JOLIET, IL – It’s been two years since former Joliet City Official Steve Jones announced that the empty Ultra Foods grocery store on North Larkin Avenue was being turned into a VASA fitness Society. However, due to the global pandemic, the fitness center got off to a hesitant start. Nobody opened gyms and gyms when COVID-19 spread to dangerous levels in the US in the spring of 2020.
With the new development from Ultra Foods on hold, there was uncertainty as to whether VASA Fitness would continue with the plans for Joliet. Now the uncertainty is gone.
The renovation work of the former Ultra Food is on the home stretch. Joliet’s first VASA Fitness will likely open in the next few weeks at 1590 North Larkin Ave.
“Driven by a passion for fitness, we have created a fitness studio with everything – for everyone. A place for all personalities, abilities, body types and genders, ”says the VASA Fitness website. “We are your people – a community that welcomes, encourages and motivates, without judgment or intimidation.”
On Friday, Joliet Patch visited the site and interviewed Al Robles, general contractor for Mariottini Construction, based in Addison.
Robles said Mariottini Construction just completed another VASA fitness center in Villa Park last week. VASA Fitness is based in Utah.
As for the Joliet renovation, the former Ultra Foods building is 65,000 square meters. Robles said he aims to get all of the work done in early February.
“Working with the city of Joliet has been great,” and the renovation work went “smoothly,” said Robles.
Most days, 30 to 35 contractors work at VASA Fitness in Joliet, Robles told the editor at Joliet Patch. There will be an indoor swimming pool for swimming, Robles said, but the state of Illinois has yet to approve the permit process.
