News

Health-centric retailers thriving

March 7, 2013

As many Americans get serious about living a healthier lifestyle, more stores are popping up and thriving that cater to the health-conscious market. According to an article on usatoday.com, neighborhood shopping centers and strip malls are becoming "suburban havens of healthy living."

Ice cream parlors are going the way of frozen yogurt, the article reported, and fitness centers are exploding. Fitness International, owner of 665 LA Fitness and City Sports Club locations, opened 54 clubs last year — many in shuttered Circuit City and Borders stores, says Bill Horner, senior vice president/chief real estate officer, in the article.

"Typically, the health club member has higher educational attainment and disposable income," he said. "As a shopping center owner, if you think that's what's coming into your center two or three or four times a week, we've become a very viable anchor tenant to attract a pretty attractive customer."

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