By Walter Gong
Gold''s Gym corporation 'broke ground' Wednesday for a new building at the former Fred Meyer building in Orem.
The facility, located at 1275 S. 800 East in Orem, will open May 2005, replacing the Gold''s Gym on 1640 S. State Street in Orem.
The 75,000 square foot facility will include a fitness center, basketball court, pool and expanded corporate offices.
A new Gold''s Gym in south Orem could relieve some of the strain on the overcrowded location on Provo 900 East, members say.
Students who work out at the 900 East location say it''s crowded and the equipment is often unavailable.
'State Street is better for working out because it''s less crowded,' said Nikki Spurgeisz, a junior from Littleton, Colo.
Lauren Stimpson, a 20-year-old senior from Tupelo Miss., also said the new location will be better and is excited about the change.
'I think it''s worth the drive, definitely,' Stimpson said. 'Especially if it''s brand new.'
When the renovation is complete, Gold''s will move from its State Street gym and offices to the new location.
'They have been at that older office for so long, they wanted a new gym with all the amenities for the staff,' said Amber Hawkins, marketing representative for Gold''s Gym of Utah.
According to company statistics, Gold''s Gym of Utah has seen at least a 15 percent increase in membership for each of the last three years, for a current total of 125,000 members. About 22,000 people work out at Gold''s Gyms in Utah every day.
The company, which owns franchises of the national Gold''s Gym chain, was founded in 1981 in Orem and currently owns 13 gyms.