Retro Fitness expands into Atlanta market

, in Colts Neck, said Tuesday its first Atlanta-area gym will open in March. The fitness center franchisor said it will open a company-owned 14,200-square-foot location in the town of Smyrna, 16 miles north of Atlanta. The new gym will have a staff of up to 20 workers.

with matching dйcor.

The new location will be the first of a planned rollout of up to 20 new gyms over 24 months in Georgia, according to the company. As many as three of those gyms will be company owned. The company said it plans to sell those company locations to qualified franchisees. Retro Fitness said it plans to annually open 100 new gyms over the next three years.

Retro Fitness operates 54 locations across eight states, with expansion planned for the southern and western states.

This is the busy time of year for local gyms and fitness centers

LANCASTER -- Gyms and fitness clubs are hoping new year"s resolutions translate into an increase in memberships.

The expected spike in business also can mean savings for residents wanting to get in shape.

Robert K. Fox Family Y Executive Director Mike Lieber said membership sign-ups typically increase by 5 percent to 10 percent between mid-December and late-January.

"If we"re not busy in late-December through January, there"s going to be a problem. It is our prime time," Lieber said. "It"s our best chance to forge a relationship with people that will make them see the value of their health. "

He said 45 percent to 50 percent of the year"s new members will sign up in January.

Residents can save a third off the joining fee at the Fox Family Y until Wednesday. The joining fee helps fund new equipment at the fitness club.

Lieber said he is always looking for new ways to draw in potential new members.

"We offer programs or staff help -- whatever we can do to engage them," he said. "People have nothing else to do. It"s dark, cold and snowing. There"s only so many football games you can watch. "

Losing weight or getting in shape is annually one of the top choices for new year"s resolutions. But keeping that goal can be challenging. Lieber said the fitness club traditionally loses a third of its members each year because they die, move or quit.

Lieber said there are several fitness clubs and gyms competing for the business of Lancaster residents, but he is not upset if someone goes elsewhere to get in shape.

"It"s all competition, but to me it"s all about trying to get people to be healthy," he said.

Kara Thompson, public relations coordinator for the International Health, Raquet Sportsclub Association, said gym memberships spike about 12 percent nationwide in the month of January. Thompson said despite economic conditions, fitness clubs may still see the increase in memberships.

She said the average cost of a gym membership is $42 per month, which can go a long way in a difficult economy.

"There is certain return on investment in a health club membership, especially if people are stressed out because of the economy -- exercises are proven to help improve your mood," Thompson said. "Tell me other $42 investments that provide the same return. Certainly people have to make hard choices, but this is not a luxury; it"s an investment in your health. "

About 16. 6 percent of the Ohio population belongs to a health club, she said. That is above the national rate of about 15 percent.

Curves Manager and co-owner Kelly Zenner said the women-only fitness club offers 50 percent off the service fee and a 30-day free trial to increase memberships.

She said the club has benefited from some health insurance companies offering incentives for their customers to join fitness clubs.

Zenner said everyone has their own motives for joining, but has noticed the reasons for several people who recently signed-up.

"One, it"s their new year resolutions. Also people put on extra weight over the holidays and they don"t want to go outside to exercise," she said.

Zenner said people should beginning attending a fitness club for the betterment of their general health.

"It"s more than just losing weight, it"s also about your health. Yea you want to look good, but you also want to stay off of the blood pressure pills," she said.

Ferrero facing fitness race

Juan Carlos Ferrero has been forced out of the Heineken Open in Auckland with an ankle injury and is now a doubt for next week"s Australian Open.

The third-seeded Spaniard was retired just four games into his second round clash with Swiss qualifier Michael Lammer.

Ferrero trailed 3-1 when he withdrew from the contest and now faces a race against time to be fit for Melbourne.

His withdrawal is another blow of the tournament in Auckland with Argentina"s David Nalbandian pulling out on Monday with an abdominal injury.

Ferrero is unsure at this stage whether he will recover in time to play at the Australian Open but is hoping for the best.

"They say it"s not too bad, I will have to wait three or four days with some ice, take some anti-inflammatories and see how it goes," he explained.

"I want to play over there so I will do everything in my power to make it, but we"ll see. I cannot tell you now."

World number 209 Lammer now goes through to a quarter-final with another Spaniard, eighth-seeded Albert Montanes, who beat local hope Rubin Statham 7-6, 6-2.

Two more of the top seeds also bit the dust as Nicolas Almagro of Spain and Argentine Juan Monaco both lost.

Seventh seed Monaco surrendered a one-set lead against John Isner as the big American fired down 11 aces on his way to a 5-7 6-4 6-3 success.

Meanwhile, fourth seed Almagro endured a day to forget as he was thrashed 6-0 6-3 by France"s Marc Gicquel.

Elsewhere, top seed Tommy Robredo did just enough to see of Germany"s Simon Greul in two tough sets winning 7-6 (7-1) 7-6 (7-2), while fifth seed Philipp Kohlschreiber of Germany remains on course for a repeat of his 2008 triumph at the event as he overcame Brazilian Thomaz Bellucci 6-4 6-1.