By Jason Klaiber
Staff Writer
A nationwide chain of fitness clubs will open up its first-ever location in the Syracuse area later in the year.
Currently in construction, the new Crunch Fitness will move into the former “Herb” Philipson’s site in DeWitt Town Center at 3179 Erie Boulevard East in early December.
“We’ll be in our space around Dec. 6 if the moon and the sun line up together,” Mark Lavine, the location’s marketing manager, said.
The single-floor, 23,000-square-foot facility will feature treadmills, stair steppers, recumbent bikes, stationary bikes, elliptical machines, HydroMassage equipment, tanning beds, showers, lockers and 60-inch televisions suspended from the ceiling.
The space will also accommodate a studio for spin classes and a 2,500-square-foot classroom to be used for yoga, Zumba, Pilates and Total Resistance exercises.
Additionally, the gym will include weightlifting items such as bumper plates and dumbbells ranging from one to 120 pounds.
“There’s something for everyone,” Lavine said.
The local Crunch Fitness will offer three membership options with monthly recurring payments at a base level of $9.95, a peak level of $19.95 and a peak results level costing $29.95.
Lavine said the location will have special programs for veterans, active military personnel and first responders.
The fitness center will also offer deals for businesses wishing to register employees, dependent on the number of employees a given company has on staff.
The base level includes benefits like access to the DeWitt location, use of its locker rooms and showers, circuit training, and an online nutrition assistance program available through the Crunch Fitness mobile application.
The peak level includes every asset of the base level as well as access to the almost 300 Crunch Fitness centers across the country, use of the HydroMassage and tanning equipment, a free T-shirt and the ability to bring one guest per visit to the gym.
This level also contains live workout sessions with nationally certified trainers that can be streamed on phones, laptops and Smart TVs.
“If it’s 80 inches of snow out there and you can’t get to the gym, we’ll bring it to you,” Lavine said.
The peak results level of membership includes advanced high-intensity interval training classes, during which members would tackle such exercises as tire throws, kettlebells, adult monkey bars, heavy bags, battle ropes and kickboxing activities in minute-long bursts interspersed with rest.
Lavine said the new space sits at a “centrally located” and “mainstream” part of town with accessible parking.
“Most of the businesses that are in that plaza do very well,” Lavine said. “They’ve got Five Guys. They’ve got Harbor Freight. Taco Bell has been there forever.”
Until the opening, the business will be giving away free five-day passes to individuals who call 315-449-0626 or meet with one of the Crunch Fitness employees, some of whom plan to station themselves at Natur-Tyme at 3160 Erie Boulevard East during the enrollment period.
General Manager Rebecca Taylor-Hunt said Crunch Fitness does not rely on contracts, commitments or cancellation fees, as members can back out at any time.
“I think that sets us apart from other gyms,” she said.
Those interested can also visit the website crunchdewitt.com for more information.
Crunch Fitness started in 1989 in a New York City basement and has since grown as a business with locations across the country and outside of the United States in places such as Canada, Spain and Australia.
