Restoration begins after fire delays construction of new Peoria fitness center

Posted by author February 13, 2025 Fitness

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PEORIA — Titan Fitness began the heavy lifting needed to restore its new site in Peoria and eventually resume construction Monday as part of recovery from a January fire.

Owners announced in 2023 plans to build a new $3.5 million gym near the intersection of Townline Road and West Grand Parkway behind the Walmart on Allen Road. The facility had aimed to open in 2025. But a fire on Jan. 4 caused $200,00 in damage to the gym, which was still under construction.

Titan Fitness owner Chris Cupi, in a Facebook video update, said BluSky Restoration was on scene Monday to begin work in the facility.

“We’re underway,” Cupi said. “We’ve been waiting for this quite a while and the insurance companies have released it … for people to be working in there and beginning the process of demolition and cleanup of the smoke smell and get us back going and get us back in the building.”

Firefighters and paramedics responded to 2924 W. Townline Road on a report of smoke in the building, according to a January news release from the Peoria Fire Department. Fire crews found heavy smoke coming from a sauna that was in the bathroom of the building. The building was empty at the time, and there were no injuries and all workers were accounted for.

Titan Fitness and the city of Peoria entered a redevelopment agreement for the gym to construct a new $3.5 million facility. The development includes a 30,000-square-foot, 24-hour access facility with infrared saunas, a smoothie bar, private training room and a child care area double the size of its current space.

Titan Fitness purchased the land for its new site for $525,000.

“We’re moving forward and it will be worth the wait!!” declared a post on the Titan Facebook page, referring to the restoration process. Dates are not yet established for completion, but Titan promises updates via social media.

Dave Eminian is the Journal Star sports columnist, and covers Bradley men’s basketball, the Rivermen and Chiefs. He writes the Cleve In The Eve sports column for pjstar.com. He can be reached at 686-3206 or deminian@pjstar.com. Follow him on X.com @icetimecleve.