Syosset Chamber Welcomes New Business to Syosset

By Denise D'Alessandro

The Syosset Chamber of Commerce welcomed Claire Sleber and her store, Curves for Women, to Syosset with a grand opening celebration on Monday.

Claire Sleber cuts the ribbon during the grand opening celebration in front of her Curves for Women store, which is located at 35 Ira Road in Syosset.

Curves for Women offers a 30-minute fitness and weight loss program that is designed for women and they commit their methods, systems, energies and motivation to helping people to help themselves in their quest for a better quality of life. The exercise program that has been established helps women lose excess pounds and also inches and the complete workout includes five components: warm up, aerobic exercise, strength training, cool down and stretching.

Curves was founded in 1976 by Gary Heavin. Having completed three years toward a pre-med degree, he realized the need and opportunity to care for people through proper fitness, therefore, helping to prevent deteriorating health and potential illness. At the age of 20, he took over a failing fitness center in Houston, Texas and made it successful. At the age of 25, he owned six successful women only fitness facilities and was providing weight loss guidance to thousands of women through group meetings.

According to owner Claire Sleber, Curves works every muscle in the body during the half-hour session. "We are a caring environment here," said Sleber. "It is fun and friendly and not intimidating."

The store, which is located at 35 Ira Road in Syosset, is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. - 1 p.m. and 3:30 - 8 p.m. and on Saturday from 8 a.m. through noon. The store is closed on Sundays.

"It is addicting," said Jil Aliperti, staff member at Syosset's Curves for Women. "Women come in and make friends while they are working out."

During the celebration, Town of Oyster Bay Councilman Chris Coschignano presented Sleber with a Citation from the Town of Oyster Bay. Members of the Syosset Chamber of Commerce were also present at the grand opening celebration to welcome Sleber to Syosset. The ribbon cutting ceremony was followed by lunch and a tour of the facility where Sleber explained to those present the exercises that are done and what muscles they work.