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Iron Ivy
March 2026
Chariton Area Chamber/Main Street is proud to feature one of our local contributing businesses in the monthly Small Business Spotlight.
This month, we are featuring Iron Ivy, a new gym located right here in Chariton that offers small group classes & 24/7 access!
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What is your job title and role?
How long have you been in business in Chariton/Lucas County?
My name is Presley McCormick and I am the owner of Iron Ivy.
Iron Ivy has been in business since November 2025, but Presley Kay Fitness was running out of Russell since April 2023.
Before
Why do you do what you do?
Fitness has been my outlet through every stage of my life. In some of the hardest seasons, when life felt heavy and uncertain, the weights and running were what saved me. It gave me structure, strength, and clarity. In 2022, I pursued my personal training certification, not just because I loved fitness, but because I saw what it was doing for me. I wanted others to experience that same transformation.
Describe your business
Iron Ivy is a weight room and fitness center located right here in the heart of Chariton. We are a 24/7 facility with Bluetooth entry via a phone app. There are membership levels from singles to family, even a Charger membership for high school students. We also offer strength & conditioning group classes, yoga classes, and a dedicated strength program for teenage girls.
What inspires you to keep at it each day?
Running your own business, let alone the 3 I run, chasing kids and family - it's all honestly exhausting. Let me give you some numbers in our 2 short months of business:
-60 members so far
-861 total visits to the gym
-272 class check-ins
That is what inspires me to keep going every day. I've seen so much growth, consistency, and a community develop inside the walls of Iron Ivy. My members show up to do the work - inspires me to continue to show up and do the work for them.
Before
What are your biggest challenges as a business owner?
As a gym owner in a small town, one of the biggest challenges I face is technology. People can find workouts on every social media platform, download hundreds of fitness apps, or choose to exercise in the comfort of their own home. But over the years, both as a trainer and someone who has trained in different gyms, I've realized something important: information isn't the same as transformation. Many people feel intimidated by lifting weights or by those who already do. What members have told me though, after consistently showing up to group workouts, is that being in a class pushes them harder than they would have ever pushed themselves at home. They take fewer breaks. They don't skip the hard movements. They show up. That accountability, that energy, and that sense of community is something technology simply can't replace.
Was there a specific moment or realization where you made the decision to start your own business?
The specific moment for Iron Ivy itself came summer 2025 on a walk. I was walking down Braden Avenue and saw a for sale sign in the yard of what use to be "The Barbell Club" building. I immediately texted Hilary Masters for a tour on Monday. My offer was accepted that Friday. It all moved really fast.
I started finishing my vision on paper once my offer was accepted, one that I have had notes on for years while training out of my garage. The Iron Ivy name came from wanting something strong & bold, but feminie touch. The 'Iron' of the weights and 'Ivy' from the vines that hang from the building has made a perfect fit for my business.
My family, friends, and I spent 3 soild months gutting and remodeling the space. From new walls, windows, doors, to all new flooring, paint, and equipment - we really transformed the space into my vision.
Why did you choose Chariton for your business?
Chariton is home to me and always will be. I was born and rasied here and I couldn't imagine raising my kids anywhere but here. I hope for expansion and growth in the future, but Chariton will always be the home of Iron Ivy.
What are your biggest rewards?
Its simple. It's seeing that transformaion happen right in front of me. Watching people walk in unsure, barely able to lift 10 pounds, and then weeks later asking for more weight. Seeing them show up day after day, choosing discipline even when it's hard. Hearing the laughter during workouts, watching friendships from between sets, and feeling the energy in a space I built from the ground up.
What will people get from your business that they won't get anywhere else?
Honestly, I don't have an answer. I can host 10 classes a week. I can provide the space, the atmosphere, the programming, and every resource you might need. I can create the environment that pushes you, supports you, and welcomes you in. But at the end of the day, I can't do the one thing that matters most - the work. You have to show up for yourself. You have to walk through the doors every day and choose to train with Iron Ivy.
Iron Ivy can be found here:
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