Planet Fitness to add 11 locations in market, the largest in Edwardsville
A site in Edwardsville has been chosen as the largest of several health club outlets planned in the region by Planet Fitness Midwest, a local franchisee of the Planet Fitness chain, the company announced today.
The company has been expanding its Midwest presence and intends to become the “dominant health club provider” in the market by launching 11 locations in the St. Louis metro area.
The club touts a low-cost/high-quality health club lifestyle, offered in what it calls its “Judgment Free Zone,” with $10-a-month membership rates. The company opened its first St. Louis location in April 2014 in Overland, Mo.
Planet Fitness Midwest’s St. Louis area expansion will bring approximately 180 new jobs to the area (plus over 850 jobs during construction phases), and represents more than $50 million in in investment.
The first three locations, to open in 2015, will be in:
– St. Peters, Mo. (adjacent to the Mid Rivers Mall);
– Wentzville, Mo. (at the intersection of Interstate 70 and Highway Z) and ;
– Edwardsville, on the southwest corner of Center Grove Road and new Illinois Route 159. A project spokesman said it would be generally across from the AMC Showplace13 movie theater.
The Edwardsville location will be a two-story Midwest Flagship location, a $7.5 million investment. It will be the largest and most well-equipped Planet Fitness in the region at approximately 30,000 square feet. The gym will be developed from the ground up and will include features such as:
– 125 pieces of cardio, including treadmills, elliptical, ARCs, stationary bikes and btair climbers
– Spa inspired changing and locker area with luxury rain showers, HDTVs and more
– Individual HDTVs on all 120 pieces of cardio equipment with more than 70 channels
– Two Full Life Fitness Circuits of Strength Machines and an MTS Circuit
– PF 30-Minute Express Circuit
– PF 12-Minute Ab/Core Circuit
– 12 Ergoline Platinum Level Tanning Units
– Two massage chairs
– Three hydro-massage beds
– Life Fitness 360 TRX Trainer
“We’re thrilled at the chance to expand our offering and bring a dozen new locations to the St. Louis metro area. And we’re excited to be opening our flagship Planet Fitness health club in Edwardsville,” said COO, Michael Hamilton.
In celebration of PFMW’s growth and as a token of appreciation to its members, unlimited fitness training is included with all memberships and is always conducted in small groups of no more than five people. Planet Fitness also provides free pizza on the first Monday of every month and free bagels on the second Tuesday of every month.
About PFMW
PFMW continues its aggressive growth in Cincinnati and Lexington markets as well. In 2012, PFMW opened three health clubs, in Newport, Ky., the Finneytown area of Cincinnati, as well as its first club in Lexington, Ky., adjacent to the Kroger at Bryan Station and New Circle Road. In 2013, PFMW expanded to the Cincinnati metro area with the August opening of its Springdale, Ohio, location with more than 29,000 square feet of high-end equipment and amenities as well as the December opening of a 22,000-square-foot facility in Milford, Ohio.
Last month PFMW opened a newly designed two-story 28,000 square foot health club in the heart of Western Hills on Glenway Avenue in Cincinnati. Pre-sale for a new, state-of-the-art Planet Fitness in Hamilton, Ohio, began last month, with a grand-opening of the group’s eleventh location in January. Additionally the group will develop a premier site on Mall Road in Florence, Ky. The 29,000-square-foot facility will be located near the new Costco and Menards power center and is scheduled to open in the last quarter of 2015.
About Planet Fitness
Founded in 1992 in Dover, N.H., Planet Fitness calls itself the fastest-growing full-size health club franchise in the United States.
Planet Fitness has more than 900 locations nationwide and has grown to more than 6 million members.
