Edge Fitness Opens Its Doors In Derby

Gym, tan, laundry?

You can practically overdose on the first third of the Jersey Shore” mantra in Derby now that Edge Fitness is open for business on Route 34. 

It’s the second fitness club to open along Route 34 in Derby in six months. Snap Fitness, less than a mile away, opened in June.

Edge Fitness opened last month. The ceremonial ribbon-cutting was Monday afternoon.

Edge co-owner Larry McNellis said the Derby location makes for a perfect market, drawing on Derby and the neighboring towns of the Naugatuck Valley.

We’ve been successful in all our other markets,” he said of the six other Edge Fitness locations. Being on Route 34, Derby doesn’t have this type of club yet.”

The Edge opened at a former Staples location. The company renovated the space to the tune of $2 million, according to information from Derby City Hall. 

The new fitness club has about 30 employees. 

While the recession that started in 2008 has kicked most businesses in the shins, fitness clubs weathered the bad times relatively well, according to Meredith Poppler, vice-president of industry growth for IHRSA, a trade group for the fitness industry.

PHOTO: Caitlin EmmaWhile growth slowed for the past couple years, there was no major dip like other industries,” Poppler said. Our research and experience shows that a health club membership is one of the last expenses a consumer would cut.”

Poppler pointed to research showing U.S. health club membership reached 50.2 million in 2010, a 10.8 percent increase from 45.3 million in 2009. 

Poppler said total industry revenues in 2010 were $20.3 billion, up 4 percent, while the number of health club locations totaled 29,890, a slight increase from 29,750 in operation in 2009.

Two fitness clubs near each other is not necessarily a bad thing, Poppler said. 

It definitely depends on the type of club and their target market. What’s not good is if the two clubs are so similar that the only distinction becomes price,” she said.

Edge Fitness co-owner Jim Sansone, an Orange resident, said he’s used to succeeding in a competitive industry.

We’re used to competition,” Sansone said. We’re in a major Fairfield County market.”

New members could join Monday for $1 and $19.99 a month after that. A membership includes a one hour session with a certified personal trainer and group exercise classes.

Normally, the initial sign-up requires a down payment of about $49, McNellis said.

The Edge is open Monday thru Friday from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m., Saturdays from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sundays from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.

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