If you think MRI tests are expensive, try buying a magnetic resonance imaging machine. Some health care providers invest millions in technology to help diagnose patients.A $1.5 million fitness center will help Fort Wayne residents keep their New Year resolutions.
Max Fitness is a 20,000-square-foot facility set to open at 1415 W. Dupont Road on Feb. 20, officials said Wednesday. Local businessman Scott Dierckman is renovating a building for the Dupont Road location and also switching his Cardinal Fitness operation at 9914 Illinois Road to the Max Fitness brand.
Plans are uncertain for his Cardinal Fitness operation at 7245 Maplecrest Road.
Dierckman, who came to Fort Wayne from Indianapolis in 2004, said he expects a total investment of more than $2 million in coming months.
“We will have a group exercise room, various classes and other activities,” he said. “We plan on expanding the Illinois Road location from 9,600 square feet to 12,800 square feet.”
Max Fitness Inc., based in Columbus, Ga., is a division of FIT Brands also of Columbus. The company has 16 locations nationwide. The West Dupont Road site, formerly an Ace Hardware store, will begin what Dierckman hopes will be the first of several centers in Fort Wayne.
“It was hard to lose the Cardinal name because it is respected, but we are going for stability and growth and Max Fitness will allow that,” he said. As a franchisee, Dierckman said he has more flexibility to expand and can “go nationwide instead of just regional.”
The fitness centers have 6,000 members in Fort Wayne. Existing memberships will be honored.
Joel Tallman, president of FIT Brands, said Summit City’s “active residents” attracted him to the area.
“There are successful YMCAs up there, and the community is involved in fitness and cares about fitness,” said Tallman, who has been in the industry for 28 years. “We started talking about a strategy to become a major player in the Fort Wayne market.”
In other fitness developments, the Team Bird youth running club in Columbia City has expanded its services.
Director Gary Bird said the club’s popularity prompted it to take on softball, volleyball and other sports.
“We do not provide adult training activities that you may find at adult fitness centers,” Bird said in a statement. “We use the athlete’s body weight to provide coordination, flexibility, agility, strength, speed, and fitness. Our main concern is taking a proactive solution to prevent youth injuries.”
