Our Story
Atilis Gym opened its doors in Wildwood, NJ in 1974. From the start, it became home to top bodybuilders and athletes who came to train while vacationing on the Jersey Shore. Through the 70s and 80s the gym earned its reputation as a full-service, genuinely hardcore gym.
In 1996, Chris Lambert purchased Atilis from the original owners. Over the next two decades he modernized every aspect of the facility — new equipment, new layout, new amenities — while preserving the no-contract, no-card-on-file identity that built the brand. Today, Chris and his sons Cody and Brandon own and operate six Atilis Gym locations across the Jersey Shore.
Loyal members and guests have long called Atilis the “Mecca of the Jersey Shore.” We're honored to hold that title — and we work hard to earn it every single month. Whether the Jersey Shore is home or your home away from home, every Atilis is stocked, staffed, and built for people who actually train.
We don't require a contract. We don't keep your card on file. There's no annual fee, no cancellation fee, no hidden charges. Every membership is sold in person — face to face, at the front desk. That's how we keep it honest.
1974
Atilis Gym opens in Wildwood, NJ. Quickly becomes home to top bodybuilders and athletes vacationing on the Jersey Shore. Earns its reputation as a true, full-service hardcore gym.
1996
Chris Lambert purchases Atilis from the original owners. Modernizes the facilities and equipment while keeping the no-contract, no-card-on-file identity that built the brand.
2013
The Atilis brand expands beyond Wildwood for the first time — Atilis Gym EHT opens in the heart of the Egg Harbor Township business district.
2014
Atilis Gym Sea Isle City opens on Landis Avenue.
2016
Atilis Gym Ocean City opens on West Avenue — a two-floor gym mirroring the original Wildwood location in size, equipment, and attitude.
2017
Atilis Gym EHT relocates to a much larger home at the Cardiff Shopping Center — 25,000 sq. ft. indoor plus a 20,000 sq. ft. outdoor training area.
2021
Atilis Gym Galloway opens — 36,000 sq. ft. across three floors, designed from the ground up as a gym. Owned and operated by Cody Lambert, his wife Michaela, and daughter Hayden.
2022
Generation Iron names Atilis Gym Wildwood one of the Top 5 Gyms in the Country.
2023
Generation Iron names Atilis Gym Galloway one of the Top 5 Gyms in the World.
2025
Generation Iron ranks Atilis Gym Wildwood the #1 Best Vacation Destination Gym in the country. Atilis Gym Sea Isle City closes for a full rebuild — reopening for the 2026 Summer Season with a brand-new building and equipment.
2026
Atilis Gym Galloway closes for renovation, with reopening targeted for late August 2026. Sea Isle City returns for the summer season in its brand-new building.
