Fitness chain’s last Lehigh Valley location closing permanently

The last Lehigh Valley location of a fitness chain will end operations later this week.

Retro Fitness Bethlehem, which offers a wide range of strength and cardio equipment along with other amenities like group fitness classes, personal training and a cardiovascular movie theater, will close Friday, May 27, at 1856 Stefko Blvd., according to a message. emailed to members.

“We appreciate the business you have provided us over the years and thank you for being a loyal member,” the message reads.

Bethlehem Gym, which opened in the Stefko Boulevard Mall in 2014, is one of 100 Retro Fitness locations nationwide.

Other local Retro Fitness gyms previously operated from 2008 to 2011 at the Mountainville Shopping Center on South Fourth Street in Allentown and from 2008 to 2020 at the Calle 25 Shopping Center in Palmer Township.

The ’80s-inspired New Jersey-based fitness chain with checkered floors, red and yellow gear and old movies in the workout areas offers monthly memberships starting at $19.99.

Other amenities include tanning, juice bars, full-service locker rooms, and supervised children’s playrooms.

Retro Fitness Bethlehem members with questions or concerns regarding their memberships are encouraged to contact ABC Financial at 866-364-4596 or [email protected]. All membership billing has been disabled as of May 5 and memberships will be automatically canceled with no additional charges.

“We are working with ABC Financial to refund full paid memberships as well,” the message continues. “We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause you and wish you continued success on your fitness journey.”

The Bethlehem gym space, totaling nearly 14,000 square feet, is listed as “available soon” on the Stefko Boulevard shopping center’s online site plan.

Two more businesses are coming soon: This Is Burrito, a fast-casual restaurant specializing in made-to-order burritos, along with B Positive, a state-of-the-art blood plasma collection site, opening later this year. in the mall, according to Scott Horner, vice president of Colliers International’s Allentown office, which brokered the deals.

B Positive, which will occupy a 3,200-square-foot space on the south end of the center, collects high-quality blood plasma for use in creating life-saving therapies.

All blood types are welcome, and donors are compensated for each completed donation, according to the company’s website.

Donors, who must be between the ages of 18 and 65, can donate plasma twice a week and earn more than $500 a month.

This Is Burrito, which will occupy a 2,000-square-foot space just a few doors down from B Positive, will operate similarly to popular chain burrito restaurants, owner Karen Lin said.

Diners will be able to customize their orders with proteins like beef and chicken along with lettuce, salsa, cheese and other toppings. Tacos and other Mexican favorites will also be available.

The B Positive space had been empty for more than a decade, while the This Is Burrito space previously housed J’s Steaks & Subs, which moved a few blocks north to 2140 Stefko Blvd. in 2017.

Both spaces are currently under construction and tentative opening dates have yet to be announced.

Stefko Boulevard Shopping Center, owned by Regency Centers, sits on a dense commercial corridor and is home to more than a dozen other businesses, including Valley Farm Market, Dollar Tree, Fine Wine & Good Spirits, Stefko Pharmacy, T-Mobile and Little CALI arepas and empanadas bar.