$6 million health club face-lift set
Restaurant, bar coming in Weston
By Nick Sortal
South Florida Sun-Sentinel
Posted December 29 2006
Weston's first health club has changed its name and will undergo a $6 million upgrade in 2007.
The Athletic Club at Weston was renamed Midtown Athletic Club earlier this month to coincide with the name change to "Midtown" at 11 other clubs nationwide, company officials said. And this spring, there are plans to expand the locker room, spa and salon, add a restaurant and bar, and generally upgrade the 18-year-old club building at 2300 Royal Palm Blvd.
Weston developer Arvida-JMB Partners built the club on a 27-acre lakefront site in 1988, eight years before Weston was incorporated. In 2001, Arvida sold it to Chicago-based Tennis Corporation of America, the current owner.
During the 1990s, the club was the site for July 4 celebrations, 5K runs and community meetings. People also met for a quick bite at its adjacent restaurant, Cocomo's, which closed in 1996 and was converted by Arvida into a community center for classes, including theater, dance, baton and martial arts. Then the community center closed, and TCA bought it from Arvida and expanded the health club.
"I can't begin to tell you how many people have come up to me and said they moved to Weston because of this health club," general manager Steve Strumpf said. "It's about more than just getting on a piece of equipment, working out and leaving."
Fran Gilman joined the club when it first opened and works out seven days a week. She has lived in the Country Isles neighborhood since 1987, she said, and either swims, plays tennis or works with a personal trainer at the club.
"What appealed to us was the sense of community here," she said. "Our kids grew up coming here and we've just made so many friends."
The two-story center has a spa, 25 tennis courts and personal trainers, as well as an outdoor pool and beach area. Monthly rates are $114 for individuals and $228 for families. There also are initiation fees of at least $500, although Strumpf said there will be a New Year's "sale."
The club is "like a second home" to Georgette Castro, who has been a member since 2000. She likes the dancing, cycling and weights classes, as well as the social events such as wine tastings and cooking classes. But Castro, originally from Venezuela, said the club could use a restaurant.
"In Caracas, a gym like this has a restaurant, or a place to have a drink," she said.
Strumpf said he has applied for a permit, including a liquor license, with the city.
Steven Schwartz, president of the Midtown chain's parent company, TCA Holdings, said the restaurant would be called the M Café, offering "a fusion of European and Latin tastes."
"Think South-Beach-meets-health-club," he said. "The point really is that we stay a social center, not just a racket club or a health club."
Nick Sortal can be reached at nsortal@sun-sentinel.com or 954-385-7906.
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