A new fitness center is expected to open in Arnold in late 2026.
A Planet Fitness gym and fitness club is scheduled to open in September at 1140 Jeffco Blvd., where the former Arnold Bowl used to operate, said Mike Hamilton, Midwest Fitness Partners COO.
The Midwest Fitness Partners purchased the bowling alley in 2022, and the group already owns 21 other Planet Fitness locations throughout the St. Louis area.
Hamilton said Arnold looked like a good spot to open the new gym.
“We believe it is an underserved community that does not have a high-value, low-cost gym,” Hamilton said. “Some of our members who belong to nearby clubs have given us feedback. They have said, ‘I can’t believe you are not in Arnold.’ It took us a while to find the right location.”
Hamilton said Midwest Fitness Partners opened its first St. Louis-area franchise location more than 10 years ago in Overland. It also has Planet Fitness gyms in Festus, Fenton and south St. Louis County.
Hamilton said construction on the 35,000-square-foot, two-story gym in Arnold is expected to start in March, and the building may be completed in August.
He said it has taken nearly four years to begin building the Arnold gym due to the former bowling alley site that sat significantly low off Jeffco Boulevard. The company has filled in the site to bring the building site up to street level.
“We were looking for an open space,” Hamilton said. “We weren’t able to find it. We were like, ‘Hey, let’s buy this bowling alley.’ Sometimes we have a pad-ready site. It is easier. But, we like the (Arnold) location. It is a high-traffic area and in an underserved community. We are looking forward to getting in there. The hard part (filling the site) is over with.
“We believe it is going to be just as successful at the last 21 that we have opened,” he said of the Arnold location.
Planet Fitness gyms are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
The gyms offer two types of membership levels. A classic membership costs $1 down then $15 a month with an annual fee of $49. This membership includes access to a single gym’s equipment.
A black card membership costs $1 down then $24.99 per month with an annual fee of $49. This membership includes access to all Planet Fitness locations and amenities, such as massage chairs, tanning areas, wellness pods and recovery lounge.
Black card members also are allowed to bring a guest to the gym at any time.
Hamilton said the Arnold gym will be equipped with free weights, strength machines, plate-loaded machines, 90 cardiovascular equipment machines and other fitness equipment. He also said the building will have a large mobility and stretching area.
“We hear it is a high value at a low cost that appeals to all fitness levels,” he said. “We have a non-intimidating judgment-free zone. Our clients like the environment.”
Hamilton said the ownership group plans to hire 12 full-time employees and eight part-time employees. He said the group will begin interviewing potential employees in late spring, and those interested may go to planetfitness.com to apply for positions.
Planet Fitness was founded in 1992, and as of September, there were 2,795 locations across the U.S., Puerto Rico, Canada, Panama, Mexico, Australia and Spain, according to the gym’s website, planetfitness.com.