Louie began informally training a group of powerlifters in a garage setting, laying the foundation for what would become Westside Barbell. This small group experimented with different training methods and techniques.

Westside Barbell was officially established as a training facility. Louie formalized his training approach, incorporating elements from Bulgarian and Russian weightlifting systems.

Louie Simmons popularized the Conjugate Method, a training system that emphasizes max effort, dynamic effort, and repetition effort, along with the use of special exercises and equipment. This became the core of Westside Barbell's approach.

Westside Barbell gained international recognition as a leading training center for powerlifters and athletes from various sports. The Conjugate Method became widely adopted, and Westside produced numerous world-class powerlifters and strength coaches.