St. James Performance Club, the new fitness brand taking over the old Washington Sports Club space at 6828 Wisconsin Avenue in Bethesda, is opening a Pre-Opening Studio across the street. Or, you might say, it is pre-opening a Pre-Opening Studio, because there is brown paper over the windows right now. It is located next to Bray and Scarff. The real club opening this winter will feature its "Build Burn Recover methodology" in high-performance individual training areas, premium studios for group classes, and a Recovery Suite.
There will also be a Vim &Victor restaurant. It's already unusual to have a restaurant in a gym, but St. James is setting the bar even higher than you would expect. Not only is the menu by celebrity chef Spike Mendelsohn, but at their flagship Springfield complex, they even offer curbside pickup of takeout orders and have a cocktail bar.
Founding Memberships for the Bethesda location are now available, and that's the central purpose of the Pre-Opening Studio. Prospective members can learn more about the facilities, equipment and programs. True Body Fit (R.I.P.) opened a similar preview space across the street from its facility in the old Bethesda Post Office, where they had actual small-scale classes and equipment for members and prospective members to try out.
Parking is difficult around the St James location. The decrepit garage at the corner of Wisconsin Ave and Bradley Blvd is very busy. Garage access has expanded over the years. Used by customers of the Petsmart and Staples stores. Then the Jeep dealer's visitors. Bank of America too? Without easy parking, how will this location work for an elite fitness club?
ReplyDeleteAgree. Poor parking is going to be a dealbreaker for many.
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