Hustle Strength & Performance gym expected to expand into Itasca June 14

Hustle Strength & Performance is expanding into Itasca, with expectations of opening a new location in the village on June 14.

The location at 419 W. Irving Park Road would be the second for the Addison-based gym after owner Anthony D'Astice purchased the space from its former occupants, MGL Construction and Remodeling, Inc. Hustle is a fitness facility that specializes in small group personal training, 1-on-1 personal training and nutrition coaching for busy adults and young athletes.

The 900-square-foot location will operate Monday through Friday, 5 to 10 a.m. and 3 to 8 p.m. (closing at 6 p.m. on Fridays), and Saturdays, 8 to 11 a.m.

"I learned a lot from the business side of things," D'Astice said. "I learned it's so important to surround yourself with the right people that help you succeed."

D'Astice grew up in Addison and graduated from Western Illinois University with a bachelor's in kinesiology, playing as a linebacker for its football team on a scholarship. He worked in various gyms in Carol Stream, Roselle, Bloomingdale and Addison as a personal trainer before founding Hustle in 2016.

While the Addison location holds up to 20 members for 45 minutes for the group exercise sessions, the Itasca location is expected to have a maximum of nine members and three employees on-site at any one time for 30 minutes.

In addition to workouts, Members have access to nutrition coaching from D'Astice's wife Gianna, a registered nurse.

"What you put in your body is just as important as the workouts you do," he said. "You can go hard in the gym for hours but it doesn't matter if you're not eating well."

D'Astice said that working and opening a second location during a pandemic was difficult, but really eye-opening as far as operations go. During the pandemic, Hustle held workouts outside in the parking lot at Addison and on Zoom, which is a feature that will continue.

"Managing a gym through COVID was a blessing in disguise," D'Astice said. "It made The Hustle Team more organized and we could improve our services with better accountability for ourselves and for the members to workout."