New open-air fitness studio now testing for 2020 launch in Bethesda

More and more green space and open sky disappear by the day under the Montgomery County Council and Planning Board's urbanization vision of a sea of concrete, glass and steel. Should fresh air and the natural sunlight source of Vitamin D be a part of your fitness regimen in an urban area? sōheira, a new open-air fitness concept, believes they should.

The new business has leased rooftop space at the Peripoint Building at 7800 Old Georgetown Road. They are hosting drop-in classes over the winter, in preparation for an official studio launch in 2020. A limited number of beta test classes will be offered this month, and spaces are limited. See the sōheira website for details on how to register, and for more information about the use of the rooftop space and courses.

Orangetheory Fitness leases space at 7900 Wisconsin Avenue

Orangetheory Fitness space at 7900 Wisconsin
is lit up at bottom right of picture in this view
from Woodmont Avenue at St. Elmo Avenue

Update: 8:22 AM - The article has been updated to note yet another casualty of the Montgomery County Council's "Nighttime Economy Task Force" debacle, the end of overnight hours at formerly 24-hour Harris Teeter at 8300 Wisconsin Avenue

Orangetheory Fitness has leased the Woodmont Avenue-facing retail space in the future 7900 Wisconsin Avenue development in downtown Bethesda. The fitness chain's closest existing locations are in the Park Potomac development and at 4600 Wisconsin Avenue N.W. in Tenleytown.

There's only one downside to this - it was previously hoped this space would go to a restaurant or bar, in order to activate the Woodmont Avenue streetscape after business hours. With the largest two ground floor spaces now leased, there is no longer room for an upscale restaurant or nightspot at the property. Of course, it could have been worse - such as yet another bank.

Orangetheory's downtown Silver Spring location lists classes starting as late as 8:15 PM. That still won't be late enough to energize this dead block of Woodmont, a growing problem as downtown Bethesda's nightlife cratered after the disastrous Montgomery County Council Nighttime Economy Task Force initiative. At night, that side of Woodmont is currently dark and deserted from Norfolk Avenue all the way to Wisconsin Avenue near Jones Bridge Road, a pedestrian-unfriendly stretch once you pass the 24-hour Tastee Diner.

The remaining two vacant spaces are 1958 SF and 951 SF, only large enough for a fast-casual carry-out or boutique. Developer JBG Smith, according to a JBG employee, had already reached agreement with grocery store Trader Joe's to be the anchor retail tenant at the 18-story residential building in 2014. We'll have to hope the pedestrian traffic using the very nice cut-through plaza the building will have between Woodmont and Wisconsin (including a mirrored ceiling), and (hopefully) late-night grocery hours, can inject some humanity on both sides of the development after dark.

SoldierFit to open in Bethesda

New fitness studio concept SoldierFit is coming to downtown Bethesda. It will be located at 7920 Norfolk Avenue, where M&T Bank used to be until this summer. The building is owned by Douglas Development.

Laehfles moves to downtown Bethesda

Laehfles, a health boutique and fitness studio, has moved downtown. Formerly on Landy Lane off River Road, they have just opened at 4907 Cordell Avenue, on the second floor.

The business was started by Bethesda native Elisabeth Ostler. A comprehensive fitness program centers around tailored workouts, diet plans, nutrition and individual coaching. See their website for more details and class schedules.

Club Pilates soft opening Thursday in Bethesda (Photos)

The permanent sign is up and lit at the new Club Pilates, replacing Ten Thousand Villages at 4959 Elm Street in downtown Bethesda. One of two new fitness options opening in Bethesda this week, Club Pilates will hold a soft opening this Thursday, February 22, 2018.

Training Ground to hold grand opening this Saturday, Jan. 6, in Bethesda

Training Ground, a new fitness concept located at 4940 Hampden Lane, Suite 200 in downtown Bethesda, will hold its Grand Opening this coming Saturday, January 6, 2018 from 1:00-3:00 PM.  Click here for free tickets.

The first 50 attendees will receive a free gift bag. Inside the bag will be snacks from Amazi, Noshbar and Territory Foods. Bag winners will also be entitled to a free personal training consultation at Training Ground, and a free physical therapy consultation from Cohen Health & Performance.

Everyone will enjoy free food and mimosas from Bethesda Row eateries Sweetgreen and Modern Market as they tour the facility. Training Ground's selling point is that they provide the large, modern space and world-class fitness equipment, but the various training options are provided by the independent personal trainers who use the facility as a shared workspace.

Photos courtesy Training Ground

Barre3 to open in Bethesda - free classes tonight & Dec. 6, 13

Step up to the barre - - the latest fitness studio entry with a "barre"-branded name will be Barre3. They're going to open in the ground floor of the Palisades apartments at 4835 Cordell Avenue in downtown Bethesda. But at 6:00 PM tonight (Wednesday, November 29) and December 6 and 13, you can try one of their classes for free in the Palisades' community room. No Barre3 experience is necessary.

Just bring a yoga mat and water bottle, and enter the Palisades' main entrance, stay to the right past the elevators, then turn left and follow the signs to the community room. Barre3 is described as "a killer 60 minute workout that will give you a deep muscle burn, heart rate spike and an endorphin high while also balancing your body and centering your mind."

When the actual Barre3 studio opens, they will have a Play Lounge where you can drop off your kids while you work out.

True Body Fit to open in historic Bethesda post office this month (Photos)

The gym being constructed inside the historic Bethesda Post Office building at 7400 Wisconsin Avenue has a new name, and finally some hope of opening soon. After a lengthy construction process the owner acknowledges was "delicate and complex," the gym has also changed its name from Bridges to True Body Fit. It is expected to open its doors before the end of the month.

True Body Fit plans to turn the relatively small size of the space into an advantage, by marketing itself as a gym that will offer more individual and personalized attention than the mega-gyms popping up countywide these days. You can't tell from the street, but there will also be a rooftop yoga terrace. Fitness programs will be designed to balance cardio, strength, yoga, nutritional awareness, healing, and stress reduction.

Sign installed at Solidcore in Bethesda (Photos)

The sign is up at Solidcore at 7101 Wisconsin Avenue in downtown Bethesda. Originally expected to open this month, the fitness studio chain touts First Lady Michelle Obama among its high-profile clients.

What's going on in the old Bubbles space on Wisconsin Avenue? (Photos)

There's been some activity recently in the former Bubbles salon space at 7475 Wisconsin Avenue, in the Bethesda Crescent building. Now fitness equipment has appeared, as well as a building permit for that address - 7475 Wisconsin - from the Montgomery County Department of Permitting Services.

Here's the interesting part - the equipment and permit are for Bridges Fitness and Yoga, which was supposed to be opening in the historic U.S. Post Office across the street last fall. Hmm.

Yoga studio in Bethesda's historic post office posts signage (Photos)

Bridges Fitness and Yoga, the future tenant of the historic former U.S. Post Office building at Wisconsin Avenue and Montgomery Lane, has posted Coming Soon signage on the facade. Owner The Donohoe Companies purchased the post office from the USPS in 2011. Bridges will open in Spring 2016.

TOUGH TEMPLE CROSSFIT OPENING APRIL 19 IN BETHESDA (PHOTOS)

Tough Temple Crossfit, a crosstraining fitness center at 4907 Rugby Avenue, is having a grand opening Saturday, April 19. One of several gyms that has either opened recently, or is in the works, TTC is in sync with the latest trend of exercises that incorporate a greater range of body motions. But it also adds another unique component - nutrition. Power Supply has contracted with TTC to deliver custom meals designed for the individual client.

There are 3 skill levels at TTC, from beginner to expert, and a variety of price packages. You can also sign up for a Barbell Club, if lifting is your main thing.

Owner and head trainer John Weeks is a Certified Personal Trainer, with 25 years of martial arts experience. Weeks has studied a diverse array of fitness modalities through the National Academy of Sports Medicine.

Doors will open at 10 AM on April 19. If you sign up by the end of that day, you will get two free months in a yearly membership. Check out their website for more details.

Photos: Robert Dyer @ Bethesda Row
h/t Megan Molloy (@nygirlindc)

PURERYDE POSTS SIGNAGE (PHOTOS)

Temporary signage has been posted at the future Bethesda location of PureRyde, a cycling fitness studio coming soon to the Bradley Shopping Center. PureRyde utilizes unique stationary bikes that allow a greater range of motion and movements than typical exercise bikes, such as simulating riding around curves. As you can see from the photo below, they are also hiring staff.

SCULPT STUDIO GRAND OPENING THIS SATURDAY IN BETHESDA (PHOTOS)

The first Megaformer Pilates fitness studio in Bethesda will open this Saturday, January 25. Sculpt Studio is hosting a special Open House between 1:00-4:00 PM Saturday for local residents.

Visitors will be able to meet the instructors, tour the facilities, become familiar with the unique Megaformer equipment, watch or participate in free 10-minute sessions, and receive 20% off class packages purchased on Saturday.

Photos courtesy of Sculpt Studio

SCULPT STUDIO PILATES GYM OPENING JANUARY 25 IN BETHESDA (PHOTO)

The second big Bethesda fitness announcement this week is from 4900 Auburn Avenue, where Sculpt Studio will open January 25. Sculpt will be the first Megaformer Pilates studio in Bethesda. An endorsement of Megaformer Pilates by Sofia Vergara is prominently displayed on the Sculpt website.

What is Megaformer? It's an exercise machine which is a variation on the Pilates reformer. Much like the more sophisticated cycles coming to PureRyde in the Bradley Shopping Center, these machines offer more movements than traditional equipment in the discipline. That means more parts of the body can be worked out by the machines.

If you like Sculpt Studio on Facebook, they'll give you a free class when it opens. Curious about just what this whole Megaformer thing involves, or if it's right for you? Check out the FAQ section on their website. It certainly sounds like a convenient location for residents of Triangle Towers, The Palisades, and, soon, the Gallery Bethesda.

THE BAR METHOD FITNESS STUDIO TO OPEN IN BETHESDA

NEW TENANT IN

LIONSGATE CONDO

BUILDING

Another Robert Dyer @ Bethesda Row Exclusive

The Bar Method, a fitness studio promising a fat-burning, body-sculpting and posture-improving workout, is moving into a vacated retail space on the ground floor of the Lionsgate building in Bethesda.

Boasting celebrity endorsers like Anna Paquin, Zooey Deschanel and Denise Richards, the company says its Bethesda studio will open in 2013.