Introduction to Los Angeles Gyms Moving into Vacant Retail Spaces
As malls and retail spaces across Greater Los Angeles face increasing vacancies, an eyebrow-raising — or rather, barbell raising — alternative has emerged to fill those voids.
Gym operators like Equinox and Royal Personal Training have signed some of the largest retail leases this year in the L.A. area, CoStar reported.
Gym Operators Signing Leases
Royal Personal Training is growing its footprint from a 7,000-square-foot space in Beverly Hills to 30,000 square feet in the newly built mixed-use building at 639 North La Peer Drive in West Hollywood. The building boasts valet parking — a notable draw for a gym company known for attracting high-end clients.
Equinox is gearing up to occupy a 30,000-square-foot retail space on the ground floor of an under-construction apartment building in Santa Monica. The Related-developed mixed-use building at 700 Broadway will include 196 apartments with luxury concierge services for residents. The new location is planned to open later this year.
Other Gyms Expanding
Gold’s Gym recently had a soft opening for a 33,000-square-foot ground-level operation at the Beverly Center in Beverly Grove, according to CoStar. That location’s opening comes about a year after Gold’s opened a similarly sized 35,000-square-foot outpost at The Pike Outlets in Long Beach.
Planet Fitness, meanwhile, is picking up smaller spaces in suburban areas like Palmdale and Santa Clarita. Vacant Rite Aid locations with an average of 15,000 square feet appear to be Planet Fitness’ spaces of choice.
Context and Market Trends
For context, gym operators in Los Angeles typically sign leases for 5,000 square feet, according to CoStar. After the pandemic forced gym closures and decreased traffic for safety, it appears that the fitness business sector could be on the up and up. At the same time, retail vacancy ticked up in the second quarter to 5.6 percent, according to Kidder Mathews’ Q2 report.
Fitness memberships climbed to a record 77 million last year from 72.9 million the year before, according to CoStar, citing data from the Health & Fitness Association. In the first half of 2025, gym visits increased 3.5 percent compared to the first half of 2024.
Brands Capitalizing on Demand
Equinox and Barry’s Bootcamp are among the brands looking to capitalize on the growing demand for workout space. Last month, for example, Equinox signed a similar 35,000-square-foot lease in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Barry’s is looking at opening 20 new studios annually in the coming years, according to CoStar.
Related News
Lease roundup: Equinox plans to open in Fort Lauderdale, Plaza Coral Gables lands wealth manager and other tenants
Gold’s Gym to beef up presence in Dallas-Fort Worth
Equinox preleases 31K sf at Oak Row’s Edgewater project, as it expands in South Florida
Conclusion
The move of gyms into vacant retail spaces in Los Angeles is a significant trend that reflects the evolving retail landscape and the growing demand for fitness and wellness services. As the fitness industry continues to grow, it is likely that more gyms will occupy vacant retail spaces, bringing new life to underutilized properties and providing consumers with more options for staying active and healthy.
FAQs
Q: What is happening to vacant retail spaces in Los Angeles?
A: Vacant retail spaces in Los Angeles are being occupied by gym operators, who are signing leases for large spaces to meet the growing demand for fitness and wellness services.
Q: Which gym operators are signing leases in Los Angeles?
A: Equinox, Royal Personal Training, Gold’s Gym, and Planet Fitness are among the gym operators signing leases in Los Angeles.
Q: What is the average size of the leases being signed by gym operators in Los Angeles?
A: The average size of the leases being signed by gym operators in Los Angeles is around 30,000 square feet, which is larger than the typical lease size of 5,000 square feet.
Q: What is driving the growth of the fitness industry in Los Angeles?
A: The growth of the fitness industry in Los Angeles is being driven by increasing demand for fitness and wellness services, with fitness memberships climbing to a record 77 million last year.
