Northern New Jersey’s retail landscape is getting a major workout. Real estate services firm JLL has successfully arranged two major fitness leases totaling more than 31,000 square feet, underscoring a powerful post-pandemic boom in the region’s health and wellness sector.
The deals bring high-profile gym concepts Elev8tion Fitness and Planet Fitness into prominent, high-traffic retail corridors in Bergen and Passaic counties, proving that modern consumers are prioritizing convenience and accessibility in their daily exercise routines.
In a major retail coup, Miami-born boutique gym brand Elev8tion Fitness has signed a lease for 14,750 square feet at the Bergen Town Center in Paramus.
As one of New Jersey’s most heavily trafficked shopping destinations—anchored by consumer giants like Whole Foods and Target—the complex provides exactly what modern fitness operators crave: immense visibility and built-in daily foot traffic. JLL’s retail team represented the property’s ownership group in the transaction, while Michael Dibi of Keller Williams City Views Realty represented the gym.
Simultaneously, national giant Planet Fitness has secured a 16,561-square-foot lease at 663 Main Avenue in downtown Passaic.
The deal, brokered directly between JLL and the property landlord, Hanini Group, places the gym chain squarely within a dense, highly accessible urban corridor. The location relies heavily on public transit connectivity, serving a local demographic looking for convenient, budget-friendly fitness options.
The dual deals are a direct reflection of broader data highlighted in JLL’s Q1 U.S. Retail Insights report. Across the country, fitness concepts are currently driving the bulk of leasing activity in shopping centers and downtown commercial districts.
“Consumers continue to prioritize health, wellness, and accessibility, and fitness operators are responding by securing space in locations that make workouts easier for them to integrate into their daily routine,” David Townes, managing director of JLL’s New Jersey Retail Advisory team said.
Alana Friedman, vice president at JLL, noted that this strategy treats the physical location as part of the membership draw. “In today’s market, the most successful fitness concepts are treating real estate as part of the customer experience, selecting sites that seamlessly integrate into consumers’ everyday routines,” she explained. “We anticipate the sector will continue to deepen its presence in mixed-use and high-traffic retail settings.”
