Freddie Butler, a well-known Metro Detroit trainer, died in a fatal fiery Romulus car crash on Sunday, September 23, 2018. He had a bit too much to drink during a party and he smahed his car into a defenseless pole. The pole survived, but he did not, as his car caught fire and he burned to death. The crash occurred in the morning hours on westbound I-94.
Freddie Butler was still in the car when police arrived at the scene of the Sunday, September 23, 2018, Romulus car accident
Police said when they arrived at the crash scene, the car was engulfed in flames with Freddie Butler still inside. Personal trainer Armond Harris, of JABS GYM Eastern Market, spent a lot of time exercising with Butler.
“He just reignited a fuel in me, just when it came to fitness,” Harris said. “He was always positive.”
Tributes have poured in for the deceased Romulus trainer who was last seen by friends at 2:30 before the I-95 crash
Harris said Butler’s positive attitude was contagious. Butler’s mindset brought people to JABS GYM Eastern Market day in and day out. Harris said that’s the reason the business is expanding, and they celebrated at his home.
“A few friends said, ‘Hey, we’re going to head out,'” Harris said. “It was probably around 2:30, and then I said, ‘See you guys later.’ I even have him on camera at my house.”
Harris said it was the last time he saw his friend.
Friends, family, and sympathizers mourned Buttler across Metro Detroit
On Monday, people across Metro Detroit mourned the loss of Butler. Execution Coach Keyon Clinton said he wants to honor his friend in the same way they met.
“He actually started the 1 Percent Better Fitness boot camp with me about a year and a half ago,” Clinton said. “I’m challenging everybody in the city. If you’ve ever known Fred, ever met Fred, or ever heard of the good things Fred has done, come out and show Fred that we love him just like a brother.”
“He was one of the few people in the fitness world who really cared about you,” Harris said. He just did not follow the rules of the road: DO NOT DRINK AND DRIVE, UNLELESS YOU WANT TO DIE.
The trainer’s funeral is set for Sunday, September 30, 2018
Family members said Butler’s funeral is scheduled for Saturday. The Fitness Boot Camp to honor Butler will be at 3 p.m. Sunday at 1500 Atwater Street in Detroit. The expansion of JABS GYM is scheduled for Oct. 1.
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DO NOT DRINK AND DRIVE, UNLESS YOU WANT TO DIE
Well-known trainer killed in I-94 crash in Romulus
Car engulfed in flames on westbound I-94 near Middlebelt Road
By Larry Spruill - Reporter
September 24, 2018
ROMULUS, Mich. -
A well-known trainer was killed early Sunday morning in a fiery crash on westbound I-94 near Middlebelt Road in Romulus.
Police said when they arrived at the crash scene, the car was engulfed in flames with Freddie Butler still inside.
Personal trainer Armond Harris, of JABS GYM Eastern Market, spent a lot of time exercising with Butler.
“He just reignited a fuel in me, just when it came to fitness," Harris said. "He was always positive."
Harris said Butler’s positive attitude was contagious. Butler's mindset brought people to JABS GYM Eastern Market day in and day out. Harris said that's the reason the business is expanding, and they celebrated at his home.
“A few friends said, 'Hey, we’re going to head out,'" Harris said. "It was probably around 2:30, and then I said, 'See you guys later.' I even have him on camera at my house."
Harris said it was the last time he saw his friend.
On Monday, people across Metro Detroit mourned the loss of Butler. Execution Coach Keyon Clinton said he wants to honor his friend in the same way they met.
“He actually started the 1 Percent Better Fitness boot camp with me about a year and a half ago," Clinton said. "I’m challenging everybody in the city. If you've ever known Fred, ever met Fred, or ever heard of the good things Fred has done, come out and show Fred that we love him just like a brother."
“He was one of the few people in the fitness world who really cared about you,” Harris said.
Family members said Butler's funeral is scheduled for Saturday.
The Fitness Boot Camp to honor Butler will be at 3 p.m. Sunday at 1500 Atwater Street in Detroit.
The expansion of JABS GYM is scheduled for Oct. 1.
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Man dies after vehicle hits pole, catches fire on I-94 in metro Detroit
Lori Higgins, Detroit Free Press
September 23, 2018
A man died Sunday morning on I-94 in metro Detroit after an accident caused his vehicle to become engulfed in flames.
The accident happened at 2:50 a.m. on westbound I-94 at Middlebelt in Romulus.
In a news release posted to Twitter Sunday morning, the Michigan State Police said troopers were dispatched to investigate a crash involving a car that hit a pole and caught fire.
"OVERNIGHT CRASH: On 9/23 at 2 50AM Metro South Post troopers were dispatched to W/B I-94 - Middlebelt to investigate a crash involving a car that hit a pole and caught fire".
"Troopers arrived on the scene and observed a person inside the engulfed vehicle," the release said. "Troopers unsuccessfully attempted to extinguish the fire. The male victim died at the scene."
The cause of the crash hasn't been determined and an investigation is ongoing, the release said.
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Jabs
Gym has doubled the size of its fitness center in Eastern Market after
extending its lease to include the 2,200-square-foot second floor. The
new level will offer cross fit training to complement the boxing gym on
the third floor when it opens Oct. 1.
August 28, 2018 06:00 AM
Jabs Gym doubles its space in Eastern Market
Tyler Clifford
August 28, 2018 06:00 AM
Jabs Gym doubles its space in Eastern Market
Tyler Clifford
- Jabs Gym adds second floor, extends lease at 2501 Russell St.
- Workforce will double to 20 employees
- Gym to offer more exercise options beyond boxing and kickboxing
Jabs Gym expanded its presence in Eastern Market and there's so much room for more activities.
The boxing gym, which opened its second location there in 2015, has added the second floor and extended its lease to double the size of the fitness center. While the third floor of Jabs will maintain its current setting as a boxing and kickboxing venue, guests can find additional exercises when the lower level opens for training Oct. 1.
"One of the biggest requests we were getting is [visitors] wanted more," co-owner David Tessler said. Many "have a membership here, but many are also going to Planet Fitness and elsewhere for other workouts."
To complement boxing and capture those clients, Jabs Gym Eastern Market LLC is dedicating the 2,200-square-foot second floor to cross training. There, gym goers can focus on weight, cardio, strength and conditioning and more diverse trainings, Tessler said. The floor will be outfitted with custom red turf and weighted sleds, squat racks and total resistance exercise, among other workouts.
About $100,000 was invested in the updates by Tessler and his squad of co-owners, Armond Harris and professional boxer Willie Fortune. Tessler's Recraft LLC of Birmingham handled design work, which asked for cosmetic work, and received build-out help from the landlord.
"We're doing more to complement the boxing with weight training, boot camps and yoga," Tessler said. "We want to become a one-stop shop for people downtown."
Jabs Gym expects to call 2501 Russell St., Detroit home until 2025. The ownership group tacked on an additional five years with options to the original lease that was set to expire in 2020. The four-story building, which includes Beyond Juicery + Eatery and Detroit vs. Everybody LLC on the lower levels, is owned by Southfield-based Russell Street Investments LLC.
With the new space, Jabs looks to double its staff at the Eastern Market gym to 20 employees. The gym, which is open to the public, has roughly 150 members, which Tessler hopes will grow to 500. He estimates about 2,000 visits per month and expects that number to expand to more than 5,000 over time.
The gym is popular among the 25-35 year-old-age group. Among the membership, 77 percent of its base is women, while more than 80 percent live in Detroit, Tessler said.
Tessler is expecting as much as $400,000 in revenue in 2018. He projects revenue to reach $750,000 in 2019.
The Eastern Market gym plans for a soft opening of the second floor in mid-September prior to its grand opening on Oct. 1.
The first Jabs Gym opened in Birmingham in 2013 under Fortune and Tessler, who sold his stake in that site to his partner more than a year ago.
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