Westheimer motorists and residents of the surrounding neighborhoods have enjoyed watching the improvements coming to 10770 Westheimer and speculating on the tenants that would be coming to the newly remodeled space. All those questions were answered recently, when signage was erected advertising the coming of a Goodwill retail store and a Planet Fitness health club facility.
The 40,000-square-foot building (formerly the home of Tennis Express) has been completely remodeled by Williamsburg Enterprises, a Houston-based real estate investment firm specializing in acquisition, development, management and leasing.
“The Westchase District and the Westheimer corridor have long been one of the best trade areas on the west side of Houston,” said Janice Gorman, Williamsburg’s asset manager. “When this property came on the market, we were confident that we could add value to the area on this well-traveled section of Westheimer.”
Located on the northeast corner of Westheimer and Walnut Bend, the building will be split almost equally by the two tenants. Goodwill’s donation center and retail operation will occupy 22,000-square feet of space, while Planet Fitness will occupy the remaining 18,000 square feet.
Fitness for all
The Planet Fitness gym will feature more than 100 pieces of cardio equipment, plus a strength- training area and an ab and stretch zone. “We pride ourselves in offering a low-pressure fitness gym, where our clients can experience positive reinforcement in a judgement-free zone,” said Kate Klein, vice president of marketing for Houston Fitness Partners, which is the Houston-area franchise operator of 39 Planet Fitness locations.
Like most gyms, Planet Fitness offers a range of memberships. The Classic membership comes in two versions. Both offer unlimited access to your home club. For $15/month, a member can cancel at any time while the $10/month Classic membership requires a 12-month commitment. The $24.99/month Black Card membership allows access to any club anywhere, access to hundreds of digital workouts on the Planet Fitness app and the ability to bring a guest anytime. This membership also offers access to the gym’s Black Card Spa, featuring massage chairs, hydromassage and tanning beds. “This rest and recovery area is very popular with our members,” added Klein.
Klein said Westchase represents a geographic gap the company was looking to fill. “We like being on Westheimer near Beltway 8 and there are other great retailers nearby,” said Klein. They hope to open the gym around the first of the year to accommodate individuals who make a New Year’s resolution to get fit.
Drop off and shop
When the Goodwill store opens early next year, it will be the 51st store/donation center in the Houston area. Barbie Parker, Goodwill’s vice president of fund development and community relations said the proceeds from the stores all contribute to Goodwill Houston’s mission to provide free education, training and job opportunities for people with barriers to employment. That could be individuals with mental or physical disabilities, older workers, veterans, at risk youth, formerly incarcerated individuals and others who deserve a second chance at employment. “When you shop with us or donate items to a Goodwill store, you’re helping change the life of a neighbor,” said Parker.
The Westchase District store will be like most other Goodwill stores in town, selling home goods, clothing, toys and stuffed animals for kids and will feature a donation drop-off. When it opens, the store will provide approximately 25 new jobs.
New life at pivotal corner
The new tenants and their customers will benefit from almost $40 million in improvements that Westchase District has built along Walnut Bend and Westheimer, including new sidewalks and transit stations that serve pedestrians who may be coming to that location.
“Both Planet Fitness and Goodwill were looking to expand in the trade area,” said Williamsburg’s Gorman. “Once we identified the tenants, our focus was to create the spaces they would need to locate their businesses at the project. We completely revamped the exterior façade with a fresh and modern look, updated the site and building lighting and are working with Westchase District to freshen up the landscape along Westheimer.”
