Aspen Athletic Club opens at Penn Square

Patrick · 10-07-2004, 01:34 PM

Simon Management at Penn Square was pretty smart. They had some extra storage space they weren't using that wasn't accessible to the main mall concourse. It was basically wasted space. So, mall management decided to put it to use and make some money off of it. They leased 30,000 square feet to Aspen Athletic Club. The club is located in space that used to be part of Rothschild's Department store. Since the space is not accessible to the main mall concourse, the only entrance is outside the mall, on the northwest side of the mall. Without access to the main mall concourse, mall management never really expected to lease the space. But when Aspen came forward with the proposal, mall management jumped on it. Hey, it's basically more money for mall management, for space they never thought they'd lease.

It's a smaller club than most Aspen has, so it doesn't have a swimming pool, but supposedly they have a pretty nice workout room.
The club had been operating a temporary work to facility at what used to be a Fye music store. Aspen moved out of their temporary facility about a month ago in preparations for moving into their new facility. Mall management has since leased the old Fye location to two national retailers. Can't make an announcement on that yet.

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"Aspen Athletic Club opens third facility in Oklahoma City
Posted: Thursday, October 07, 2004
OKCBusiness NewsWire

Aspen Athletic Club opens third facility in Oklahoma City

Aspen Athletic Club announced today the grand opening of its third premiere athletic training facility in Oklahoma City and Edmond.

The completion of the elegant exercise and wellness club allows patrons to experience a unique upscale fitness environment in one of Oklahoma City’s landmark shopping destinations inside Penn Square Mall.

The new Aspen is two levels including a workout floor with first-class free weights, strength-training equipment by Lifefitness, an array of cardio devices including cross-trainers, treadmills and LifeCycles.

Aspen’s group exercise studio offers Core ‘n’ Sculpt, Step Reebok, yoga, Pilates, cycling and many more energetic exercise classes. Tanning is also available.

Aspen differentiates itself by offering NASM certified personal trainers who provide comprehensive health and fitness programs designed individually to maximize clients’ results. Aspen trainers perform comprehensive assessments using computer software to monitor clients’ progress toward fitness goals.

“We saw the new Penn Square club as an urban economic achievement and feel proud that we can help residents in such an auspicious area reach their fitness goals with our first class service approach,” said Joe Pacifico, vice president of sales and marketing."

**Midtowner** · 10-07-2004, 01:42 PM

There actually is quite a bit of wasted space in that Mall building. I worked there for 5 years and you'd be amazed what's back in those halls and under the building.

Patrick · 10-07-2004, 01:47 PM

You worked at Penn Square? When and for who? Anyways, that's pretty interesting. There's so much history in that shopping mall.

Does the mall have a basement or something......you mention "under the building".

I imagine there's so much wasted space because of all of the additions and subtractions that have been made over the years. I will admit, Urban Retail, Inc. did a pretty fine job back in 1988 when they expanded the mall and added all of that space. Sure if you look close you can tell the mall has been added onto, but from the interior concourse, its not very evident. The exterior all matches pretty well though too.