LA Fitness to Open First Rhode Island Location at Garden City

CRANSTON, RI (September 4, 2012) – LA Fitness, one of the nation’s fastest growing sports club chains, has chosen Garden City Center as its first Rhode Island location. At Garden City Center LA Fitness will be located next to Office Max in a new 38,000 square foot, two-level building featuring an interior with a hotel-inspired look. To make way for LA Fitness, the former Borders bookstore structure will be demolished. Construction will begin in January 2013 and LA Fitness is expected to open at Garden City Center in late December 2013 or early 2014.

LA Fitness’ commitment to Garden City Center continues the multi-phase transformation of the center into a major 21^stcentury lifestyle destination. Phase I is well underway, with the transformation of the iconic Garden City Center gazebo from the end-cap of the Village to the new focal point of the center recently completed. Additionally, a new 20,000 square foot building is under construction next to Papa Razzi for the new home of Pottery Barn; and work is well underway for an expansion and update of the center’s highly successful Williams Sonoma.  LA Fitness will mark the beginning of Phase II by transforming former large format retail space into a mix of mid-size and smaller specialty stores, while linking that area to Garden City Center’s Village stores. Further phases will include the addition of new restaurants and redesigned connections to the Whole Foods Market section of the center.

“LA Fitness brings a new dimension to the Garden City Center experience for our shoppers,” said Andrew T. LaGrega, a principal of The Wilder Companies, the management company of Garden City Center. “Today, people don’t have time to run around from place to place. Garden City Center offers consumers one-stop access to retail and grocery shopping, restaurants, banking, fitness, personal services and other activities that are part of today’s busy lifestyles.  By selecting Garden City Center for its first Rhode Island location, we believe LA Fitness recognizes that Garden City Center offers the right atmosphere and mix of amenities that 21^st Century consumers demand.”

Founded in 1984, LA Fitness currently has over 500 locations in 22 states and Canada, including 13 locations in New England, and offers a wide range of amenities designed to promote a healthy lifestyle. This new facility will include state-of –the art cardio equipment, a heated indoor lap pool, basketball and racquetball courts; group fitness classes including Zumba, yoga and aqua fit; as well as spa, sauna and locker room facilities, babysitting and more.

Other recent additions to Garden City Center include:  Ann Taylor, which opened its second Rhode Island location with a 4,700 square foot store in Garden City Center in June. In early October, European Wax, a premier waxing service provider, will open a new 1,787 square foot store next door to a newly signed Courtesy Cleaners (opening October 2012) located near Whole Foods Market. Additionally, Clogs by Alexander’s, Soma Intimates and Edible Arrangements all recently opened stores in the Village.

Located on Route 2 in Cranston, Garden City Center has 500,000 square feet of retail and office space. It was one of the first centers of its kind in the country and generations have fond memories of GCC shopping excursions.  The center is currently home to 55 shops, services, and eateries including Anthropologie, Banana Republic, Loft, Mel and Me, White House/Black Market, Providence Diamond Company, Chico’s, Coldwater Creek, Pinkberry, Williams-Sonoma, and Whole Foods Market.

Based in Boston, The Wilder Companies specializes in the merchandising and positioning of retail properties. The Company has over 40 years experience developing regional malls, specialty centers, urban properties and mixed-use developments throughout the country and Puerto Rico. In addition to its own investment partnerships Wilder provides property management and leasing services for institutions, owners and investors. The Company currently has a portfolio of 50 properties throughout the East Coast.