Kronk Gym is back.
The legendary home of the late Emanuel Steward, who trained a number of World Champions and Olympic medalists, has officially reopened in the historic Brewster Wheeler Recreation Center at 670 Wilkins St.
The gym is now open for new members and has even introduced new Kronk-branded merch.
The original Kronk Gym operated at the city-owned Kronk Recreation Center at 5555 McGraw Ave., where Steward became head coach in 1971 and trained champs like Thomas Hearns, Hilmer Kenty, Lennox Lewis, Gerald McClellan, and Wladimir Klitschko. The building closed in 2006 due to city cuts, however, and was later destroyed in a fire.
Kronk reopened on Warren Avenue but closed when Steward died in 2012. In 2015, Steward’s wife Marie opened another location at 9520 Mettetal St. but it too closed in 2020 due to flooding.
The new version of Kronk is under new ownership, though Marie Steward and daughter Sylvia Steward-Williams remain involved, in addition to boxing greats like Hilmer Kenty, Kronk’s first World Champion. Mary Jo Sanders, a 2025 International Boxing Hall of Famer and Kronk alum, is also one of Kronk’s trainers.
“Kronk shaped boxing around the world, and my father dedicated his life to Detroit,” Steward-Williams said in a statement. “We are proud to see this legacy enter a new era with this amazing team leading the way.”
The Brewster Wheeler Recreation Center holds special significance to boxing, too. Not only was it where Steward trained, but it was home to other boxing greats including Sugar Ray Robinson, Eddie Futch, and the mighty Joe Louis.
The 3,500-square-foot building will offer community mentorship, youth programming, and other training opportunities for all skill levels.
“This is not just the return of a gym, it’s the return of a Detroit franchise,” Kronk CEO Paul Bhatti said. “KRONK will once again be a home for opportunity, mentorship, and champions.”More information is available at kronk.com.
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