For my Williamsburg people - new gym in New Town

Expanding east on Route 60
March 30, 2010 by Aaron Kremer
If you drop commercial real estate rents low enough, they will sign.

Richmond-based gym operator American Family Fitness is expanding to Williamsburg, where the company will open a 23,000-square-foot gym in the New Town area. (New Town is sort of like West Broad Village)

Brian Evans, the company’s chief executive, said he had been in discussions for at least a year, but then rents dropped and he went ahead and signed.

“The lease rate, that was the final decision-maker,” he said.
He didn’t disclose the exact rent but said it’s about half of what existing tenants are paying in that area.

“We felt the area needed a fitness center,” Evans said. “The good thing about this for us: The overhead is low. It’s not a highly capitalized project, and the risk is a lot lower.”

AFF is renting space in the shopping center as opposed to building from scratch. The company is also currently constructing a 78,000-square-foot gym on Midlothian Turnpike in Chesterfield, which will open in early August, according to Evans.

This is the chain’s first foray into Hampton Roads. AFF has a gym in Fredericksburg and seven gyms around Richmond.

Evans said he expects the Williamsburg gym to hire about 40 employees.

The gym business in Richmond appears to be holding steady despite the recession. Midlothian Athletic Club (formerly Robious Sports & Fitness) is undergoing a million-dollar renovation, and the Gold’s Gym at Willow Lawn has applied for a building permit to add a pool.

“People today value maintaining their health,” Evans said. “They realize that it’s probably about the last thing they should give up … the dues you pay for a month equal one night out with a family, even less for single members.”