20 Years of SPEAR

Where were you in 1999? Studying for a college exam? Playing hide-and-seek with your siblings? For us, March 22nd, 1999 was our ‘birthday,’ the day that native New Yorkers Dan Rootenberg and Dave Endres treated their first patient–an elderly gentleman named Vito.

That tiny-yet-mighty, 2-person, NYC startup practice was called Sports Performance Enhancement and Rehabilitation (S.P.E.A.R.), and today, 20 years later, that practice has given growth opportunities to hundreds of therapists, donated hundreds of thousands of dollars in time and money to the NYC community, and has gotten 250,000 New Yorkers Back to Life.

1999

Company Founded by Dan Rootenberg and Dave Endres

Company Founded by Dan Rootenberg and Dave Endres

SPEAR was co-founded in 1999 by two friends and grad school classmates, Dan Rootenberg and David Endres. After graduating from PT school and being out in the work force for a few years Dan approached Dave about starting a practice together with the goal of creating a unique patient experience and that is how SPEAR was formed.

One of their memorable moments together occurred during a hurricane when Dave, an expert swimmer and avid surfer influenced a few of their classmates to surf at Gilgo Beach. While the waves were epic that day, SPEAR’s formation almost never occurred. Hear the story of how Dave almost caused Dan to lose his life and then saved him all in the same day.

“Back when I was graduating physical therapy school in 1997, the prevailing wisdom was to start out at a hospital, learn as much as you could, and then later go into private practice. that’s exactly what I did.”
– Dan Rootenberg, CEO & Co-founder, SPEAR Physical Therapy
SPEAR Physical Therapy NYC in Midtown NYC on East 56th Street

SPEAR’s 56th Street office opens

SPEAR’s 56th Street office opens

SPEAR’s original, flagship location is centrally located with easy access by subway or bus, and proximity to east side hospitals and the doctors in midtown and the Upper East Side. Many of our 56th Street patients either work or live in the area.

2008

SPEAR launches new and updated logo

SPEAR Physical Therapy Logo over time SPEAR launches new and updated logo
Midtown West Treatment area

SPEAR’s 44th Street office opens

SPEAR’s 44th Street office opens

Located in the beautiful Bar Building steps from the infectious energy of Bryant Park and Times Square, the Midtown W. 44th Street clinic attracts commuters, neighborhood residents and tourists from all over the globe to its urban oasis.

Madison Avenue Office opens

SPEAR Physical Therapy NYC's facility for patients of New York Physicians Madison Avenue Office opens

Our 635 Madison Avenue location is a satellite office where we provide the Physical Therapy services on a consult basis at NYP.

2010

SPEAR’s 84th Street office opens

SPEAR Physical Therapy NYC Lobby on the Upper East Side of Manhattan SPEAR’s 84th Street office opens

SPEAR 84th Street sits in the heart of the family-friendly neighborhood of the Upper East Side. The clinic and its close-knit team play host to a wide range of clientele, from weekend warriors to the neighborhood’s scholastic athletes; every example of the active NYC lifestyle is successfully treated at 84th Street. 

SPEAR named Inc. 5000 Winner for the first time

INC 5000 logo SPEAR named Inc. 5000 Winner for the first time
2011

SPEAR opens its corporate office in Midtown Manhattan

2012

SPEAR named Inc. 5000 Winner for the 2nd time

Inc. 5000 Logo SPEAR named Inc. 5000 Winner for the 2nd time
2013

SPEAR Chelsea opens

Chelsea clinic interior SPEAR Chelsea opens

The Chelsea clinic is a modern, lofted space with a fishbowl window onto the street—a great way for people to see the impact the Chelsea team is having on the community. Here, an energetic group of physical therapists reflects the energy of this vibrant NYC neighborhood. Located close to many subway lines, the clinic’s population is a great mix of those who work in the area and those who live right around the corner. 

SPEAR named Inc. 5000 Winner for the 3rd time

INC 5000 logo SPEAR named Inc. 5000 Winner for the 3rd time
2014

SPEAR launches the “SPEAR Future Leader’s Program”

50 Employees
Hit 50,000 visits (impacts) for the first time in a calendar year
2015

SPEAR wins the Future 50 Award for the 2nd time

SPEAR West 57th Street opens

Central park south front desk SPEAR West 57th Street opens

The W. 57th Street clinic is in the heart of the city, steps from Central Park in Midtown West. Patients access this flourishing neighborhood clinic by a number of subway trains. They are greeted each time by a bright and friendly team as they enter a modern, sunny space—one in which every patient has ample room to exercise and work toward their goals.

SPEAR 30 Broad - Financial District opens

NYC Gym at SPEAR Physical Therapy Financial District | 30 Broad Street SPEAR 30 Broad - Financial District opens

30 Broad Street makes its home next door to the world-famous New York Stock Exchange, in a building that used to house part of the Exchange itself. SPEAR has another connection with the NYSE; in 2016, it was one of very few small businesses recognized for its success with the opportunity to ring the opening bell! 

100 Employees
2016

SPEAR wins the Future 50 Award for the 3rd time

SPEAR launches its concierge service “SPEAR On-Call”

SPEAR Penn Plaza opens

SPEAR Physical Therapy NYC Facility in Penn Plaza on 7th Avenue SPEAR Penn Plaza opens

Located across the street from NYC transportation hub Penn Station, and nearby world-famous landmarks like Madison Square Garden and the Empire State Building, the Penn Plaza clinic serves a mostly commuter population from New Jersey and Long Island.

SPEAR unveils new brand identity with new logo, mark & brand colors

SPEAR Physical Therapy Logo over time SPEAR unveils new brand identity with new logo, mark & brand colors

The SPEAR team has worked to outperform itself each and every month for 18 years. In that time, we’ve grown from two guys sharing one treatment room to 150 team members across ten NYC locations.

We thought it was time for our second logo refresh.

 

SPEAR Murray Hill opens

Murray Hill - E 34th St interior overview SPEAR Murray Hill opens

Our Murray Hill clinic, located in the ground-floor retail space at 143 W. 34th Street near Lexington Avenue, is the best of two worlds; it has the friendly feel of a residential neighborhood with a sprinkle of “can-do” commercial midtown. The storefront property offers easy access from the street; inside, vaulted ceilings, clean lines, crisp wood tones, and a cement finish to the gym floor round out a modern, industrial vibe.

2017

SPEAR Tribeca opens

SPEAR Tribeca treatment area SPEAR Tribeca opens

Located at 16 Park Place near Broadway, Tribeca is SPEAR’s second location south of 14th street. Its central address, adjacent to the City Hall and Brooklyn Bridge subway stations in the historic Woolworth building, makes it one of the most accessible clinics in the city.

SPEAR wins the Future 50 Award for the 4th time

150 Employees

SPEAR Brooklyn Heights opens

SPEAR Brooklyn Heights clinic SPEAR Brooklyn Heights opens

SPEAR’s first clinic in the outer boroughs is located in the heart of the historic Brooklyn Heights neighborhood, within the landmark St. George Tower (one of Brooklyn’s most majestic buildings).

SPEAR partners with LA PALESTRA opening new locations at 70 Pine, West 67th Street and the Plaza Hotel

SPEAR Physical Therapy Midtown NYC Gym in the Plaza Hotel with LA PALESTRA SPEAR partners with LA PALESTRA opening new locations at 70 Pine, West 67th Street and the Plaza Hotel

SPEAR opens its 15th location at West 75th Street

Upper West Side - W 75th St exercise equipment SPEAR opens its 15th location at West 75th Street

SPEAR’s brand new 4,000-plus square foot Upper West Side clinic is conveniently located street level in the landmark Astor residential building and steps from the Beacon Theatre, Central Park and 72nd street subway lines. A bright, spacious location with a sleek, industrial feel, the 75th Street clinic features two private treatment rooms for massage therapy, and a shower with changing rooms.

SPEAR named one of the top 2 companies to work for in the US by Insider Monkey

2018
2019
Named the nation's top physical therapy practice (twice).
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