Fitness centers are flexing their strength across Dallas-Fort Worth, supporting retail centers big and small. And they’re on pace to lease nearly 1M SF of space this year — more than in 2023 and 2024 combined.
In DFW’s largest submarkets, gyms are expanding fast, helping push retail vacancy down to a near-historic low of 4.8%.
By backfilling big-box stores and anchoring both new developments and struggling centers, fitness concepts have become a quiet engine of the Metroplex’s retail recovery.
Courtesy of Club Burn
Club Burn owner Tangela Patrizi said clients have responded well to the fitness concept’s mix of infrared and vacuum technology with traditional exercise equipment.
Leading the charge is Crunch Fitness, which has more DFW locations marked “coming soon” than currently open, according to the chain’s website.
It has leased more than 258K SF so far in 2025.
EōS Fitness is in growth mode, locking in 85K SF in new leases across Plano and Southwest Dallas this year, with up to four more locations expected by the end of 2025.
“While some gyms like LA Fitness are trimming down, others like EōS Fitness are stepping up, backfilling spaces and keeping the DFW retail market in top shape in 2025,” Steve Triolet, senior vice president of research and market forecasting at Partners, said in an email.
Fitness centers have leased more than 343K SF in DFW so far this year, helping keep retail vacancy near historic lows at 4.8%. They’ve also proved resilient backfills for struggling centers that lost anchor tenants. And with the Metroplex still expanding, the market is far from oversaturated, said Weitzman Senior Vice President Ben Terry.
Fitness facility membership hit a record 73 million in 2023, meaning nearly 1 in 4 Americans now belong to a gym, according to the Health & Fitness Association’s 2024 consumer report.
That translates to about 2 million Dallasites hitting the gym, a number that’s only expected to grow. The Metroplex is on track to surpass Chicago as the nation’s third-largest metro by 2030, with population growth projected to continue for decades, according to the Texas Demographic Center.
Despite closures of LA Fitness and 24 Hour Fitness locations, there is little turnover among the major chains, and any empty spaces don’t stay that way for long, according to Terry.
“When a gym goes out, it’s a lot easier to backfill with another gym because somebody’s got to pick up that market share and that demand,” Terry said.
Bisnow/Billy Wadsack
Fitness Connection anchors the shopping center on Buckingham Road in Garland.
Gyms are thriving in both healthy and struggling retail centers. They’ve successfully backfilled spaces left behind by Bed Bath & Beyond, Big Lots, Fiesta Mart and Office Depot, according to Weitzman.
Fitness center deals are growing not just in volume but in variety, driven in part by the surging popularity of pickleball, a major new force in fitness demand.
Before the pandemic and pickleball boom, fitness centers leased about 449K SF across DFW in 2019. That total was nearly cut in half in 2020, dropping to 259K SF as shutdowns squeezed the industry.
Leasing held steady in 2021 at 267K SF, then rebounded to 622K SF in 2022. Activity cooled slightly but remained strong in 2023 and 2024, with 450K SF and 438K SF leased, respectively.
This year, demand has surged again, and the subcategory is on pace to hit 920K SF in 2025.
“Fitness centers are a hot commodity in Dallas shopping centers due to the evolving consumer habits,” Younger Partners Vice President Tanja McAleavey said in an email. “People are prioritizing wellness more than ever.”
Consumer shopping habits have also changed as most DFW shopping centers offer complementary retailers that entice people to stop for coffee, shopping or a quick bite after a workout, McAleavey said.
While success can depend on the area and the surrounding density, Terry said he’s seen fitness centers replace a small grocery anchor and keep shops full.
“A gym like an EōS averages 12,500 members per location,” Terry said. “That’s a lot of draw.”
Bisnow/Billy Wadsack
Crunch Fitness opened in a former Bed Bath & Beyond space in Plano late last year.
Terry is currently scouting sites for four more EōS Fitness locations this year and said the company is expected to open six additional centers in 2026.
Club Burn, a new fitness concept brokered by McAleavey earlier this year in Dallas’s Preston Hollow, blends infrared and vacuum technology with treadmills, recumbent bikes and stair climbers to deliver a gym experience unlike the norm.
“It’s more than a workout,” Club Burn owner Tangela Patrizi said. “It’s like a medicine for your body, and people just love it.”
Securing a location for Club Burn wasn’t easy, McAleavey said, since many shopping centers had existing fitness tenants with exclusivity clauses blocking similar users. Since opening in April, Patrizi has learned that two other boutique studios and an Equinox are planning to open nearby.
But she’s ready for the competition.
“I think there’s a halo effect when you bring people that are interested in fitness to the same area,” Patrizi said. “Not every workout is going to be a fit for every person.”
Parking is often the other issue when finding a lease.
“In Dallas, everything is about easy access and accessibility,” McAleavey said. “People want to park, get in and get out, not circle around trying to find parking.”
Anchor leases signed decades ago with retailers like Target, Ross and T.J. Maxx often included clauses barring gyms from entering shopping centers, Terry said. At the time, fitness centers were viewed as a nuisance that would clog parking lots and deter shoppers.
That perception is shifting, but not all landlords are sold. Fitness tenants often require higher tenant improvement allowances than traditional retailers, making some deals harder to close, Terry said.
“These gyms are looking for a substantial contribution, but they’ll typically pay a higher rent,” Terry said. “You can amortize it in, but it’s just more risk for a landlord because you’re shelling a lot of money in hopes that they’re going to be there for the next 15 to 20 years.”