New 50,000-square-foot sports club planned at Citrus Heights retail center

By Thomas J. Sullivan–
The Sunrise Village shopping center on the northwest corner of Madison Avenue and Sunrise Boulevard in Citrus Heights will reportedly soon be home to a new 50,000-square-foot sports club.

According to leasing materials, City Sports Club, which is operated by an Irvine-based corporation that also operates the LA Fitness chain of health clubs, will occupy a large portion of the existing center at 5425 Sunrise Blvd.

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A spokesperson for the center’s landlord, Merlone Geier Partners, could not be reached Wednesday, but a representative for the landlord told the Sacramento Business Journal last week that City Sports will take up several existing spaces, including one vacant spot and also spaces currently occupied by Tuesday Morning and Joann fabrics stores.

“We will be building a new building to relocate and expand Jo-Ann’s,” Merlone Geier’s managing director Gary Muljat told The Journal.

According to the Journal, Muljat said Tuesday Morning will be leaving Sunrise Village, while Joann fabrics appears to be relocating several spaces to the north in the same center. As previously reported, a new Tuesday Morning store is slated to open soon at 7255 Greenback Ln.

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Kathilynn Carpenter, executive director for the Sunrise MarketPlace business improvement district, said she is looking forward to the new sports center.

“This follows a trend of centers diversifying from strictly retail uses,” said Carpenter in an email. “It’s a great use and will draw a lot of people to the center and to the District.”

City Sports’ website lists 15 Bay Area locations, but the Citrus Heights location would be the first in the Sacramento area. The fitness chain features group fitness classes, exercise equipment, and basketball and racquetball courts.

Alison Bermudez, with the city’s planning division, said Thursday that Merlone Geier is currently working with the city on extensive remodeling and redevelopment plans for the aging Sunrise Village shopping center. She said final plans are expected to be heard by the city’s Planning Commission in January.

*Editor’s note: The Sentinel will be publishing a followup story once more information is confirmed on future plans for the shopping center.

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