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Warwick Avenue Planet Fitness Cuts Ribbon on $1Million Renovation

[CREDIT: Rob Borkowski] L-R: Councilman Stephen McAllister, Boys & Girls Club Executive Director Lara D’Antuono, City Councilor Edgar Ladouceur, Manager Erika Ueberbacher, owner Anne Marie Lukin, Mayor Scott Avedisian, Steven Sholes, Councilman Richard Corley, Andy Sholes and Rich Sholes.
[CREDIT: Rob Borkowski] L-R: Councilman Stephen McAllister, Boys & Girls Club Executive Director Lara D’Antuono, City Councilor Edgar Ladouceur, Manager Erika Ueberbacher, owner Anne Marie Lukin, Mayor Scott Avedisian, Steven Sholes, Councilman Richard Corley, Andy Sholes and Rich Sholes.
[CREDIT: Rob Borkowski] Warwick Avenue Planet Fitness owner Anne Marie Lukin and Boys & Girls Club Executive Director Lara D’Antuono. The Lukins donated $2,500 to the Warwick Boys & Girls Clubs during the ribbon cutting March 2.
[CREDIT: Rob Borkowski] Warwick Avenue Planet Fitness owner Anne Marie Lukin and Boys & Girls Club Executive Director Lara D’Antuono. The Lukins donated $2,500 to the Warwick Boys & Girls Clubs during the ribbon cutting March 2.
Editor’s note: The author is a member at this gym.

WARWICK, RI — There’s more space, all new equipment, new locker rooms and a renewed focus on  instruction and acceptance at the Planet Fitness Warwick Avenue location following a $1 million renovation begun in November 2016.

“You’re good to go, now,” said Michael Peters, Planet Fitness operations area manager for New England, during a grand re-opening ceremony Thursday morning drawing Mayor Scott Avedisian, City Councilor Edgar Ladouceur, City Councilor Steve McAllister, and Boys & Girls Club Executive Director Lara D’Antuono, franchise owners Anne Marie and Stephen Lukin and landlords Steven, And and Rich Sholes.

Aside for a few finishing touches, the equipment, locker rooms and new equipment is open to current and aspiring gym members, he said. Since the construction occurred during their membership sale, the offer, $1 down, $10 a month for new members, is being extended till March 16, he said.

The spruced-up gym is open 24 hours on weekdays now, closing at 9 p.m. Fridays and open 7 a.m. till 7 p.m. weekends.

Anne Marie said work on upgrading the building cost about $1 million, and just wrapped up Wednesday. She said when she bought the franchise from the former owner Aug. 1 2016, it was clear a number of updates were in order, and she got work started on the construction in the fall.

“It’s important to do all the upgrades with the equipment,” Anne Marie said.

A few gym memberships were cancelled as a result of the location’s re-focus on the Planet Fitness branded focus on acceptance, the “Judgement Free” ethic, which discourages behavior like slamming weights and loud grunting, Anne Marie said.

There is also a renewed focus on unlimited fitness training (available first come, first served to the first five people who sign up to one of several daily sessions), Anne Marie said.

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[CREDIT: Rob Borkowski]The black card member area is more private following a months-long upgrade of the Planet Fitness on Warwick Avenue.
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There’s all new equipment following a months-long upgrade of the Planet Fitness on Warwick Avenue.
Rob Borkowski
Author: Rob Borkowski

Rob has worked as reporter and editor for several publications, including The Kent County Daily Times and Coventry Courier, before working for Gatehouse in MA then moving home with Patch Media. Now he's publisher and editor of WarwickPost.com. Contact him at [email protected] with tips, press releases, advertising inquiries, and concerns.

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