News & Events

See articles in Shopping Center Business, New England Real Estate Journal

Heidenberg Properties Group is pleased to announce the mid-December grand opening of a 15,000 square-foot Planet Fitness at the Berlin Mall. One of the largest and fastest growing franchisors and operators of fitness centers in the United States, Planet Fitness will serve as junior anchor of the 250,000 square foot mall located on Berlin Mall Road.

“We’ve conducted an extensive search to find the right tenant for this high-profile space and provide central Vermont residents with a meaningful, value-priced service retailer,” stated Ken Simon, VP of Heidenberg Properties Group and owner of Berlin Mall. “What’s more, Planet Fitness has stimulated renewed interest from complementary tenants such as Supercuts, which has recently signed a new lease at the Mall.”

Planet Fitness, a Hampton, NH-based company, has revolutionized the fitness industry with extremely low prices and a variety of benefits including a hassle-free environment called the Judgement Free Zone®, brand name cardio and strength equipment, fully-equipped locker rooms, flat screen televisions, unlimited small group fitness instruction by certified trainers through the pe@pf® program, and much more. With three Planet Fitness franchisees in Vermont (Essex Junction, South Burlington and St. Albans), the Berlin Mall location will be the first in the state owned by Planet Fitness Corporate.

“We are thrilled to bring our non-intimidating, high-quality, and affordable fitness experience to the central Vermont community,” said Jim Esposito, Senior Vice President of Planet Fitness Corporate Club Operations.

In addition to enhancing the Berlin Mall’s tenant roster, Heidenberg Properties is committed to creating a community space at the property that features vibrant cultural events for area residents and visitors to enjoy. This past winter/spring, the Mall hosted Walk the Long Trail at Berlin Mall that attracted over 600 registered walkers who covered 12,290 miles and raised $5,280 for the Green Mountain Club. In response to popular demand and in connection with its new Planet Fitness, the Walk will become an annual event at the Mall whereby shoppers, residents and employees can continue to fulfill fitness goals and support the Green Mountain Club.

Heidenberg Properties has a long history of enhancing the property. A Heidenberg Properties Group affiliate purchased the Mall in 2010. In 2012, the Mall received Act 250 and local zoning approval to expand Walmart to a Supercenter and offer a full-service grocery store to serve customers from central and northern Vermont. Already home to JCPenney, Berlin Mall added a second department store when Kohl’s opened in March 2016. Further expansion is planned to add both a restaurant and other complementary uses to the property.

“The addition of Planet Fitness, and community events like Walk the Long Trail at Berlin Mall, further our goals of revitalizing the mall property, creating good local jobs, and providing residents and visitors in the area with a positive shopping experience,” said Mall Manager, Gerry Hanifin. “Our vision is to create a vibrant town center where people of all ages live, work and play in a way that embraces community and celebrates life in central Vermont,” added Land Strategies’ Michael Rushman, the Mall’s Director of Marketing and Strategic Planning.

Situated between Montpelier (Vermont’s state capital) and Barre, and ¼-mile from the intersection of I-89 and Route 62, the enclosed Berlin Mall is ideally positioned to serve both local and regional customers. The retail center’s anchor tenants are Walmart Supercenter, Kohl’s, and JCPenney; additional tenants include Avenue A, Bath & Body Works, Maurices, GameStop, GNC Live Well, Olympia Sports, Optical Expressions, SHOE DEPT., The Cellular Connection, and Vermont Bobbin. For more information, visit www.theberlinmall.com.