The Jack Costello Boxing Club recently celebrated the grand opening of its new location at 6846 Torresdale Ave. (at Longshore Avenue).
The gym moved from 4900 Longshore Ave. It is named in memory of Jack Costello, a longtime trainer who is in the Pennsylvania Boxing Hall of Fame. Costello’s widow, Anne, the family matriarch, helped cut the ribbon.
The Rev. Joe Zaleski, pastor at St. Katherine of Siena, offered prayer and blessed the ring.
The Costello family thanked the building trades, the Tacony Community Development Corporation and The Block Gives Back, its new neighbor on the 6800 block of Longshore Ave. The club is taking over space previously occupied by Santander Bank.
Club staff conducted a workout for young people, and registration was open for training classes for kids and adults. Heavyweight boxer Joey Dawejko will be head trainer, and there will be fitness classes, morning yoga and girls-only sessions for defense and boxing. The youth program fee remains $10 per month.
The gym includes a ring, heavy bags, speed bags, a treadmill and areas to jump rope.
Among those on hand were City Councilman Mike Driscoll, state Sen. Jim Dillon, state Rep. Joe Hohenstein, state Rep.-elect Pat Gallagher, former Councilmen Bobby Henon and Rick Mariano, Municipal Court Judge Pat Dugan and Superior Court Judge Dan McCaffery (who is running for state Supreme Court).
Dillon presented the club with a citation.
The Block Gives Back held its weekly Feed the Block, grilling cheeseburgers and hot dogs, and holding a 50-50 to benefit the gym. The Block also had a DJ, face-painter, cornhole, Jenga and Connect Four.
For more information about the gym, call 215-332-3553 or check out jackcostelloboxing.com. ••
