By CRAIG FREILICH

POTSDAM -- Jennifer Thomas-Sassone and Rachel Lucid have opened Rogue Fitness and Protein Bar at 8 Market St.

The exercise salon and juice bar are in space last occupied by Strawberry Fields Music.

Thomas-Sassone, an experienced fitness trainer, believes her workout equipment and plans will fill a niche left open by local college and high school fitness facilities, which she understands cannot accommodate everyone who wants to use them.

She is keeping it simple: metal racks – “affiliate rigs” -- that can be fitted with bars or rings for things like pullups and squats; rowing machines, which she says are the best for a cardio workout; and weights, all “with no TVs, no stationary bikes,” she says, just exercise encouraging “functional” movement and strength.

Rachel Lucid runs the protein bar, with a plethora of drinks and shakes, some designed for weight loss and others intended for different aspects of training. There are fruit smoothies, fresh vegetable juices, and specially processed and prepared coffee, which can be augmented with almond, soy or coconut milk in a latté.

For those who need help in designing or executing a program, they can get it, from daily posted exercise routine suggestions to full-blown Olympic-style weight-lifting training.

Memberships, the number of which will be limited to between 50 or 75, are $40 per month.

Open hours will be 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday.

For more info or to sign up, phone 262-7367 or 700-0206.