Health and Fitness Club Industry News: Chains
Thursday, October 16th, 2025
Anytime Fitness’ Parent Company Acquires Basecamp Fitness With Plans To Franchise Worldwide
Posted: October 31, 2018 in Chains
WOODBURY, MN - Self Esteem Brands, the parent company of Anytime Fitness, has purchased a new fitness concept with plans to franchise it worldwide. Basecamp Fitness was developed by Nick Swinmurn, the Founder of Zappos, and currently has five locations, three near Los Angeles and two in the San Francisco area. Read More...
XSport Fitness to Open 40th Location in Addison, Illinois in Early 2019
Posted: October 29, 2018 in Chains
CHICAGO, IL - Capital Fitness, d/b/a, XSport Fitness, Big Rock, Illinois, continues to grow its brand throughout the Chicagoland area, announcing the opening of its 40th facility in Addison, Illinois. This new facility is on target to open February 1, 2019. XSport Fitness facilities are open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, for their members’ convenience. Read More...
Nearly 3,000 Join New Crunch Gym on Record First Day of Pre-Opening Sales
Posted: October 24, 2018 in Chains
RIVERVIEW, FL - Crunch Franchise announced that 2,915 memberships were sold for the Crunch gym opening in Riverview, Florida on the first day of its pre-opening sales period. That figure sets a Crunch Franchise record for the most memberships sold by a Crunch gym in a 24-hour period, and it comes on the heels of 1,500+ and 1,200+ day-one membership sales during July 2018 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, and Killeen, Texas, respectively. Read More...
Gold’s Gym Announces Strongest Quarter of Worldwide Growth in Company History
Posted: October 23, 2018 in Chains
DALLAS, TX - Gold's Gym, a globally trusted fitness authority, has announced a record-setting third quarter, the largest for franchise development in company history. The global franchise celebrated nine international openings, renewed master franchise agreements for Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates and signed a new master franchise agreement to enter Turkey. In addition, Gold's Gym celebrated one domestic grand opening and signed franchise agreements for multiple locations across three states in the U.S. Read More...
The EDGE Sports & Fitness Awarded the 2018 Spirit of the ADA Award
Posted: October 23, 2018 in Chains
VERMONT - The EDGE Sports & Fitness of Vermont is proud to accept the 2018 Spirit of the ADA award from the Governor’s Committee on The Employment of People with Disabilities. The award recognizes employers who reflect the spirit of the mission to promote the employment of Vermonters of all abilities. According to the GCEPD, employers are awarded based on criteria including recruitment and equal accessibility in the application, hiring procedures, use of on-thejob accommodations and modifications, accessible physical structures and buildings and support for the employment of people with disabilities as an overall employment strategy. Read More...
Blink Fitness Opens its Newest Locations in Bronx, N.Y. and Nutley, N.J.
Posted: October 19, 2018 in Chains
BRONX, N.Y. - Blink Fitness, the premium-quality, value gym, is excited to announce the grand opening of its 72nd location, in East Tremont. As a part of the Grand Opening celebration, Blink Fitness will donate 50 one-year memberships, worth over $10,000, to Children's Aid, an organization dedicated to helping children in poverty succeed and thrive by providing comprehensive supports to children, youth and their families. Blink Fitness also announced the grand opening of its 73rd location, in New Jersey. As a part of the Grand Opening celebration, Blink Fitness will donate 50 one-year membership, worth over $10,000, to The Phoenix Center, an organization dedicated to working in partnership with families and communities to develop the potential of each student with significant developmental disabilities and those on the autism spectrum ages five through 21 and to provide customizes, unique and individualized programs aligned with the New Jersey Student Learning Standards (NJSLS). Read More...
Planet Fitness Partners With PACER’s National Bullying Prevention Center To Spread Kindness And Address Bullying As Part Of Judgement Free Generation Initiative
Posted: October 11, 2018 in Chains
HAMPTON, N.H. - As part of its continued commitment to preventing bullying and promoting kindness among today's youth, Planet Fitness, Inc., one of the largest and fastest-growing franchisors and operators of fitness centers in the U.S., has teamed up with PACER's National Bullying Prevention Center, the nation's leading nonprofit bullying prevention organization, to introduce "Bullying Prevention 101" and help schools build environments defined by kindness, acceptance and inclusion. This new, free-to-download educational resource is designed to equip teachers, counselors and other educators with tools to empower students to prevent bullying and stand up for kindness during National Bullying Prevention Month (October) and beyond. Read More...
Life Time Transforming Retail Landscape with First, Shopping Center-Based Athletic Lifestyle Resort
Posted: October 11, 2018 in Chains
CHANHASSEN, MN - When Life Time Athletic Oklahoma City opens its doors at Quail Springs Mall, the former Macy's site will become the first of many Life Time athletic lifestyle resorts at regional shopping centers across the country, changing the retail landscape for years to come. Read More...
Crunch Franchise Announces Its Newest Locations in Norman, Oklahoma and Clifton, New Jersey
Posted: October 10, 2018 in Chains
NORMAN, OK and CLIFTON, N.J. - Crunch Franchise announced the opening of a new 24-hour club with state-of-the art equipment and amenities in Norman, Oklahoma. The expansive new club is expected to open in December 2018. Crunch Franchise also announced the opening of an 18,000 square-foot gym with state-of-the-art equipment and amenities in Clifton, New Jersey. The modern, expansive club is expected to open in January 2019. Read More...
Kettlebell Kitchen Closes Series B Investment Led by North Castle Partners
Posted: October 9, 2018 in Chains
NEW YORK, N.Y. and GREENWICH, CT - North Castle Partners and Kettlebell Kitchen jointly announce that Kettlebell Kitchen has closed on a $26.7M Series B growth equity round of financing led by North Castle, a leading private equity firm focused on consumer businesses that promote healthy, active and sustainable living. Kettlebell Kitchen is a nationwide provider of healthy prepared meals and custom meal plans designed to assist consumers in achieving their fitness, nutrition, sports performance and weight loss goals. Read More...
Equinox Launches Bespoke Travel Experiences
Posted: October 4, 2018 in Chains
NEW YORK, N.Y. - Equinox, the high performance lifestyle leader, announced its further move into the lifestyle space with the unveiling of Bespoke Luxury Travel Experiences, featuring domestic and international multi-day journeys. The offering, which will launch in April 2019 with a summit-chasing adventure in Morocco, comes as Equinox expands its global brand beyond luxury fitness clubs and into hospitality with the opening of Equinox Hotels in Spring 2019. Read More...
Crunch Franchise Announces Its First Location in Kansas
Posted: October 3, 2018 in Chains
LAWRENCE, KS - Crunch Franchise announced the opening of a 24-hour gym with state-of-the-art equipment and amenities in Lawrence, Kansas. The expansive new club is expected to open in December 2018. In early November, a one-day "Cyber Sale" will enable new members to join Crunch Lawrence for rates starting at $9.95 per month. The first 500 members will receive a free t-shirt, discounts on small group and personal training and more. Read More...
Orangetheory Unveils New Technology Enhancements
Posted: October 3, 2018 in Chains
BOCA RATON, FL - A unique trifecta of science, coaching and technology has positioned Orangetheory Fitness as a global leader in innovative heart rate-based interval training. Orangetheory now announces new technology advancements, including a new wearable heart-rate monitor and proprietary equipment enhancements. Through this game-changing technology, Orangetheory advances its mission by giving members even better tools to capture performance data, measure their overall workout results and set new goals. Read More...
Crunch Franchise Announces Its Newest Location in Norman, Oklahoma
Posted: October 2, 2018 in Chains
NORMAN, OK - Crunch Franchise announced the opening of a new 24-hour club with state-of-the art equipment and amenities in Norman, Oklahoma. The expansive new club is expected to open in December 2018. In early November, a one-day "Cyber Sale" will enable new members to join Crunch Norman for rates starting at $9.95 per month. The first 500 members will receive a free t-shirt, discounts on small group and personal training and more. Read More...
Anytime Fitness Celebrates One Billion Gym Visits
Posted: October 2, 2018 in Chains
WOODBURY, MN - For the 1 billionth time, someone waved a key fob in front of a scanner and then entered an Anytime Fitness gym to work out. Of course, most Anytime Fitness members go to the gyms to improve their health and fitness, but during the 16 years since the world's largest fitness franchise was founded, much more has happened at the gyms than merely cardio exercises and weight training. Here are a few examples... Read More...
ClubCorp to Host Patriot Golf Day Tournament to Benefit Folds of Honor and George W. Bush Institute
Posted: October 2, 2018 in Chains
DALLAS, TX - ClubCorp – The World Leader in Private Clubs – announced it will host the Patriot Golf Day tournament at 27 of their private country clubs across Texas to benefit Folds of Honor and the George W. Bush Institute’s Military Service Initiative. The tournament, scheduled on October 28, 2018, will raise donations and awareness for military veterans and their families. Read More...
9Round Named a Top Franchise Brand by Entrepreneur Magazine
Posted: September 25, 2018 in Chains
GREENVILLE, S.C. - 9Round Franchising, LCC, was recently named to Entrepreneur Magazine’s second annual Top Franchise Brands list. This list recognizes the 200 franchisors that have built the strongest brands, based on data submitted for Entrepreneur’s 2018 Franchise 500 ranking. 9Round was ranked this year at number 198. Read More...
2018 World Gym Convention Highlights the Future of the Iconic Brand
Posted: September 20, 2018 in Chains
LOS ANGELES, CA - World Gym International, the iconic global brand for bodybuilding and seriously fun fitness, gathered franchisees, vendors and partners from nine countries for the 2018 World Gym International Convention in Las Vegas on September 5 - 8, 2018. The annual gathering was held at the Aria Resort & Casino in Las Vegas with nearly 200 attendees, including gym owners and staff from Australia, Brazil, Canada, Egypt, Lebanon, Mexico, Taiwan, United States and Russia. The convention featured a "Beginnings" theme, letting members and franchisees know that no matter what stage you are in in life that World Gym is ready to get you started, helping everyone achieve their dreams with the best team, coaches and community possible. Read More...
In-Shape Health Clubs To Raise $150,000 For Cancer Research
Posted: September 20, 2018 in Chains
STOCKTON, CA - In-Shape Health Clubs, California’s top destination for fitness and recreation, announced its goal to raise $150,000 for cancer research in the month of October for its 4th annual Fight Cancer campaign. A small idea that started in 2015, #InShapeFightsCancer has evolved into a cause that its teams and communities actively rally around and is getting bigger every year. This year, In-Shape will try to increase the amount raised by 15%. Read More...
Life Time to Launch First Life Time Work Location in Twin Cities
Posted: September 19, 2018 in Chains
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - With an eye toward redefining the shared workspace industry, Life Time announced plans to open its first Life Time Work destination in the Twin Cities. To be located conveniently adjacent to Life Time Athletic St. Louis Park, Life Time Work will be at the Towers at West End and is expected to open in early 2019. Additional Life Time Work locations are planned for Downtown Minneapolis and Edina. Read More...
