Planet Fitness on Mission Street to open in December


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Construction to convert a building into a Planet Fitness at 2135 south Mission, next to Kmart on Sept.29, 2015. Mary Lewandowski | Staff Photographer

A new Planet Fitness will open at 2135 S. Mission Street in December, said company officials. The new location will be the first Planet Fitness in Mount Pleasant.

Planet Fitness will replace a former location of JoAnn Fabrics in the same strip mall as Kmart and JC Penney. Company staff will begin signing memberships in November at the old Radio Shack in the same strip.

Planet Fitness Mount Pleasant will feature amenities such as various workout machines, free weights and other cardio exercise equipment, said Hoyt Frericks, part-owner and developer with Planet Fitness. 

Hydromassage, tanning equipment and full-service locker rooms will also be available. Frericks said the company will not build a running track at the Mission Street location.

The new business will not offer a student discount in Mount Pleasant, Frericks said.

"We're really counting on the student population, but obviously they're going to count," he said. "We have a  location in Kalamazoo that has a few student memberships, so I'm sure we'll have a few."

Construction on the interior of the building began in August. Construction crews will continue that work until November. Only a few updates were done to the exterior, Frericks said. One obvious change is a portion painted deep purple -- the company's trademark color.

Mount Pleasant's Planning Commission approved the business for a special use permit in May. The building did not need site approval because it will take up space in an existing property, said City Planner Jacob Kain.

Planet Fitness offers standard memberships at $10 per month. A $20 membership allows patrons to bring guests and access to massage and tanning equipment.

The decision will come down to whether students are getting their best bang for their buck elsewhere, Frericks added. The Student Activity Center is just a few blocks away, and some apartments have their own facilities.

"The advantage for us is that we'll be open 24 hours, seven days a week with a full staff," he said. "The (other work out facilities) won't have the same amenities."

Even with more to offer, CMU students said they would be cautious in choosing another gym. Chicago sophomore Tyler Matulef said the decision would come down to cost and how full the SAC becomes.

Students dealt with overcrowding in the SAC earlier this year. If that continues, Matulef said he'd make the change.

"If it were less expensive, then maybe," he said." It really depends on how busy they are. If (the SAC is) too busy and I can't work out, then (I'd) definitely (switch)."

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About Ben Solis

Ben Solis is the Managing Editor of Central Michigan Life. He has served as a city and university ...

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