Fitness chain’s last Lehigh Valley location closing permanently

A fitness chain’s last Lehigh Valley location is ending operations later this week.

Retro Fitness Bethlehem, offering a wide array of strength and cardio equipment along with other amenities such as group fitness classes, personal training and a cardio movie theater, is set to close Friday, May 27, at 1856 Stefko Blvd., according to a message e-mailed to members.

“We appreciate the business you have given us over the years and thank you for being a loyal member,” the message reads.

The Bethlehem gym, which opened in the Stefko Boulevard Shopping Center in 2014, is one of around 100 Retro Fitness locations nationwide.

Other local Retro Fitness gyms previously operated from 2008 to 2011 in the Mountainville Shopping Center on South Fourth Street in Allentown and from 2008 to 2020 in the 25th Street Shopping Center in Palmer Township.

The New Jersey-based, ‘80s-inspired fitness chain, with checkered floors, red and yellow equipment and throwback movies in workout areas, offers monthly memberships starting at $19.99.

Other amenities include tanning, juice bars, full-service locker rooms and supervised children’s play rooms.

Retro Fitness Bethlehem members with questions or concerns regarding their memberships are advised to contact ABC Financial at 866-364-4596 or customercare@abcfinancial.com. All membership billing has been turned off effective May 5, and memberships will be automatically canceled with no further charges.

“We are working with ABC Financial to refund any paid in full memberships as well,” the message continues. “We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause you and wish you continued success on your fitness journey.”

The Bethlehem gym’s space, totaling nearly 14,000 square feet, is listed as “available soon” on the Stefko Boulevard Shopping Center’s online site plan.

Two other businesses are coming soon: This Is Burrito, a fast-casual restaurant specializing in made-to-order burritos, along with B Positive, a state-of-the-art blood plasma collection site, are set to open later this year at the shopping center, according to Scott Horner, vice president of Colliers International’s Allentown office, which brokered the deals.

B Positive, which will occupy a 3,200-square-foot space at the southern end of the center, collects high-quality blood plasma to be used in the creation of life-saving therapies.

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All blood types are welcome, and donors are compensated for each complete donation, according to the company’s website.

Donors, who must be between the ages of 18 and 65, can donate plasma twice a week and earn more than $500 a month.

This Is Burrito, which will occupy a 2,000-square-foot space a few doors down from B Positive, will operate in a similar way to that of popular chain burrito restaurants, owner Karen Lin said.

Diners will be able to customize their orders with proteins such as beef and chicken along with lettuce, salsa, cheese and other ingredients. Tacos and other Mexican favorites also will be available.

B Positive’s space had been vacant for more than a decade, while This Is Burrito’s space previously housed J’s Steaks & Subs, which moved a few blocks north to 2140 Stefko Blvd. in 2017.

Both spaces are currently under construction, and tentative opening dates have not yet been announced.

Stefko Boulevard Shopping Center, owned by Regency Centers, sits in a dense retail corridor and is home to more than a dozen other businesses, including Valley Farm Market, Dollar Tree, Fine Wine & Good Spirits, Stefko Pharmacy, T-Mobile and Little CALI arepa and empanada bar.