This place is so gold. I have heard of it for many years but never came by until a few months ago, and am so glad I did. The neighborhood is definitely very fortunate to have such a valuable asset, and I just wished I had stopped by many years ago. So one thing to keep in mind, and I'm just mentioning this due to some of the negative reviews I looked through: this is a nonprofit. In other words, it's not your like equinox or rumble or some other trendy elitist organization feeding into your personal desire for feeling of entitlement (2020 amiright). Rather it's a small cohesive community of awesome and kind people winning at life and helping each other be winners as well. Nobody is going to run up and shine your shoe as you walk in, but if you need tips on a workout or support picking up a new hobby of some artistic endeavor, or just want to be a winner and be around happy healthy positive people, then it doesn't get better than this place imho! read more

The Riekes Center is the place I look forward to the most every week. The people there are supportive and fun. The Riekes Center is overall a great place to be. read more

Best place ever. Feels like family when I walk in. You can tell the employees actually enjoy being there.

Great place for your student athlete to get stronger and faster. They have various options depending on your athletes needs.

Truly an amazing community space. It has a great built in community, has awesome sports and fitness programs, and their music and arts programs will help you or your kid become amazing artists. I went here for years as a younger kid (around 13-16) and loved my time there. I truly felt like I had a second home. So, why three stars? The founder, Gary, created an amazing space but he is unfortunately very creepy. He made me and my friends uncomfortable to the point we felt we could no longer be safe in the space. This is truly sad given how amazing everything else is. read more

My 7-year-old daughter attended a summer camp run by the Riekes Center called "Nature Rambler's Day Camp." She came home with a scratch in the corner of her eye that missed the eyeball by a small fraction of inch. She said this happened because the counselors were allowing the kids to hit each other with sticks. I spoke with the counselors, who confirmed that stick fighting was one of the camp's activities. When I said that it is not acceptable to allow 7-year olds to hit each other with sticks, the lead counselor said that I was "overgeneralizing" and making a "logical fallacy." There was an incident earlier in the summer when a camper was allowed to go swimming in the reservoir, got into trouble, and had to be rescued by a counselor. Apparently the camper was wearing sweats and the sweats became waterlogged and heavy, weighting him down in the water. This program simply isn't safe. read more

I LOVE Riekes. Honestly, this place is the light of my life. I came here with my class for a Rockband session, all of our teachers were AMAZING. They let us choose our instruments, taught us based on our levels, and treated us equally. Everyone is welcome, this isn't just for kids and teens. One guy I met had been going here for years and he was well in his 60s! They also have financial aid available and a work-trade program to help pay for any lessons. After my class was over, I came back for personally one-on-one lessons with Hannah! I hope to continue my lessons and possibly participate in the work trade program. read more

I've been fortunate enough to have been a member at Riekes for about 3 years. Firstly, it's convenient since it's next door to my workplace. In addition, all their memberships include personal training and workout plans not something I would normally spring for, but something that gives me that extra motivation to go and know I'm using my time well. They have a large variety of exercise equipment including hand bikes (very useful after my Achilles injury), batting cages, free weights and a nice indoor basketball court. However, it's far more than a gym. Riekes focuses on several aspects of "human enhancement" with music programs, dance practices, and nature studies. I have a few co-workers who also exercise there and have seen other adults there as well, we are by far the minority. Riekes seems to be mostly populated by high school and younger members. They're given the chance to partake in the variety of programs as listed above and really excel in whatever they'd like to do. However, I've also seen college and professional athletes training here on occasion so you know that the staff and training are top notch. My main issue with it compared to a "normal" gym would be the hours. It's only open until 8pm on weekdays, until 3pm on Sat, and closed on Sundays. Previous gyms I'd been at offered far greater flexibility in this regard. However, knowing I'm training alongside elite athletes and helping to support such a great institution (Riekes is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization) far outweigh that inconvenience. If you have the opportunity to participate at Riekes, I recommend it. read more

Gary is one of the kind humans I have ever meet. The Riekes center is his lifes work/dream and this place is great and will blow your mind

Good programs, but mixed staff results with kids. Sometimes just not knowing how to handle young ones. For example noticing what they're interested in out in nature and going with that instead of forcing group song time, let them explore! read more

Great place! I never been to a gym before this one, and here they have taught me everything from the ground up, and every time I come in I learn something new. Also the staff here is without a doubt the nicest handful of people you could possibly meet. Thank you Gary for doing what you are doing! read more

My three girls have been in the Riekes Nature Awareness program for the past three years. I can't say enough great things about the Riekes Center, the Natures Awareness Program and the staff. My children are being taught by the nicest, most knowledgeable, positive and caring people! The Natures Awareness Program has allowed my kids to truly engage with nature despite living in the middle of Silicon Valley. I got a kick out of my youngest (6 years) informing a ranger (from up in a tree) that she was "tree certified" while we were on a camping trip recently. Needless to say, the ranger was completely charmed and confided how impressed he was with how comfortable the kids were in a natural environment. I give the Riekes program full credit for helping the kids become so connected with nature. read more

I first stated working with the Riekes Center a year ago. It provides each student with opportunities to define and accomplish individual goals, build character and learn transferable life skills through Creativity, Fitness and Ecology, in an environment of non-judgment and mutual respect. The Riekes center just opened a Makers Media Lab in partnership with Farag Family Foundation. This is a great after school resource for so many Redwood City Youth. http://riekes.org/aff/ -abe farag read more

This place looks like a great gym and community center. They have many things for you here besides the fitness side of things. Looks grate for kids and the creative people with their music and video photography classes. Why the one star? Let me tell you. My wife and I stopped by and got the tour and talked to a few staff members. They gave us the packages and we filled them out and handed them in the next day. I even offered to teach the film and video classes as I am a film maker and photographer They had indicated on the tour that they were looking for teachers in these areas. I was willing to volunteer So we signed up by filling out the application. We were told someone would call us to finish the registration process. A full week later my wife and I stopped by to find out why they had not called us. We were told the director was in a class but thy would have them call us when they got out. 5 days later someone called me and left a message. I called back and got voice mail so I left a message. Old other 4 to 5 days later they called me back. I had to tell him we were no longer interested in a gym that takes more then two weeks to registrar new members. That is totally unacceptable. The last gym I signed up for had me with a trainer and creating a work out the same day. What the serious fuck? I don't do business with people that don't seem to want my business. I told this to the guy on the phone but I don't think he will let anyone in management know about this issue. So I am writing this review. The center is a good idea but fails in implementation. read more

The staff at the Riekes Center has my most profound appreciation for the work they did this summer working with my nephew. He arrived in mid June to spend a summer recovering from some personal family tragedies. Even though we had no prior experience with them, the one condition for him spending the summer with us was that he go to the Riekes Center. The Riekes Center gave our nephew support and guidance in ways my wife and I couldn't fathom and on issues and thoughts we didn't know he was having. We might have made a small difference in his life this summer but the Riekes Center was the key to what turned him around. We watched his daily change over the summer, we saw his enthusiasm grow as he came home and report on his day at the center, we saw him modify his behavior - based on advice which could only have come from the staff at the Riekes Center -- and integrate himself into our home, we saw his insecurities change to confidence and abilities; all this showed us the value and benefits the Riekes Center provides. At the end of the summer, he left here a youth rebounding from the tragedies that befell his family rather than one crushed by them, a young man thinking of his future, one with a much greater confidence in himself and his own abilities. For this we are truly grateful to the staff of the Riekes Center. Thank you, and congratulations all. Job well done. read more

What a great place! All 3 of my sons - ages 32, 25 and 13 have taken advantage of what Riekes has to offer including workouts, music and sport-specific training. It's a hidden gem and I tell everyone I know who may benefit from going there to check it out. read more

The homeschooling program is like no other. My child has thrived under the guidance of the Riekes Community. Thank you, Gary, for all you do and making the world a better place. read more

The Riekes center helped me raise my 4 children. Now my grandchildren are attending. I love the programs and importantly the people who run them. Gary Riekes is amazing and has created the best place for kids in the Bay Area. read more

Both of my children have been engaged in programs at the Reikes Center. My son has benefited from the exceptional personal training and positive environment to stay in shape over the summer months. My daughter has been taking photography classes with the skilled and kind Richard for the last six months and volunteers through student services, led by the amazing Lex. Gary Reikes' philosophy has created a remarkably positive and supportive community where everyone is valued and encouraged to reach their goals. The Reikes Center is an extraordinary place. Thank you Gary and Staff! read more