Local mixed martial arts fighter BJ Penn and the UFC are gearing up to open a second UFC Gym in Hawaii, taking over space at Waikele Center once outfitted to sell electronics, clothing and pet supplies.
The planned facility follows an initial Hawaii UFC Gym that opened last year in a former Kakaako nightclub spot, and is part of an expansion plan by a young and growing business that aims to revolutionize the fitness club industry by incorporating elements of mixed martial arts fighting with the traditional gym model.
The BJ Penn UFC Gym in Waikele is leasing two spots at the retail center, and could open early next year if permitting proceeds smoothly.
Representatives of the UFC and its gym development partner, New Evolution Ventures, said an announcement about the expansion in Hawaii is planned for a later time, and declined to provide details Monday.
New Evolution and UFC have applied for a building permit to establish the gym in more than 25,000 square feet of space previously occupied by retailers Steve & Barry’s and The Pet Hale. The building permit estimates the value of the work at $750,000.
Pam Wilson, Waikele Center general manager, said she is excited about bringing a new and unique tenant to the center anchored by Lowe’s, Kmart and Sports Authority.
"We think it’s going to bring a new dynamic to the center," she said.
The UFC Gym space is at the Diamond Head end of the center next to a former Ashley Furniture space now occupied by Inspire Church (previously Hope Chapel).
UFC Gym is leasing two spaces, one of which is 24,000 square feet that initially was home to Circuit City, followed by CompUSA and then the discount apparel superstore Steve & Barry’s.
Steve & Barry’s, which sold apparel co-branded with celebrities, opened in 2008 but closed after eight months because the chain overextended itself in an aggressive expansion plan that led to bankruptcy.
A smaller adjacent space that was once the home of Pet’s Discount and later The Pet Hale is also going to become part of the gym.
UFC Gyms feature mixed martial arts classes and the caged ring known as the Octagon but are not designed exclusively for fighters. The gyms also include features of more traditional health clubs such as yoga, Pilates and Zumba in addition to weight machines and cardio equipment.
California-based gym developer New Evolution and Las Vegas-based mixed martial arts fight organizer UFC opened the first UFC Gym in California about three years ago.
The Hawaii UFC Gym in Kakaako was the fourth in the chain and the first outside California. The 37,000-square-foot facility, which took over a warehouse space previously occupied by nightclub Pipeline Cafe, also was the first UFC Gym affiliated with a fighter, Penn, a Hilo native and former UFC champion who had a hand in designing the gym.
Since then UFC Gym has opened a few more gyms, which average 35,000 square feet, in New York and Australia. Earlier this year the organization acquired 81 LA Boxing gyms averaging 5,000 square feet each; it plans to convert them to the UFC Gym format.
UFC Gym also has rolled out a franchise program to help expand the chain, and in June said it expects to have more than 100 gyms in over 23 states by the end of the year.
