Fitness First clearing out in Bethesda (Photos)

A convoy of trucks and vans lined up in front of 7900 Wisconsin Avenue yesterday, as the contents of the shuttered Fitness First was unloaded into them. 7900 Wisconsin is being demolished to make way for The JBG Companies' 7900 Wisconsin project, expected to be anchored by a Trader Joe's grocery store. Disappointed the Aldon Management cones didn't make an appearance.

Sport & Health makes a play for Fitness First members in Bethesda

Although it's unclear why the most active members of Fitness First would still be walking up to the shuttered gym on Wisconsin Avenue, give Sport & Health Bethesda credit for trying to fish for some of the stragglers still being shocked by the locked doors at 7900 Wisconsin Avenue. Sport & Health has posted a sign on the door of Fitness First, which closed last Friday night for good, inviting members to take advantage of a limited time offer.

Fitness First members who show their Fitness First membership card at Sport & Health's 4400 Montgomery Avenue gym will get a "special" membership rate.

Fitness First closes in Bethesda (Photos)

Fitness First, as planned, closed its doors forever at the close of business Friday night. Their building, 7900 Wisconsin Avenue, is being demolished to clear the way for a new JBG Companies mixed-use project anchored by Trader Joe's. Fitness First is selling some of their equipment, as you can see in the sign on the door pictured here (click photo to enlarge).

Fitness First to close June 30 as JBG project moves forward in Bethesda

Fitness First will close June 30 at 7900 Wisconsin Avenue in Bethesda. The gym is located in one of several buildings scheduled to be demolished by JBG for its long-delayed 7900 Wisconsin mixed-use project, which is to be anchored by a Trader Joe's grocery store. Fitness First has for years maintained that it had a lease that ran until October 31, 2019, and would not be closing anytime soon. In fact, the gym announced it would be expanding in its current space.

But Fitness First President Peter Harvey now says that "late last week, we learned that this is not the case. We received formal notification from JBG, that they intend on terminating our lease to commence their redevelopment efforts.  It is no longer financially feasible to continue to fight their efforts to redevelop sooner, and so we are sad to announce the closing."

This is sad news for members of the gym, who Harvey says will not be billed for dues in June, for which their prepaid month of dues will be applied. But it also is the final sign of the restart of this project for JBG, which I have been documenting for the past few months. 

JBG PLACES 7900 WISCONSIN/TRADER JOE'S PROJECT ON HOLD IN BETHESDA

The speculation as to when construction will begin on the JBG Companies' 7900 Wisconsin mixed-use project continues. But JBG has just informed adjoining property owners at Fairmont Plaza that the project is now temporarily on hold, while the development firm seeks a joint partner.

On JBG's to-do list during this delay is obtaining a construction loan, and naming a general contractor for the project. As a result, the firm expects construction to now start in June or July, at the earliest. Previously, the plan was to begin demolitions of existing structures on the property this month. The anchor retail tenant at 7900 is expected to be a Trader Joe's grocery store.

Market = Trader Joe's

What has led to some speculation is the matter of Fitness First, a gym tenant in the existing Wisconsin Avenue office building on the property. Fitness First has not only publicly said it has a lease until 2019, but recently began a expansion of its facility - not something a business would ordinarily do if it was going to be demolished in 2015. At the same time, JBG has maintained all along that it has the right to demolish that structure, even having applied for demolition permits from Montgomery County last year. Next door to Fitness First, Parvizian Fine Rugs has said its space is being demolished, and it is moving down Wisconsin Avenue and remaining in Bethesda.

Among concerns expressed by residents of Fairmont Plaza are traffic flow around the affected streets, and ensuring access to the condominium building's parking garage remains unobstructed during construction.

One aspect of this project not in question, is that it will bring some distinctive and impressive architecture to this currently-dead space along Woodmont Avenue.

Renderings via Montgomery County Planning Department/JBG
All rights reserved by JBG

FITNESS FIRST SAYS IT'S HERE TO STAY IN BETHESDA - AND GETTING BIGGER (PHOTOS)

The plot thickens at Fitness First at 7900 Wisconsin Avenue in downtown Bethesda - and it sounds like good news for loyal members. While developer The JBG Companies is planning a mixed-use project that includes the site where the gym currently leases space, Fitness First has maintained it is not leaving.

Now the popular fitness center is apparently not only staying, but expanding. An employee said on Tuesday that the gym will take down walls to adjoining space in the building, to increase the facility's size. He said the gym's owner has signed a new 4-year lease, as well. Of course, Fitness First's owner has previously said their lease ran until 2019, so that is not really a major change in the termination date.

This would suggest that JBG is not going to commence demolition, or construction, for its project - said to be anchored by a Trader Joe's grocery store - anytime soon. Yet, JBG's last public comment on its 7900 Wisconsin project estimated that construction would commence in January or February of 2015 - less than 60 days away.

Further confusing the question, Fitness First's neighbor down the street, a Parvizian rugs showroom, insists it is moving because "this building is being demolished!"

Stay tuned.

JBG REQUESTS DEMOLITION PERMITS FOR 3 BETHESDA BUILDINGS (PHOTO)

Developer JBG has filed for demolition permits for 3 Wisconsin Avenue buildings next to Fairmont Plaza. The buildings are 7900, 7934 and 7924 Wisconsin Avenue. One interesting twist to this story, is that Fitness First, a gym located within the 7900 office building, has said it is remaining in place until October 31, 2019.

Here is the Fitness First statement to its customers from October 2013:

To all present and future Fitness First members:

I would like to put closure to an untrue rumor that Fitness First will not be renewing its lease next year. We have renewed it, and got the counter-signed document from our landlord last week!

On October 17, 2013, our landlord, JBG, signed a second amendment to our lease, thereby extending it through October 31, 2019 (6 more years, at the very least!)

We are proud to be serving the Bethesda community, and have many upgrades in store for our members. In addition to new ellipticals, treadmills, Keiser group cycle bikes and a major replacement of strength machines, we are remodeling many areas of the facility. New flooring in cardio and kids club, and a much needed facelift in the men’s and ladies locker rooms are some of the many upgrades you will experience over the next few months – you may have already have noticed the work in progress.

Fitness First has its own door, with a 7904 street number. But, it is still within the larger structure of 7900. The other two buildings in question are a house-like structure at 7924 Wisconsin, and the former oriental rug store at 7934 Wisconsin.

The eventual demolition will clear the way for JBG's 7900 Wisconsin mixed-use project, which will span the block between Wisconsin and Woodmont Avenues.

Rendering courtesy JBG, All rights reserved

BETHESDA FITNESS FIRST LOCATION UNAFFECTED BY GOLD'S GYM TAKEOVER

Local gym chain Fitness First has been acquired by Gold's Gym, according to The Washington Post's Jonathan O'Connell.

O'Connell quoted Fitness First founder Peter Harvey as promising that only the downtown Bethesda location would be "unaffected," with the others becoming Gold's Gym.

But why?

Let me fill out the rest of the story:

Fitness First is in 7900 Wisconsin Avenue, a building that will likely be torn down in the next year. JBG is redeveloping the site as a mixed-use residential building, which I gave you an update on the other day here.

Columbia Bank has already closed in that building.