2 American Entrepreneurs Are Building Gold’s Gym Franchises Throughout Russia, Central, And Eastern Europe

Franchising.com:

The former Soviet Union was a frightening frontier for expanding businesses in the early- to mid-1990s. The former communist country was experiencing growing pains as it left behind decades of closed existence and began embracing a new economy built around more of a free market-based environment. And it was just this setting that Jake Weinstock and Paul Kuebler dived into headfirst.

‘I moved to Russia straight out of college in 1994,’ says Weinstock, who’s now 36 years old. He knew the language and had taken a marketing job with Ernst & Young in Moscow. Likewise, Kuebler found himself in similar circumstances, living and working in the new Russia. It wasn’t long until Weinstock and Kuebler met up with Vladimir Grumlik, a Russian entrepreneur who had helped open Nike stores among other endeavors in his native homeland. Together, the 3 began a relationship which eventually led them to the doors of the Gold’s Gym franchise. Read full story.