It may be a vacant building now, but the old Salem K-Mart should be transformed into a Planet Fitness Center and other retail in the coming months.
Shawn Nowlin
shawn.nowlin@ourvalley.org
Plans for a new Planet Fitness at 1355 W Main Street are in the early stages. The old Salem K-Mart may look like a vacant building now, but for a specific group of developers, they saw a golden opportunity. Part of the building’s appeal, in addition to its wide space, is the convenient location.
Towards the end of 2017, the Salem K-Mart sold for $3.66 million. Divaris Real Estate, based in Virginia Beach, said the 86,000-square-foot facility was brought by a Charlotte, North Carolina-based commercial real estate firm, The Keith Corporation.
Fitness centers everywhere have been deeply impacted by COVID-19. While it may seem like an odd time to add another one, the belief is when all of the construction is done, the pros will far outweigh the cons.
With more than 2,000 clubs, Planet Fitness is one of the largest fitness club franchises in America. Currently, there are 80 corporate-owned gyms with the rest being independently operated and owned.
Salem native John Price has been a Planet Fitness Center member for over a decade. “I love how they offer something for people of all ages and fitness levels. Although there are quite a few fitness centers in Salem and the surrounding areas, I do think that the addition of a Planet Fitness at this location will be a welcomed addition.”
Construction on the old K-Mart building, which began last month, is expected to finish sometime in the spring. No plans for immediate hiring currently exist.
For two-plus years, the Salem K-Mart building stood silent. If it can be done safely, a Planet Fitness Center Open House could happen sooner than expected.
There are multiple Planet Fitness Centers throughout the Roanoke Valley. When construction on the old K-Mart building is complete, it will be the first-ever in Salem.