The Athletic Clubs Opens Seventh NYC Location as Lululemon Partnership Launches
Krissy Vann | Host, All Things Fitness and Wellness
In a New York fitness market crowded with rotating class concepts and short term activations, one operator is expanding by leaning into structure and repetition.
The Athletic Clubs will open Financial District Athletic on March 2 at 151 William Street, adding a 5,000 square foot training facility in Lower Manhattan and bringing the brand to seven locations across New York City.
The expansion follows four years of growth across its existing clubs in West Village, Greenwich Village, Williamsburg, Meatpacking, Flatiron and the Lower East Side. More than 2,000 members train within the company’s fixed time, 20 person squad structure, working out with the same group twice per week.
Unlike studios that frequently change formats or rely on large scale events to drive engagement, The Athletic Clubs operates on a consistent schedule. Members train at set times with the same cohort, a structure designed to build accountability and familiarity over time. According to the company, that repetition has supported strong retention and fostered a social culture that extends beyond workouts.
Community scale has become part of the operating model. More than 500 members attended its annual Halloween celebration across two nightlife venues, and roughly 600 gathered at Capitale for a winter gala.
The Financial District opening also coincides with a partnership with lululemon, which has selected The Athletic Clubs as its exclusive New York City gym partner for its Yet activation. The brand is one of three operators in North America participating in the initiative. The activation will include community events and in club programming integrated into the existing squad system rather than positioned as a one time pop up.
Founder Dane McCarthy says the expansion reflects demand for structured, repeatable fitness experiences. “People are not just looking for access to fitness. They are looking for consistency and connection,” he said.
With seven New York City locations operating by early March and leases recently signed in Chicago, The Athletic Clubs continues to extend a model built around small group consistency and neighborhood identity.
