Last Updated: September 3, 2026
LA Fitness was founded in 1984 by creators Chinyol Yi and Louis Welch in Los Angeles, California. In the mid-1990s, the company expanded by acquiring underperforming gyms in Southern California and developing, opening, and operating newly constructed properties.
And also in 2007, the company expanded outside the United States by acquiring six gyms in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. In 2010, the company acquired ten Phoenix locations from Pure Fitness Arizona. Within a year, all but one of the former Pure Fitness clubs were closed.
This Article Belongs to Workout & Exercise.
LA Fitness
LA Fitness offers a wide range of workout options, making it possible for members to focus on different areas of fitness. For people who want to strengthen and develop their lower body, exercises such as leg exercises can be incorporated into a regular workout routine. Back-focused training can also be supported through a variety of back exercises.
And also, four people were killed in the 2009 Collier Township shooting, also called the LA Fitness shooting, because it took place at an LA Fitness gym in Collier Township, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania.
On November 30, 2011, the company completed the $153 million acquisition of 171 clubs from Bally Total Fitness. And also, it began closing some former Bally Fitness clubs near existing facilities and remodeling others.
On July 2, 2012, the business completed the acquisition of the 33 Lifestyle Family Fitness Clubs in Florida. Lifestyle CEO Stuart Lasher stated, “We have been evaluating our option to remain an independent business or sell to a larger organization. After careful thought, the Board of Directors decided to sell all Lifestyle Family Fitness Clubs.”
On December 23, 2013, LA Fitness announced the acquisition of the Buffalo and Rochester Athletic Clubs in Western New York.
Also on December 30, 2013, they completed the acquisition of the 10 Vision Quest sports and fitness clubs in the greater Seattle area.
Starting in 2018, the company began offering high-intensity interval training classes at select renovated clubs for a separate fee. It also incorporated heart rate monitors from Myzone. Members looking to build balanced workout routines can combine different training approaches, including forearm workouts and push-pull workouts.
In early 2020, the company launched its new low-market Esporta Fitness brand, intended to compete with low-cost, high-volume gyms like Planet Fitness. It rebranded several former LA Fitness locations as Esporta Fitness.
For more information about LA Fitness, including its clubs, amenities, classes, and membership options, visit the official LA Fitness website.
For readers interested in exploring other fitness centers, The Crunch Fitness Frisco is another option to consider when comparing different gym and fitness facilities.
