Retro Fitness Scheduled to Open in June

.  And many of our residents have been wanting those new businesses to fill up existing commercial and retail vacancies. . 

As per Silbert Realty & Management Co. Inc., a Retro Fitness is scheduled to open this June in the Hillsborough Centre plaza. (You can see it from the diagram I just linked to.)

Business Advocate Gene Strupinsky clarified, “Yes, Retro Fitness will be opening in Hillsborough. It will not be in the former Blockbuster units but at the other end (near Thai Kitchen III) on the second floor in the space previously occupied by the Primary Care Center at Hillsborough.  This medical office business moved last year to a vacancy in Medicor Plaza (331 Route 206 North).”

Strupinsky further shared, “Two to three weeks ago Retro Fitness submitted their plans to the Building Department which is now reviewing them.”

Retro Fitness’s desire to come to Hillsborough is nothing new, as I found out.  On July 6, 2011 there was a Hillsborough Township Board of Adjustment Meeting where the issue of whether a Retro Fitness would be able to occupy space in Hillsborough Centre was brought up for the first time. Now, eight months later, it’s going to become a reality.

David Greenman, senior vice president of Silbert Realty & Management Co.’s Services Group, also confirmed that Retro Fitness will in fact, be moving into Hillsborough Centre.

He stated, “Retro Fitness is our newest tenant at Hillsborough Centre. They will be pre-selling memberships starting shortly if you're interested in joining. The sales office is located in the unit adjacent to the Stop & Shop.”

I personally don’t go to a gym. They’re not my thing. I prefer to exercise in the outdoors, where it doesn’t feel like exercise to me. But, everyone is different. So to me, I’m pretty neutral on this subject. I can see both sides of the issue. 

Some people will be very happy to see a Retro Fitness open in Hillsborough because they love gyms and/or love Retro Fitness. Additionally, having a new business occupy current vacant properties for lease is a positive thing.

Others, perhaps some current gym owners in town, may not share the same feelings.  Adding a Retro Fitness to our area means competition for them. Will the smaller gyms be able to survive with a “super gym” coming to town?

According to the Township Board of Adjustment meeting minutes, a Retro Fitness facility would provide, “wellness activities; personal trainer; aerobics; a juice bar, chiropractor; massage; physical therapy; and the sale of related merchandise including clothes and vitamins.”

Daily activities were also described as “a mix of group fitness classes, personal training, cardio theater, and exercising on specific equipment.” Noted as well were the provisions of “Day care services and NFL Sunday Ticket."

To me, it sounds like a one stop shop for the fitness guru, childcare included. And if Retro Fitness provides massage, physical therapy, chiropractic services, a juice bar, and vitamins, doesn’t that mean local massage and physical therapists, chiropractors, food and beverage vendors, and health food stores also have more competition?

Competition isn’t always a bad thing, though. It forces businesses to differentiate themselves and keeps prices in line. As one of my friends said to me recently, on another subject, “There’s enough room in cyberspace for everyone to co-exist.”  Maybe she’s onto something—maybe there’s enough room in Hillsborough for current businesses and Retro Fitness to co-exist.