Byline: Jen Haberkorn
Aug. 31--Washingtonians should be a fit bunch, judging by the glut of fitness centers opening in the area.
Chain or independent, large or boutique, urban or suburban, each flex different muscles of the best equipment, diet guidance, the most intense or relaxing environment, or all of the above in a competition for memberships.
More than 130 fitness centers opened last year in Maryland, Virginia and the District, bringing the total to 1,258 outlets. That's up 50 percent from 843 in 2001, according to the International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association, a Boston trade group.
The aggressive growth has continued into 2006 as national and boutique gyms open or expand in the Washington area.
'Washington is an attractive market because it's full of young professionals, well educated,' said David von Storch, president of Vida Fitness, a new combination workout facility, spa and salon in the Verizon Center building on Seventh Street Northwest. 'And it's an underserved market.'
Nearly all gym owners cite Washington's high levels of disposable income and education as reasons why they want to be here.
Among those coming into the Washington area are L.A. Fitness, which plans to open in Silver Spring later this year. Vida Fitness and Mint Fitness, a small workout facility that emphasizes a relaxing environment, have both opened in Northwest. Active Duty Fitness for Women, a boot-camp-style workout in Northern Virginia, just started franchising.
The growth is led by boutique gyms, which are cutting a new path with a combination of quality machines and a spalike place to relax or just a different type of workout, away from the industrial-strength gyms that were all the rage in the late 1990s.
'We've seen people gravitate toward a gym not just as a place to exercise and get in their cardio but as a place to get away from it all,' said Patrick John, owner of Mint Fitness, which opened in February.
He and his wife, Melissa, closed the Wheaton Athletic Club last year when they lost their lease. They focused more on wellness, nutrition and spalike features, such as massages and facials, in their second fitness center.
Xpose Fitness, which has classes centered on pilates, yoga and exotic dancing, opened its first location early last year in Towson, Md., owner Anita Ammon said.
'We provide such a different type of fitness center,' Ms. Ammon said about why her centers are growing. 'It's not for everyone. People are usually dragged in by friends and realize it's an upscale environment. ... It's an alternative form of fitness, and breaks up the monotony.'
The women-only gym is scheduled to open its third, fourth and fifth area gyms in the Maryland and Virginia suburbs this year. But there's still plenty of room for competition.
Only 14 percent of Americans belong to health clubs, according to the sports club association.
On Tuesday, a study by Trust for American's Health found that adult obesity rates rose last year in 31 states, including Maryland. The rate rose only by a slight percentage in Virginia and the District.
And as the health problems associated with obesity become more well known, health club owners expect, or hope, memberships will rise. Monthly membership fees typically run more than $100.
Many of the large chain gyms, with aisles and aisles of cardiovascular machines and rows and rows of dumbbells, have slowed the number of locations they're opening. Instead, they're remodeling existing locations or adding new amenities similar to their boutique competitors.
'People are not satisfied anymore with self-service fitness,' said John H. Wildman, chief operating officer of Bally Total Fitness. 'In order to grow the market overall, we have to provide services to people that have been uncomfortable in the health club environment.'
The Chicago company has added four personal training sessions to its membership perks, as well as nutrition guidance and plans to expand its local course offerings to new programs, such as martial arts.
Bally Total Fitness, which has 17 Washington clubs, plans to replace two of its existing locations next year, but isn't opening any new ones here.
Gold's Gym and Washington Sports Club, with 40 and 18 Washington area gyms, respectively, plan to open one new location each over the next year. But both have perks. The newest Gold's location in Arlington has televisions attached to every cardio machine, and Washington Sports Club plans to remodel its Dupont Circle location next year to include a juice bar and other amenities.
Curves International Inc., which has about 90 locations in the Washington area and promises a thorough workout on its circuit of machines in 30 minutes, doesn't plan to open any more locations in this area.
'The plan is not growth so much as to serve the members and get back to basics,' said Connie Parish, Curves' local area director. 'It's saturated right now.'
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