A new Planet Fitness is preparing to open between the Aldi and Burlington stores at the intersection of Broad and Horsepen stores in Henrico. (Photo by Jack Jacobs)
The franchise group behind local Planet Fitness stores continues to grow its presence in the area with plans for a new gym in west Henrico.
Grand Fitness Partners plans to open a 19,000-square-foot Planet Fitness in a retail center that also houses Burlington, Office Max and Aldi at the corner of Broad Street and Horsepen Road.
The franchisee plans to use part of Burlington’s 75,000-square-foot space at 6303 W. Broad St. for a gym, said Jim Ashby of Thalimaur, who worked on the Grand Fitness deal with Nikki Jassy. It is said that it is being sublet.
Burlington will continue to operate at the center, whose footprint was reduced nearly a decade ago with the construction of an Aldi grocery store. The center also includes a vacant lot that previously housed O’Charley’s Restaurant.
This week, construction was underway on the addition to Planet Fitness. Hash Construction is a general contractor under a building permit.
It is not clear when the gym will open. A company spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment.
The gym will include a functional training room, locker rooms with showers, and equipment for aerobic and strength training. Thalhimer announced the deal on Tuesday.
The next gym comes as Grand Fitness plans to open a new Chesterfield location in the Meadowdale Plaza Shopping Center. Planet Fitness franchisees entered the Richmond market in 2021 through a multi-gym acquisition agreement and operate 75 gyms in Virginia, New Jersey, Florida and California.
Locally, Grand Fitness operates Planet Fitness stores at 4951 Nine Mile Road and 9703 W. Broad Street in Henrico, 11001 Hull Street Road in Chesterfield, and 230 South Park Circle in Colonial Heights. These locations were purchased as part of the 2021 deal.
Grand Fitness later opened Planet Fitness gyms at 7297 Battle Hill Drive in Mechanicsville and 3000 Stony Point Road in South Richmond.
