was where champions came to work hard. In 1988, Chicago opened its second location, which boasted 40,000 sq ft and 115 cardio machines, five full sets of dumbbells, kettle bells, and 45 Hammer Strength machines. In addition, there were hundreds of unique Cybex, Paramount, and Nebula machines, along with the Strength Inc., Elite Systems, and Sports Art machines that are rarely found in gyms. In addition to boards, chains, and farmers' walk handles, there were only around. This made it possible to add boxing, Pilates, and mixed martial arts. The new generation of bodybuilders were excited to train here.
