Property manager for Marx says Planet Fitness deal finalized, opening in fourth quarter likely

QUINCY — A spokesperson for Marx Commercial Properties and Development Company confirmed Tuesday that Planet Fitness will move into a building at 30th and Broadway, with a projected opening in the fourth quarter of 2023.

Chuck Bevelheimer, director of planning and development, said in October that property owner Tom Marx planned to convert the former County Market grocery store into a Planet Fitness. However, property manager Tory Kaufmann said at the time that Marx had no comment about Planet Fitness’ future in Quincy.

Kaufmann said Marx and Planet Fitness recently completed an agreement “within the last two weeks.”

“They’re definitely coming to Quincy,” he said.

Kaufmann said Marx’s work as the landlord of the property is close to being finished. However, Kaufmann said he can’t hand the property to Planet Fitness until electric panels and meters arrive in Quincy to complete construction. 

“It’s a supply chain issue,” he said. “There is electricity in the building, but since we’re subdividing (the property), each space has to get its own meter and its own panel. Right now, it’s just one big meter that kind of controls everything. When you subdivide and you want to get utilities on their own, this is what we have to do.”

The panels and meters were ordered in October 2022.

“I wish I had an answer (for when he expects them to arrive),” Kaufmann said. “Everybody’s dealing with this. This is not just us or just developers in the Quincy area. It’s nationwide. Everybody I’ve talked to has issues with this electrical stuff.”

Marx Commercial Properties also is building 6,000 square feet of retail space for three businesses on the northeast corner of 30th and Broadway. Verizon will be a tenant, and Kaufmann said he has received “letters of intent” on two other spaces.

“We have two tenants who have told us they intend to lease the spaces, but we do not have signed leases as of yet,” he said. “I can’t say who they are or what they do just yet.”

County Market closed the store at the 6.67-acre property in 2008. A Long John Silver’s restaurant previously was on the corner of 30^th and Broadway. It closed in 2014 and later was demolished.

Planet Fitness, founded in 1992, is based in Hampton, N.H. It operates more than 2,300 fitness centers in all 50 states. It also has locations in Canada, the Dominican Republic, Panama, Mexico and Australia. Business Insider reported in 2017 that Planet Fitness is the nation’s fastest growing fitness center franchise. Memberships are $10 a month.