T&C Fitness Club Has Something for Everyone

Cornelius Coe, 48, and his wife, Katrina Coe, 38, had originally sought to purchase space for their popular workout classes when they purchased an empty building at 5910 W. Chicago Ave. in 2021. 

“When we first walked in here, the vision was just to have an open space for our classes and some programming, but the vision grew daily,” Cornelius said. 

Three years later, that vision has materialized into a 9,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art, full-service gym that features a smoothie bar, turf space, a community room, a basketball court, locker rooms equipped with showers, and a weight room. The couple officially opened T&C Fitness in June. 

“We figured, why couldn’t we as a Black couple have brand new walls, showers, and equipment?” Cornelius said. “It took longer because we wanted it to be right.” 

The Westside natives met nearly a decade ago. Cornelius, a former college and Arena League football player, was working as a program manager at the Austin Community Family Center in the old YMCA at 501 N. Central Ave. Katrina, a certified personal trainer, had come to the facility looking for space to train her clients. 

Katrina’s Train With Trina fitness brand boasts over 32,000 Instagram followers and 13,000 Facebook followers. She said her foray into personal fitness started after she resolved to change her eating habits and start a workout regimen.  

“One day, I saw myself in the mirror and I didn’t like what I saw,” she said. “That motivated me to want to look and be better.” 

Katrina said she so inspired some people who saw her consistency in the gym that they joined her workouts. 

“That’s what pushed me to be a trainer,” she said. “It was never my goal, but because of the people I attracted, I was forced into the position, and I began to have a passion and love for it. I got into bodybuilding shows and eventually got my certification.” 

Cornelius, who has organized basketball camps, afterschool programs, and mentoring initiatives on the Westside, said the couple’s three years of hard work building out T&C (which stands for Trina and Cornelius) has paid off. 

“We could have easily slapped some paint on the wall and opened the doors,” he said. “Our client base would have come regardless, but we wanted something the community could be proud of when they walk in here.”  

If You Go  T&C Fitness Club, 5910 W. Chicago Ave., offers a $24.99 monthly membership plan that offers unlimited access to its weight room, basketball court, turf area, and locker rooms. Ask about its most popular class, Katrina’s Booty Bootcamp, and taste Cornelius’s peanut butter strawberry protein smoothie (the consistency was just right when I tried it). The club also rents out its community room and turf space for events.  CONTACTS  On the web: tandcfitnessclub.com  By email: info@tandcfitnessclub.com  By phone: ‪(872) 246-5556‬  Hours: Mon. – Fri.: 5 a.m. – 8 p.m. | Saturday: 8 a.m. – 3 p.m. | Sunday: Rental only