Copyright Santa Clarita Valley Signal
After nearly 40 years in the Santa Clarita Valley, Gold’s Gym is no longer around, with the recent announcement that Dallas-based EōS Fitness has acquired a new footprint in Southern California. EōS Fitness announced the deal in a news release Wednesday, saying the acquisition includes 23 Gold’s Gym locations owned by a Gold’s franchise partner, SoCal Fullerton. “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,” EōS Fitness CEO Rich Drengberg, who has roots in Gold’s, said in the release. “It’s this foundation that is one of the ways we can extend the premium fitness experience EōS Fitness is known for to a broader audience while enhancing access for existing members.” Drengberg was mentioned as Gold’s vice president of sales and marketing in a 2012 Signal story about a new Santa Clarita Valley location. He credited the founder of the Venice Beach-based chain, without mentioning the brand in the release. Technically, Gold’s Gym remains a competitor, with the Banos brothers keeping their original iconic Venice Beach location, which is part of the burgeoning Southern California gym market for EōS. Gold’s also still has eight locations in Northern California. “With plans to open 250 gyms by 2030, this strategic acquisition accelerates EōS Fitness’ plans for explosive growth throughout the United States,” according to the release. EōS prides itself on being a “high value, low price” gym, according to its website. The more than 60-year-old Southern California-based Gold’s chain has more than 700 locations throughout the world, according to its website, which mentions spots in Australia and Egypt. “As my brother and I reflect on our extraordinary 37-year journey, we are filled with profound pride. We are honored by the progress we achieved, the community we have built and the meaningful contributions made to our members’ health and wellbeing,” Angel Banos, CEO of Gold’s Gym, said in the statement, which refers to Gold’s as “the 23-gym Southern California franchise.” “Entrusting our legacy to EōS Fitness, a company that has already forged an impressive path in our industry with its highly accessible, quality-driven gyms, ensures our vision and impact continue to flourish across Southern California and beyond,” he said in the release. Gold’s Gym first moved into a location on Oaks Avenue in 1986, a location later purchased by the Santa Clarita Athletic Club, in a sale announced in a 1998 story in The Signal’s business section. The gym opened its current SCV location in August 2012 at the Valencia Town Center at the former Borders bookstore’s location.
