Planet Fitness locations pop up locally where Rite Aids have closed

The site of a former Rite Aid pharmacy at 1970 Echo Hollow Road will reopen as a Planet Fitness gym in the fall. 

The former Rite Aid on 1560 Coburg Road? That’s now a Planet Fitness, too. It opened May 15.

Those two locations join two other local Planet Fitness locations — one on West 11th Avenue and another, which opened last week after renovations, at 4223 Main St. in Springfield.

The four locations share two traits in common.

First, they are operated by the same company, Boston-based Easy Mile Fitness, which operates 75 Planet Fitness locations across five states, Puerto Rico and Canada. By the end of the year, Easy Mile Fitness will run 30 clubs in Oregon, making it the largest Planet Fitness operator in the state, according to a company release. 

Second, they all have big parking lots. 

In an interview with Lookout Eugene-Springfield, Easy Mile Fitness Director of Marketing Michael Paone said demand for fitness is strong in the area and called Oregon’s population “active.” 

“We feel as though the market is underserved in the sense that we want to be able to provide accessible health and wellness options for people,” he said. “And that comes in the form of both high value membership, but also it has to be physically easy for people to get there.” 

Paone said more locations in the area are under consideration although he declined to say where as Easy Mile negotiates leases with landlords. 

As it grows, Easy Mile looks for large population centers and locations that are easy to get to for a lot of people, “whether it’s a big shopping plaza or off the major highway,” Paone said. “That’s kind of our go-to.” 

Planet Fitness is known for its budget-friendly fitness options. A membership is $15 per month for a single location, $25 per month to use any location and bring a guest for free. A current promotion, “Summer Pass,” gives high school students, ages 14-19, free use of any club from June 1 through Aug. 31.