Brooklyn’s new LA Fitness…45,000 square feet

Brooklyn’s new LA Fitness .

BROOKLYN, Ohio — Brooklyn’s new LA Fitness, spanning 45,000 square feet, could be open to the public by 5 p.m. Thursday.

Semi-trucks filled the gym’s parking lot Wednesday, delivering cardio equipment and weights to fill the nearly-finished fitness club. Dozens of staff carried ellipticals and treadmills to the second floor.

The facility is undergoing various inspections by the city, state and Brooklyn fire department to ensure the club is up to par, said LA Fitness Director of Development Anna Zaich. But if all goes according to plan, the club will be open Thursday. However, the grand opening won’t be until March.

“We’re fully staffed, trained and ready to go,” said District Operations Manager Chris Kmieciak. “We just need the green light to open.”

Zaich said the location at 5000 Tiedeman Road appealed to LA Fitness because of the proximity of I-480 and the visibility.

The $9 million project started in May 2013, after Visconsi Companies bought land from the Key Bank.

The city isn’t sure how much revenue the facility will bring in, but the expected staff is about 50 full- and part-time employees, said Brooklyn Economic Development Director Fran Migliorino. The city welcomes any additional revenue.

“Brooklyn is thrilled to have LA Fitness in the city”, said Mayor Richard Balbier. ” This Center will bring new revenue and jobs to our city, and we wish them much success for the future.”

The club has a 25-yard, three-lane pool, four racquetball courts, a full basketball court, a cycling studio and an aerobics studio for group fitness classes, such as yoga and Zumba.

There will also be 73 cardio machines, 50 weight machines, 62 free weights, 10 group-fitness instructors and 30 group-fitness classes. There’s also babysitting for kids 3 months to 12 years.

LA Fitness, which started in 1984, offers a variety of memberships that range in price. The featured club rate is about $30 a month with a $99 initiation fee, and it doesn’t require a long-term contract.