Major Shifts in Southern California Fitness Market as EōS Fitness and Gold’s Gym Announce New Moves
Krissy Vann | Host, All Things Fitness and Wellness
Two major announcements are reshaping Southern California’s fitness market this week, signaling renewed energy for one of the industry’s most competitive regions.
EōS Fitness announced the acquisition of 23 gyms described as part of a “legendary Southern California franchise,” expanding its footprint by nearly 20% overnight. The move establishes Southern California as EōS’s largest U.S. market, now home to 46 locations, with plans to reach 50 by the end of 2025.
“While this acquisition accelerates our expansion in a highly competitive real estate market, we are especially grateful to Angel and Willy Banos, the founders of this Southern California franchise, for their vision and diligence in building these gyms and maintaining such high standards of operation over the last three decades,” said EōS Fitness CEO Rich Drengberg.
The announcement closely follows a separate release from Gold’s Gym, which revealed it is reopening the Southern California franchise market for the first time in 36 years. Long-time operators Angel and Willy Banos, who have led the SoCal Gold’s Gym network for decades, are transitioning their locations to new ownership as the brand invites the next generation of franchise entrepreneurs.
Gold’s Gym Co-CEO Danny Waggoner said the move represents “a huge step forward for the brand, our franchisees and our members,” emphasizing the company’s continued focus on strength and performance-driven experiences.
For EōS, the acquisition marks both a significant growth milestone and a return to familiar ground. Drengberg previously served as vice president of marketing and sales for the same group of Southern California gyms before founding EōS in 2015.
“The passionate leadership and dedication behind these gyms resonates deeply with our pursuit of excellence at EōS Fitness,” Drengberg said. “We look forward to advancing this legacy and our shared values, enriched by the innovative thinking of the EōS leadership team.”
Together, the announcements signal the beginning of a new chapter for the Southern California fitness scene
