About us

Built by lifters, for everyone.

Animal Paradise started with two people who couldn't find the gym they wanted in South Jersey, so they built it.

Founders

Pete & Andrew

Pete on the left, Andrew on the right.

Two lifters who wanted a gym South Jersey didn't have, so they built it inside Cumberland Mall. You will still find them on the floor most days, and they still answer the questions nobody else can.

Read our story →

Our story

A gym in a mall. Nobody expected this.

Pete and Andrew set out to bring competition-grade equipment to Vineland. They put it inside Cumberland Mall so it would be easy to get to, with free parking at the door and hours that fit real schedules: 4AM to midnight, every day.

Then they added the things members kept asking for: a recovery room, a women's-only training space, a cafe, a supplement store, daycare and coaches who still compete.

One visiting member put it simply: he can't find equipment like this even in Boston.

Animal Team bodybuilder mural inside Animal Paradise Gyms

What we stand for

Four words on the wall.

Strength

Mental, emotional and earned. Discipline is the part nobody posts about.

Community

We're a crew, not a crowd. You get known here, not processed.

Evolution

Constant improvement, for you and for the gym. We keep adding what members need.

Integrity

No gimmicks. Straight answers on price. Real effort and real progress.

Animal Fest

Our biggest day of the year.

Every year we host Animal Fest: guest posing, competitions, vendors and the whole crew under one roof. The third Animal Fest took place in October 2026. Follow us on Instagram to hear first about the next one.

Animal Fest 3 recap

Follow on Instagram

Animal Fest 3 medal on the champion belt

The coaching team

Meet the coaches.

Contest prep coach

Chuck

Two decades of certification and a shelf of NPC overall titles. Chuck has been on both sides of a prep, so he knows what the last eight weeks actually feel like.

View profile →