Fondren Fitness will open at the site of the old Rainbow Co-op in Fondren. FinditinFondren.com reported:
The Rainbow Co-Op building has a new owner, a group of local investors who, as property owners, residents and local business owners, say they have Fondren’s best interests in mind.
Michael Boerner, Sean Cupit, Jamie Wier and Jack Allin will reinvent the space as Fondren Fitness.
“It all happened quickly,” Boerner said when speaking of how the deal fell into place. Not only do the partners of Fondren Fitness have the neighborhood’s best interest at heart, but Rainbow Co-Op does as well. “They have been extremely easy to work with and have greatly supported our vision for the space.”
“I was walking by on my daily stroll through Fondren and saw people outside measuring the building’s exterior. This led me to make a few calls to some local business owners. When I learned the Rainbow space might become a national brand that didn’t particularly fit in Fondren, I thought it was important to protect the space for the sake of the neighborhood.”
Boerner’s call to his architect partners Jack Allin and Jamie Wier, elicited the idea for a full–service gym, but not just any gym. That’s when they brought in business partner Sean Cupit, who has wide-ranging experience in the fitness industry.
“We want to do it right, so we’ve been researching gyms across the country. It’ll be a dynamic space with state-of-the-art equipment and classes for all levels.”.... Rest of article.
What may be most exciting for the neighborhood will be the change in aesthetic that the group will use to dress up the building, reimagining the dated façade of corrugated tin.
“It’s going to be an energizing building with lasting impact on that Lakeland intersection,” Boerner said. “Image is extremely important for something like a fitness center.”
Kingfish note: Good news for Fondren. Meanwhile, UMMC plods along with the two remaining Courthouses.
42 comments:
happy to see something in that space, sad to see a one of a kind store like Rainbow go.
Is it the same concept as other 24/7 fitness places like Snap and Anytime - basically big versions of motel workout rooms, or is it more like the Club - a full service fitness facility?
Will it be simply weights and fitness machines, or will there be classes and spa facilities?
@2:27 article says full service with classes. Doesn’t mention what kind of lockerroom/spa facilities will be included.
Too much supply, too little demand.
There are far too few parking spaces in that strip. Until the parking situation is addressed, the businesses there will suffer.
Glad to see Rainbow close. That place was a dump with limited selection. The fitness center looks great except parking is going to be horrible.
Too much supply in other parts of the city and metro area, yes. Nothing I know of in the area of "The" Fondren. Given the right business plan, I'd say they have a very good chance of making it, at least till the general fad for such winds down. Wish 'em luck!
Will they have hummus and craft beer smoothies with some snazzy t-shirts for sale?
Just what Jackson needs: another little-used fitness center.
A new business in The Fondren. Cool.
Baptist Healthplex is some pretty stiff competition in the Fondren area.
Glad to see it there, but I agree that parking will be brutal.
Will this be a gym for hippies?
The Club at St. D is less than a five-minute walk from this location, and it's a really nice fitness facility with a significantly deeper pocket.
What was the other proposed use of this space? Because I predict it'll be available again in a year or so.
Hope gym people will park somewhere else and walk. Us beer drinkers at the Public or Hops/Habanas obviously need and deserve the priority spots.
Fondren is doing very well. I expect to see a continuing upward trend.
Last I heard, paying customers are a required part of the equation. The only thing that will succeed in The Fondren is a "Lady Mystic Palm Reading and Fortune Telling Emporium" that takes debit cards and Krystal coupons.
This will be a perfect fit for fondren. Fondren has great potential as an older area of town. Add on a few more annual events and night life and this area of Jackson will work. A parking garage will be great also.
Most important thing taken from the article: "We hope to work together with the shopping center to pave all the parking and work on the lights." What slumlord owns this run down center? Potholes everywhere and zero lighting. The success of the gym may be questionable, but parking and going to Fondren Public will hopefully be better experience.
Will this business be "radical" certified and will they pay their water bills? Asking for a friend.
The other proposed use? A Family Dollar, Dollar General or Auto Zone. Fondren dodged a bullet. The owners of the fitness place are already invested in the neighborhood and truly “saved” this from a corporate stronghold that would never have let it go.
10:37...after the passage of seven months, then what?
Doesn't this building flood frequently? Did they elevate all of their equipment?
Will they have water aerobics in the weight room following every heavy storm?
Already hard to find a space in that parking lot or nearby. Unless all the businesses in that shopping center come together to build more parking, they will all suffer.
All these posts about the building and the parking lot made by all these people who claim to never enter Jackson for any reason.
Hyperbole much 9:15?
Fondren has a huge walking/running community. I imagine there are enough people who would walk to this facility during the week. This is good news for Jackson...no matter what the fake stucco Madison crowd has to say.
I live in Fondren and can attest to the poor conditions of the streets, parking lots (or lack there of) and lighting. But we’re slowly making progress. It soon will be the most walkable area in town. Wouldn’t live anywhere else in Jackson.. Congrats to the new building owners and Godspeed.
I think this is a good idea and good for the area. But, parking will be a nightmare for the after work classes. 5 am and 6 am not so much, but starting 4pm, Thunderdome in the parking lot. Those other businesses better have a tow truck on site.
Funky Fondren turning into the 'bougie burbs. Kind of sad.
Don't forget the UMMC employees who like to park in Fondren all day instead of using the UMMC parking lot and shuttle.
It's oddly entertaining to watch stories with no downsides get run through the JJ comment blender and come out as bad news. Some of you really need to get help.
If they have water aerobics they had better pay their water bill.
Baptist Healthplex?
The Club at St Dominic's?
Where are these facilities, and why aren't they advertising?
I was going to mention that Planet Fitness is also not far, so I hope Fondren Fitness offers more services (classes, spa/sauna).
11:12 Wouldn't be on JJ if it was all unicorns and rainbows... WAIT! ..that's what it is!!
It is all gravey in Fondren, and they have small plates too!
Parking will be interesting- that parking lot is always sooo busy. But congrats to Fondren. Not so for the city for making Fondren the target for
the new parking meters. Jackson leaders always seems to want to money grub any private development success!
Kingfish: How would you know where UMMC employees park?
Not so for the city for making Fondren the target for
the new parking meters.
This will be entertaining......parking meters downtown don't work. Someone is going to come around Fondren and empty the coins? Meter maids will patrol to write tickets? Does anybody pay for parking tickets? Does anybody bother to pay any fines?
Oh, man....this is going to be good. I'm going to need a lot of popcorn.
This almost makes me fond of The Fondren.
Agreed, the parking will be an issue...Happy hour is the biggest time for gym members. Also, hours will require security in the parking lot...but overall...I like to see growth.
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