Orangetheory Fitness Opening Lakewood Location On Monday

LAKEWOOD, OH — An Orangetheory Fitness is set to open on Detroit Avenue in Lakewood. The gym will officially open to the public on Monday.

Orangetheory Lakewood is being opened by Stephanie and Kurt Altenburger, two Cleveland-area residents, that operate a string of Orangetheory gyms across the region. Their first location was actually in Rocky River.

Stephanie told Patch that she's had her eye on opening a Lakewood location for a long time. She said that when the Rocky River location opened in 2015, many of their members were actually Lakewood residents that were driving to the gym.

"When we’re looking to open new studios, we want to make it convenient to members. We don’t want there to ever be a reason they can’t get to a studio. Lakewood has been on our radar since the [Rocky River opening]," she said.

Landing a spot in Lakewood took time, though. Partly that's because the Altenburgers wanted to find someplace with ample parking — a scarce resource in Lakewood. Luckily, their new location at 14202 Detroit Ave. will be able to utilize parking from the nearby Giant Eagle, thanks to an agreement between Orangetheory and the grocery store.

"We didn't want any friction points for customers," Stephanie noted.

The studio is currently letting visitors take a look around and tryout the gym for free, Stephanie said. Lakewood residents will be given the chance to take a free class, at a time of their choosing, she added.

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What to Expect

Stephanie is quick to note that Orangetheory isn't like many other gyms. "We're not Planet Fitness," she quipped.

First, she said customers can expect a warm welcome when they come to the studio.

"That’s why we chose to be the area developers. Sometimes when you walk into a franchise, it can feel very process-oriented, but we wanted people to feel warm and embracing," she said. "We want to know how we can help people, what their goals are, and how we can help them achieve."

Second, she believes the technology at Orangetheory, which she said is mostly proprietary, will entice many to make steady visits.

Much of the technology is dedicated to tracking the progress of each customer. The metrics taken during workouts can help people visualize what they've accomplished and how far they've come, Stephanie said.

She said, for instance, a treadmill will know who is using it and will be able to determine how a runner is doing. That information will be funneled into a customer's personal app, which they can access whenever they want on their phones.

Ultimately, Stephanie feels customers will be able to enjoy the gym, regardless of their enthusiasm or experience working out.

"Our program works for everybody, whether you’re an athlete or someone that hasn’t worked out before," she said. "There is not anybody we cannot accommodate. We just need to know what your goals are."

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