The History of Southside

strength and fitness

From Polaris to Powerhouse

Before Southside Strength & Fitness was founded, our facility was home to the Polaris Athletic Club — a gritty, strength-centered gym that served South Anchorage since the mid-1990s. Polaris shut down in early 2010 during a period of financial hardship and legal disputes. Rather than let the space fade into history, Hal and Marvel Loyd stepped in. They took over the lease, gathered a crew of family and friends, and began a new chapter: Southside Strength & Fitness.

Grassroots Beginnings (2010–2020)

Launched officially in August 2010, Southside was built without investors, business degrees, or corporate backing — just sweat equity and a passion for strength sports. Hal, a retired corrections officer and long-time powerlifting coach, led the way with Marvel at his side. Together, they built a tight-knit, community-first facility that catered to powerlifters, Olympic weightlifters, and serious athletes.

For a decade, Southside remained a cornerstone of the local lifting scene. It wasn’t flashy, but it was real — filled with chalk, steel, loyalty, and lifters who called it home.

More Than a Gym — A Family

Southside was never just about PRs. It was about people. From Special Olympics coaching to powerlifting and Olympic meets, Hal and Marvel used the gym to serve the broader community. Lifters met here, got married here, brought their kids here. While the facility aged, the culture only got stronger. Southside became known as Anchorage’s true strength gym, built on relationships, not revenue.

A New Chapter: The Lindsay Era (2020–Present)

In 2020, Matthew Lindsay — entrepreneur, lifter, and community leader — purchased Southside with a bold vision: honor the legacy while building for the future.

Using the COVID shutdown to his advantage, Matt began a full renovation. He removed walls, added equipment, restructured the layout into a warehouse-style format, and since then has never stopped updating.

Since taking over, Matt has:

  • Installed over 70 new pieces of equipment

  • Renovated lighting, flooring, mechanical systems, and more

  • Converted an office into a fully equipped posing room

  • Switched the gym to a 24/7 facility

  • Renovated the front entry and community space

  • Took over the adjacent unit and converted it into the turf/ functional area

  • Hosted or sponsored over 20+ events for the members in bodybuilding, powerlifting, strongman, member BBQs, holiday events, and more

Most importantly, he retained the culture: strength-first, community-driven, and built by lifters for lifters.

Legacy Lives On

Southside still honors the legacy of Alaska’s lifting pioneers. A banner from Pete City Gym — one of Anchorage’s first true strength gyms — hangs in our facility as a nod to those who paved the way. Former owner Hal Lloyd still leads the local USAPL federation, and you’ll find him back at Southside supporting the next generation.

What started as a grassroots gym has become a growing fitness brand rooted in purpose, grit, and community.

The past 15 years were just the beginning.