A new gym brand is moving into the Richmond market. Images courtesy of Youfit Health Clubs.
For its first press into Virginia, a growing gym brand out of Florida is pumping out two new locations on the Southside.
Youfit Health Clubs plans to open gyms at 13583 Midlothian Turnpike in Midlothian Station and 9923 Hull Street Road at Oxbridge Square in Chesterfield.
J.J. Creegan, Youfit’s director of national operations, said the company leased each space, both of which are about 20,000 square feet. Youfit will look to open both locations early next year.
“Virginia is a brand-new market for us,” Creegan said. “Richmond is a good launching point in the state of Virginia and neighboring states and cities.”
Youfit president and founder Rick Berks opened the first Youfit in 2008 in Florida. Youfit has opened about 30 new gyms this year. It has 83 corporately owned locations in Florida, Arizona, Georgia, Tennessee, Colorado and Louisiana.
Its growth is fueled in part by a capital raise it completed earlier this year with private equity firm PWP Growth Equity.
Each of Youfit’s new local gyms will be about 20,000 square feet.
Youfit memberships cost $10 a month for access to a single location and about $20 a month for access to all Youfit gyms. Creegan said Youfit gyms each have $500,000 worth of exercise equipment, including about 65 to 70 cardio machines, free weights and group exercise rooms.
“Our entire goal as a business is to get people off the couch,” Creegan said. “We’re not trying to churn out bodybuilders. We’re a gym for the average Joe. We’ve spent 10 years trying to figure out a gym the average Joe would feel comfortable with.”
The Richmond fitness scene already has its share of national gym brands as well as startup concepts. The area’s bigger name gyms include three Gold’s Gyms and Fitness Evolution gyms. Regional operators include American Family Fitness, ACAC and a network of YMCAs. And niche fitness spots like CrossFit, cycling studios and ballet barre studios are also growing.
Creegan acknowledged the competitive nature of the Richmond fitness market but said Youfit sets itself apart with its low membership fees.
“Our goal is to overwhelm people with value,” Creegan said. “Many of our members will spend $10 a month and still be a member of a CrossFit or barre studio. At our price point, it allows members to be at Youfit and take advantage of other opportunities in the neighborhood.”
Youfit has about 2,000 employees, and the majority work part-time. Each gym hires about 20 to 25 people.
Creegan said the Richmond area can expect more Youfit locations.
“We’ve already identified our third location in Richmond and we’re looking for more,” he said. “We want to make sure you can be at our gyms within 15 minutes of leaving your house.”
A new gym brand is moving into the Richmond market. Images courtesy of Youfit Health Clubs.
For its first press into Virginia, a growing gym brand out of Florida is pumping out two new locations on the Southside.
Youfit Health Clubs plans to open gyms at 13583 Midlothian Turnpike in Midlothian Station and 9923 Hull Street Road at Oxbridge Square in Chesterfield.
J.J. Creegan, Youfit’s director of national operations, said the company leased each space, both of which are about 20,000 square feet. Youfit will look to open both locations early next year.
“Virginia is a brand-new market for us,” Creegan said. “Richmond is a good launching point in the state of Virginia and neighboring states and cities.”
Youfit president and founder Rick Berks opened the first Youfit in 2008 in Florida. Youfit has opened about 30 new gyms this year. It has 83 corporately owned locations in Florida, Arizona, Georgia, Tennessee, Colorado and Louisiana.
Its growth is fueled in part by a capital raise it completed earlier this year with private equity firm PWP Growth Equity.
Each of Youfit’s new local gyms will be about 20,000 square feet.
Youfit memberships cost $10 a month for access to a single location and about $20 a month for access to all Youfit gyms. Creegan said Youfit gyms each have $500,000 worth of exercise equipment, including about 65 to 70 cardio machines, free weights and group exercise rooms.
“Our entire goal as a business is to get people off the couch,” Creegan said. “We’re not trying to churn out bodybuilders. We’re a gym for the average Joe. We’ve spent 10 years trying to figure out a gym the average Joe would feel comfortable with.”
The Richmond fitness scene already has its share of national gym brands as well as startup concepts. The area’s bigger name gyms include three Gold’s Gyms and Fitness Evolution gyms. Regional operators include American Family Fitness, ACAC and a network of YMCAs. And niche fitness spots like CrossFit, cycling studios and ballet barre studios are also growing.
Creegan acknowledged the competitive nature of the Richmond fitness market but said Youfit sets itself apart with its low membership fees.
“Our goal is to overwhelm people with value,” Creegan said. “Many of our members will spend $10 a month and still be a member of a CrossFit or barre studio. At our price point, it allows members to be at Youfit and take advantage of other opportunities in the neighborhood.”
Youfit has about 2,000 employees, and the majority work part-time. Each gym hires about 20 to 25 people.
Creegan said the Richmond area can expect more Youfit locations.
“We’ve already identified our third location in Richmond and we’re looking for more,” he said. “We want to make sure you can be at our gyms within 15 minutes of leaving your house.”
Congrats J.J. on expanding into the Richmond market!
Thought you’d want to know – YouFit’s Mechanicsville location shut their doors.
At least someone updates their articles; I wish their staff would do this more. Rumor is Spring Run is also not doing well and might close. This means the chain has two stores in all of VA; articles back to 2014 talk about abrupt closings and AG office complaints in other states through today.
Michael, I suspect you mean Spring Rock. I had no idea these last few locations were the only ones in Virginia. They’re both in areas that have been passed over for years, so I assume their leases are relatively cheap. That must not be enough of a boost. Thanks for the heads up.