Blink Fitness Signs Multi-Unit Development Agreement

23-Year McDonald's Franchise Industry Veteran Dean Panos to Bring a Luxury Experience to Value Fitness Across Central New York

News provided by

Blink Fitness

Jan 31, 2017, 08:00 ET

NEW YORK, Jan. 31, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Blink Fitness, the premium-quality, value-based fitness club, announced today that it has signed a development agreement with franchise industry veteran Dean Panos to open five Blink Fitness locations in Central New York. Panos's clubs will join the more than 70 corporate-owned and operated locations open or in development throughout New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

"I'm excited to introduce Blink to Central New York," said Panos, a Syracuse native whose family owned and operated 8 McDonald's restaurants in the Syracuse, Oswego and Auburn markets for over 45 years. "Blink is a great fit for the community and, beyond its beautifully-designed gyms, the brand's focus on how working out makes you feel rather than exclusively on how it makes you look is groundbreaking. Blink's thoughtful design, friendliness and impeccable cleanliness mirror how we ran our restaurants and played a big part in attracting me to the brand."

Panos's Blink Fitness gyms will be the first locations for the brand in Central New York. Site selection is currently underway for the first location, with the goal to open in late 2017. This multi-unit deal signifies meaningful growth for the brand as it plans for continued franchise and corporate expansion nationwide.

"We are truly pleased to welcome Dean into the Blink family. His franchise experience is incredible and he's also a tremendous cultural fit for us," said Todd Magazine, president of Blink Fitness. "We're looking forward to expanding into the Syracuse area. Blink offers a luxury member experience at an affordable price, and we're confident that Central New York will respond enthusiastically."

Aiming toward 300 locations over the next five years through franchise and corporate growth, Blink Fitness intends to transform the attitude Americans have towards exercise. Recently dubbed 'the Target of gyms' by Yahoo! Finance, Blink offers a distinguishing Feel Good Experience^®, with a commitment to providing modern and colorful design, elevated customer service, a relentless focus on cleanliness, energizing music and confidence-boosting training programs—all while offering memberships at a low cost (starting at just $15 per month).

Blink is also on a mission to change the rhetoric around fitness through its Mood Above Muscle™ philosophy. While the majority of the fitness industry touts unrealistic goals and perfect body images, Blink breaks an industry paradigm by celebrating the positive feeling their members get from working out as opposed to just the physical benefits. This concept comes to life in the company's latest ad campaign, "Every Body Happy," which features real Blink members of all shapes and fitness levels.

About Blink Fitness
Founded in 2011, Blink Fitness is a premium quality, value-based fitness brand with more than 70 locations open or in development throughout New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Blink Fitness puts Mood Above Muscle™ which celebrates the positive feeling you get from exercise, not just the physical benefits. Each club employs the company's signature Feel Good Experience^® that highlights enthusiastic staff members, a clean environment, an open, spacious, and colorful design, energizing music and fitness training that is motivating and affordable.

For more information about Blink, visit blinkfitness.com. Franchising details are available on blinkfranchising.com. Blink Fitness has franchise opportunities available nationwide with a focus on the following markets: Atlanta, Baltimore, Boston, Dallas, Detroit, Houston, Miami, Tampa and several areas of Connecticut, New Jersey and Pennsylvania.