At the start of every New Year, Americans resolve to quit their bad habits and take up good ones. Fitness resolutions always top the list and gym signups skyrocket in January as people plan to make this their year for getting in shape.

  By February, many have fallen off the fitness bandwagon. But this year Riverwards locals can finally break the cycle thanks to the long-anticipated opening of City Fitness’ flagship location in Fishtown. Having this 25,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art facility conveniently located along Fishtown’s main artery at 1424 Frankford Ave., near La Colombe, makes sticking to your 2017 resolutions easier than ever.

  City Fitness’ marketing director, Tom Wingert, says the prime location is key.

  “If a gym is more than a mile or a mile and a half away from your house, you’re just not going to go,” he said.

   Construction on the space started around this time last year and Wingert says it was designed with the local community in mind. “We have an absolutely beautiful space that we think is a reflection of the development happening in Fishtown,” he said.

  Floor-to-ceiling windows flood the space with natural light, and the gym boasts the latest in fitness equipment, spacious group training classrooms and an outdoor area that will host fitness classes and training on turf in warmer months. Stripp’d Juice will soon open their second Philadelphia location here and anyone looking to get a juice fix can visit whether they’re a City Fitness member or not.

  Sweat, sculpt and tone your body through their robust group fitness program that features 200 unique offerings every week. “We’ll have everything but yoga,” Wingert said. “Anything you can think of: Body Pump, spinning, pilates, and interval training classes.”

  Steps away from vibrant, freshly opened redevelopments from Lululemon and Snap Kitchen to the long-awaited Cake Life Bake Shop, this City Fitness is the first gym of its caliber to arrive in the heart of this neighborhood. And so far, the local response to the opening has been enthusiastic. “We’re signing up 80-90 members a day,” Wingert said. “There’s a great need for this kind of business in Fishtown.”

  Reaching out to this community is a main priority for City Fitness. “We want to play a role in creating a fitter version of Fishtown and engage local business and community groups by doing free fitness events,” Wingert explained.

  City Fitness generated buzz for their Fishtown opening in recent months by experimenting with these free events. The most successful was called Bagel Booty and the 100 plus participants received a free Philly Style Bagel after completing an ambassador-led workout.

  This event’s success showed Wingert that City Fitness is tracking on current trends. “You look at the way people are engaging in physical activity lately, and Run 215, November Project, City Fit Girls, and Instagram-driven, free fitness experiments are happening everywhere,” he said. “We don’t think necessarily that takes away from the gym phenomena. But what we do think is there’s an absolute demand for people to interact with their communities in healthy ways.”

  If you missed the free pre-opening events, don’t worry. Wingert expects the complimentary community classes to continue. “Free interesting programs are something I’m investing in heavily,” he said.

  Looking to get a jump on your resolutions and join in January? Unfortunately, City Fitness does not discount memberships for the new year as many of their competitors do. But if you sign up in January they’ll donate half the income from your membership to organizations working to rebuild Philadelphia’s public parks.

  City Fitness Fishtown’s permanent hours are Monday-Thursday from 5AM to 1AM, Friday 5AM to 10PM, and Saturday-Sunday 8AM to 10PM. •