Gold’s Gym Announces Major Southern California Expansion

Gold’s Gym is set to significantly expand its presence in Southern California, a region historically linked to the brand's origins. The legendary fitness chain has entered into a development agreement with Roknipour Investment Group, led by Matt and Tyler Roknipour, to establish 15 new gyms across Los Angeles and Orange counties over the next seven years.

This ambitious expansion marks a substantial return for Gold's Gym to the local market, which it had nearly exited. Following the sale of 23 locations by a longtime franchisee, the brand was left with only its corporate-owned Venice flagship. The new deal aims to re-establish a robust presence, with eight locations planned for Los Angeles County and seven for Orange County. The first of these new gyms is expected to open within the next year, though specific sites have not yet been disclosed.

“We saw Gold’s exiting in SoCal, we were like, ‘Hold on, this looks like an opportunity for us,'” Matt Roknipour told the Los Angeles Business Journal. The new locations are anticipated to be smaller than the original Venice gym, ranging from 25,000 to 30,000 square feet, and are designed to offer a more premium experience. The focus will be on strength and performance areas, with a reduced emphasis on group classes.

This resurgence is part of a larger recovery for Gold's Gym. The company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2020, impacted by pandemic-related lockdowns, and was subsequently acquired by the German fitness company RSG Group. Gold's Gym currently operates over 500 locations globally. The brand traces its roots back to a small gym opened by Joe Gold in Venice in 1965, making this expansion a homecoming for the bodybuilding institution.