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Aaron Garrett, owner and head trainer of 409 Fit in Silsbee, demonstrates how to work the deltoid using a barbell on Thursday, March 16, 2023.
Matt Hollinshead/Beaumont Enterprise

Aaron Garrett wanted to provide Southeast Texas athletes a go-to place to train, one he wish he had when he was younger.

Garrett, a 2008 Jasper High graduate, played football, basketball and baseball – winning a state baseball championship in 2007. Outside the school’s facilities, there weren’t any said buildings in town he could resume training at.

Garrett decided to give back in December 2021 by opening 409 Fit in Silsbee. Today, some of the area’s best athletes train in that very space.

The Enterprise spoke with Garrett – a personal trainer since 2014 – about 409 Fit, its clientele and the impact it’s had on Southeast Texas.

Q: What’s the best part about having a gym like 409 Fit?

A: The best part of having a gym like this just trying to give back to the community, just trying to be who I needed when I was younger.

Now, we’ve got Bryce Anderson, Grayland Arnold… and Dre’lon Miller. I like the younger kids to be around the older kids so they can see what it’s like at the highest level.

I wanted to do it for our community, for the 409.

Q: The people who train here, is it just the athletes? Or is it also those looking to simply get in shape?

A: I do personal training. I do it all. Athletic training is just a bonus for me because I’m a strength and conditioning specialist.

I do group training as well. This is my life, this is my gym. I do it all. I’ll put (clients) through the ringer.

(Covering different parts of the 409) was my biggest thing. Silsbee’s kind of in the middle of the 409. I’m from Jasper, and I wanted my people in Jasper to still be able to come here. Then, you’ve got Nederland, you’ve got Port Neches-Groves.

Instead of you driving an hour and 45 minutes to Houston, now you can come here to Silsbee. It’s a one-stop shop. We’ve got batting cages in the back, speed treadmills… I just try to encompass all of it.

Q: What sets you apart as a trainer?

A: One thing about me is, I’m (very) hands-on with them. As you can see, I’m going through the workout with them.

I’ve been around a lot of gyms that a trainer will talk at a kid or try to talk at somebody, and a lot of times they can’t do the workouts.

When we go to the field and we run routes or they need somebody to hold them, I’m always hands-on. I’m up here at 5:30 in the morning on school days with a lot of kids. I’m always here for the kids.

Q: Growing up in Jasper, did you have a gym like 409 Fit to go to?

A: Not at all, man. We didn’t have nothing like this.

I hear it all the time, people (are) like, 'Ah man, I wish I had you when I was younger' or 'Oh man, we should’ve had somebody like this.'

I think that’s pretty cool. Like I said, just trying to give back…

I’m super meticulous on the workouts. These guys are so high-level.

Bryce (was) getting ready to go back and start spring football, so I want him to go in 100%. I don’t need no injuries -- none of that kind of stuff.

I’m meticulous when it comes to the form and structure. I don’t care about how much weight you can do. I just want to make sure you’re doing it right.

I work a lot of injury prevention stuff. When you come to my gym, I want you to know that I’m not just some guy that just claimed to be a guru.

I’ve done all kinds of certifications, I’ve been to all kinds of seminars. This is my life, so I take it as serious as they come.

It’s always the small, little different details often there that can change everything (training-wise).

It’s different for everybody.

Every athlete is different. My group sessions are pretty much around the same thing.

Of course, you’ve got different athletes with different injuries. So, I try to moderate it for different people.

Q: Your experiences as an athlete at Jasper High School, especially winning a state baseball title, what influence did that have in your approach?

A: It was serious. When we won state in baseball, just being around the guys and watching them (in) how serious their approach was to win a state championship, everything has to go right to win a state championship.

I’ve been around Silsbee in (2017 and 2018) when they won back-to-back (state titles in boys basketball). I train Wesley Yates, who won back-to-back state basketball titles… Just trying to get those guys to (be) level-headed when things go wrong.

When the kids walk through this door, they’re getting a companion, a big brother, somebody they can talk to. I relate to them well.

Q: You’re also present at collegiate athletic signing events across the 409. Whether it’s in Beaumont, Lumberton or Silsbee, How do you manage all that?

A: Man, it’s tough. It’s very tough. I could be sitting up here training and they’re like, 'Oh man, I forget to tell you the signing’s today at 10:30…' The kids know even if I can’t (attend), I try to do different stuff (like dinner). I try to be there for them.

The way that it’s set up, everybody’s signing on the same day, I really try to be there for all my kids. I’ve got a bunch kids in Lumberton, a bunch of kids in Beaumont, and like Newton. Just different places.

But I love it. I wouldn’t change it for the world. And the kids, they want me to be there. I’ve got to schedule my sessions around them.

Q: What’s that next step you’d like to take to keep growing your establishment?

A: I want a full-out facility.

(The current building’s) cool, I love it. It’s home, but I would like a bigger place so we can have a real indoor facility about 40 to 60 yards where people can work on their 40-yard dashes. We can work on NFL combine prep. We can do different stuff like that and also keep it as a gym, too.

With a bigger market, bigger place, bigger gym, I can accomplish more and bring in more.

I can touch more (of) Orange. I can even touch some of Louisiana and different places like that with a bigger facility in Beaumont.

It’d help out tremendously, just being able to have more space, bring in more athletes. I can host more classes as well.

Matt.Hollinshead@beaumontenterprise.com

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