Health and Fitness Club Industry News: Chains
Tuesday, October 14th, 2025
Anytime Fitness Flexes Franchise Development Plans in Kentucky
Posted: July 30, 2019 in Chains
LEXINGTON, KY - Anytime Fitness, one of the world's fastest-growing fitness franchises, has announced plans to introduce 40 new gyms in targeted areas throughout Kentucky with a specific focus in Lexington and the southern region of the state. The community-focused brand will ramp up growth through strategic franchise partnerships and aims to open the new locations within the next three years. Read More...
VillaSport Athletic Club and Spa Opens First Greater Sacramento Area Club in Roseville
Posted: July 26, 2019 in Chains
ROSEVILLE, CA - VillaSport Athletic Club and Spa has announced the official opening of its first Greater Sacramento area resort-style athletic club in Roseville. The new facility has created more than 250 full- and part-time jobs in Placer County and is the second California location for the family-owned business. Read More...
Planet Fitness to Open “Judgement Free” Club in Picayune, Mississippi
Posted: July 24, 2019 in Chains
PICAYUNE, MS - Planet Fitness, one of the largest and fastest-growing franchisors and operators of fitness centers in the United States, and home of the Judgement Free Zone®, today announced it will open its first location in Picayune, Mississippi in the fall of 2019. The 13,000 square foot Picayune Planet Fitness will offer state of the art cardio machines and strength equipment, 30-Minute Express Circuit, fully equipped locker rooms with day lockers and showers, numerous flat screen televisions, HydroMassage loungers, massage chairs, tanning beds, a Total Body Enhancement booth and more. Read More...
Life Time Breaks Ground on Athletic Lifestyle Resort in Lake Zurich as Part of Three Planned Destinations in Chicagoland
Posted: July 24, 2019 in Chains
CHICAGO, IL - Life Time, the premier healthy lifestyle brand, broke ground on its newest planned destination in Chicagoland in the Village of Lake Zurich. The groundbreaking took place on the 10-acre property and marks the start of construction on the project, set for completion in later 2020. It’s the second of three planned new Life Time locations in addition to Oakbrook Mall and One Chicago, the massive new River North project planned with JDL. Read More...
Crunch Franchise Announces Its Newest Location in Tyler, Texas
Posted: July 22, 2019 in Chains
TYLER, TX - Crunch Franchise has announced the opening of a new $3M, 30,000 square-foot club with state-of-the-art equipment and amenities in Tyler, Texas. The expansive new club in the Sunset Plaza Shopping Center will open in fall 2019. Crunch Tyler is owned by Tony Hartl, who has opened Crunch locations in Waco and Killeen, Texas, and plans to bring 21 Crunch gyms to Central Texas over the next five years. Read More...
Life Time to Expand Manhattan Presence Through Collaboration Agreement with New York Health & Racquet Club
Posted: July 19, 2019 in Chains
NEW YORK, N.Y. - Life Time, one of the nation's premier healthy lifestyle brands, announced plans to grow its presence in New York from five to nine athletic resort destinations. Through a collaboration agreement with New York Health & Racquet Club, four New York Health & Racquet clubs will transition to Life Time in a phased approach. Following more than $25 million in planned renovations, the clubs will reopen as Life Time HRC with modern design aesthetics, proprietary programs and services, top performers and luxurious amenities. Read More...
Planet Fitness’ Annual National Scholarship Awards $150,000 to 30 Boys & Girls Club Youth For Their Commitment To Kindness and Inclusion
Posted: July 17, 2019 in Chains
HAMPTON, N.H. - Planet Fitness, Inc., home of the Judgement Free Zone and one of the largest and fastest-growing franchisors and operators of fitness centers in the U.S., announced it has awarded 30 youth from Boys & Girls Clubs across the country with $5,000 individual scholarships. Unlike most scholarship programs, which reward youth for academics or athletic abilities, these were awarded based on each teen's inspiring efforts to create a kinder world for today's youth as part of the company's Judgement Free Generation initiative, which aims to prevent bullying and promote kindness everywhere. To celebrate the scholarship recipients, Planet Fitness joined Boys & Girls Clubs to host surprise graduation ceremonies throughout the country. Read More...
Gold’s Gym International Continues Long-Term Vision for Growth in the United Arab Emirates and Oman
Posted: July 16, 2019 in Chains
DALLAS, TX - Gold's Gym, one of the world's trusted fitness authorities, has announced that it has parted ways with former master franchisee Al Ahli Holding Group in the United Arab Emirates and Oman. As franchisor, Gold's Gym is currently working to support the continued operations of the affected sub-franchisee-owned and operated Gold's Gym locations in the UAE and Oman. In the meantime, operations of these 14 locations will continue under existing management. Read More...
TITLE Boxing Club Signs Landmark Franchise Deal for Mexico City
Posted: July 16, 2019 in Chains
OVERLAND PARK, KS - TITLE Boxing Club, one of the nation's leading boutique boxing fitness franchises with more than 190 open clubs across the United States and international locations in the Dominican Republic and Mexico, announced it has signed a record 25-unit franchise agreement for Mexico City with current franchisees Alan and Jack Sandoval. Read More...
EōS Fitness Donates Over $20,000 to Workout for Water
Posted: July 16, 2019 in Chains
SAN DIEGO, CA - EōS Fitness, a leader in the industry with its High-Value, Low-Price (HVLP) concept, announced it has raised over $20,000 in support of UNICEF's international fundraiser Workout for Water. The funds raised will support UNICEF's work to help thousands of children in East Africa gain access to clean, safe sustainable water. Read More...
Jackie Mendes Joins World Gym International as Director of Franchise Sales for North America
Posted: July 15, 2019 in Chains
LOS ANGELES, CA - World Gym International, the iconic global brand for bodybuilding and seriously fun fitness, has hired fitness industry veteran, Jackie Mendes, as the Director of Franchise Sales for North America. Jackie’s hiring is the latest investment World Gym has made to strengthen its franchise efforts in North America. Read More...
North Castle Partners Invests in CR Fitness, a Leading Crunch Fitness Franchisee
Posted: July 11, 2019 in Chains
GREENWICH, CT - North Castle Partners has announced its new strategic partnership with CR Fitness, a leading franchisee group in the Crunch Fitness network in the Southeastern United States. As the original private equity firm focused on consumer businesses that promote Healthy, Active and Sustainable Living, North Castle has a long history of partnering with management teams in the fitness industry. The terms of the investment were not disclosed. Read More...
Blink Fitness Appoints President of Franchising
Posted: July 10, 2019 in Chains
NEW YORK, N.Y. - Blink Fitness, a premium-quality, value-based fitness concept, has appointed franchising industry veteran Thomas Flaherty as President of Franchising, a newly created position. In this role, Flaherty will oversee the entire franchise business, including directing the brand’s expansion across key markets in the United States and internationally. Founded in 2011, Blink currently has more than 100 locations open or in development and has plans for more than 300 company- and franchise-owned Blink gyms in the next three years. Read More...
Planet Fitness Humorously Explores “Joy” of At-Home Workouts With New Creative Campaign
Posted: July 8, 2019 in Chains
HAMPTON, N.H. - Planet Fitness, Inc., one of the largest and fastest-growing franchisors and operators of fitness centers in the U.S. and home of the Judgement Free Zone, has released a new creative campaign that humorously explores the perceived "joy" of working out at home. The new television and digital spots highlight what it's really like to work out at home, poking gentle fun at how the process might not be as glamorous as what's typically been portrayed in fitness commercials. The spots also aim to put the public's fears about finding a safe, convenient haven at the gym at ease and features people experiencing a wealth of trouble working out at home, whether due to a lack of dedicated exercise space or other distractions. Read More...
9Round Finalizes Master Franchise Agreement for Colombia and Panama
Posted: July 8, 2019 in Chains
GREENVILLE, S.C. - 9Round Franchising, LLC, recently finalized an agreement for future franchise development in the Latin American countries of Colombia and Panama. The master franchise agreement details plans to develop 36 new 9Round locations between the two countries over the course of the next six years. Read More...
TPG Partners with Crunch Fitness
Posted: July 1, 2019 in Chains
SAN FRANCISCO, CA; FORT WORTH, TX; and NEW YORK, N.Y. - TPG Growth, the middle market and growth equity platform of alternative asset firm TPG, announced that it has partnered with company management to acquire Crunch Fitness. The transaction includes Crunch’s company-owned “Signature” facilities, as well as its global franchising business. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Read More...
Planet Fitness Appoints Kathy Gentilozzi Chief People Officer
Posted: July 1, 2019 in Chains
HAMPTON, N.H. - Planet Fitness, Inc. (NYSE: PLNT), one of the largest and fastest-growing franchisors and operators of fitness centers in the U.S., announced that Kathy Gentilozzi has been appointed Chief People Officer. Gentilozzi will oversee the company’s human resources operations including talent acquisition, leadership and organizational development, business partner support, culture and employee engagement, benefits and compensation. As a member of the Planet Fitness Executive Leadership Team, she will report to Chris Rondeau, Chief Executive Officer. Read More...
Blink Fitness Opens Its 86th Location In Queens Village
Posted: June 29, 2019 in Chains
QUEENS, N.Y. - Blink Fitness, the premium quality, affordable fitness brand announce the grand opening of its 86th location in Queens Village. As a part of the Grand Opening celebration, Blink Fitness donated (50) 1-year memberships, worth more than $10,000, to Hollis Bellaire Queens Village Bellerose Athletic Association, a baseball and softball organization dedicated to providing the youth of the community with the ideals and virtues of honesty, fair play, integrity and respect. Read More...
Orangetheory Fitness Becomes The Largest Single Donor to ALS Research Through Fundraising Collaboration with Augie’s Quest to Cure ALS
Posted: June 26, 2019 in Chains
BOCA RATON, FL - Thousands of Orangetheory members across the United States and Canada raised $4.5 million during ALS Awareness Month for Augie’s Quest to Cure ALS, an organization fast-tracking effective treatments and an ultimate cure for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). This year’s record-breaking results bring Orangetheory’s total giving to more than $10 million over just three years, making it the most successful campaign in Augie’s Quest history. Read More...
Pure Barre Announces Partnership With Palladin Consumer Retail Partners To Rapidly Expand Within New York’s Tri-State Region
Posted: June 24, 2019 in Chains
IRVINE, CA - Pure Barre, the largest barre concept in North America, has partnered with Palladin Consumer Retail Partners, a Boston-based private investment firm, to acquire 28 Pure Barre studios in New York's tri-state region. In addition to taking over Pure Barre's 13 existing studios in the region, the partnership will lead to the development and opening of 15 new studios in the area over the next three years. Read More...
