2025 has been a big year for news involving Gyms and Fitness Centers in New Jersey. The industry used to be a thriving business with numerous locations until the COVID-19 Pandemic shut down all gyms for several months in 2020.
In 2019, Health Clubs and Fitness Centers comprised an industry that grossed $96.7 Billion worldwide. But many regional and local gyms in New Jersey were closed permanently because of what the world went through in 2020.
The good news is that in recent years, we have seen the rebirth of the Health and Fitness Industry. In 2025, New Jersey has new gyms opening and others rebuilding old facilities, along with the expansion of regional fitness business locations.
The latest Gym opening in South Jersey is ironically at a location of another industry that has seen massive closures recently.
New Fitness Center Coming To Gloucester Township
Rite Aid in Blackwood, New Jersey
One of the 23 Rite Aids closed in New Jersey was located at the corner of West Church Street and Black Horse Pike in what some locals refer to as “Old Blackwood”.
Two years after Rite Aid declared Chapter 11 Bankruptcy, the new business at the former Pharmacy is The Bunker Fitness Center. This is the second location for the owner Nick Bennett, whose first location is in Clayton.
The new gym has completely cleared out anything to do with the old Rite Aid and the inside has been completely remodeled for the new fitness center. The Bunker Fitness Center in Blackwood had its Grand Opening on Saturday, May 17th.
The trend of these new gyms opening over the last few years has been local ownership instead of Corporate Chain Fitness centers that used to be more popular. Famous chains such as LA Fitness and Gold’s Gym have faded and been replaced by regional and local ownerships.
If you are looking for some fitness activities outside in New Jersey, here are some of the best parks found in The Garden State:
New Jersey’s top 10 parks
The featured parks could have you there for hours!
Gallery Credit: Jill Croce
10 Favorite Things about Cape May County, NJ
The history of Cape May County predates the formation of the United States of America by about 100 years as it was one of the first counties established in what was originally known as the West New Jersey Provence. Cape May County’s historical records go back as far as 1685 and the County was originally established in 1692. Cape May County has been a huge part of my life and that of my family’s for decades, so I wanted to share with you my favorite aspects of the southern most County in the state of New Jersey.
Gallery Credit: Josh Hennig/Townsquare Media
