CONCORD, CALIFORNIA — The 925 is seeing a wave of new fitness studios opening up, as well as several dedicated sauna providers.
Now, a “coming soon” place in Concord basically wants to combine the two.
Concord is getting a new place where people will voluntarily step into 125-degree heat — and then work out.
HOTWORX, a fitness franchise built around virtually instructed workouts inside infrared saunas, is preparing to open at The Willows Shopping Center.
The approximately 1,500-square-foot studio will occupy Suite C-110 at 1975 Diamond Boulevard, according to The Willows’ official tenant directory. It will be part of the newly renovated row of businesses near Eureka!, alongside Philz Coffee, Boba Bliss, Cold Stone Creamery, Luxe Nail Lounge, Mendocino Farms and California Fish Grill.
The Concord studio is currently under construction and selling founding memberships. Its local team says it is targeting a late September opening, although a specific date has not yet been announced. The official HOTWORX location page continues to list the studio in presale.
We stopped by to check out the construction site. It looks like there’s still a lot to be done, but work is clearly underway.
Not a Conventional Fitness Class
HOTWORX takes a considerably different approach from a traditional gym or group fitness studio.
Members complete workouts inside small infrared saunas while following instructions from a trainer displayed on a screen. Each sauna accommodates up to three people, creating what the company describes as a semi-private workout.
The studio will offer 30-minute isometric sessions including hot yoga, Pilates, barre, stretching and core workouts. Shorter, 15-minute high-intensity interval options will include indoor cycling, rowing and a total-body trainer.
The saunas operate at around 125 degrees, according to HOTWORX. The company calls its combination of exercise, heat and infrared energy “3D Training.”
For customers who want a more conventional workout, the Concord location will also include an “FX Zone” with free weights, resistance equipment and other functional training gear.
Workouts at 2AM
Once members have completed an initial orientation, they will be able to enter the Concord studio and reserve workouts 24 hours a day through the HOTWORX app. So if you want to do 125-degree Pilates at 2am, you can!
That means the business will offer a different model from instructor-led studios that operate only when a class is scheduled. A member could theoretically book an early-morning yoga session, a 15-minute cycling workout late at night or a stretching session after work without waiting for a live instructor.
First-time visitors will still need to attend during staffed hours for an introduction to the equipment and access system.
HOTWORX launched its first location in 2017 and has since expanded to more than 800 studios. The Concord location is likely locally-owned.
Another Piece of The Willows Makeover
The new studio is arriving during a period of major change at The Willows.
The shopping center has redeveloped the portion of Building C surrounding Eureka! into approximately 14,000 square feet of new restaurant, retail and service space. The project also includes new facades, patios, landscaping and public art.
Several of the new tenants are already open. Mendocino Farms and California Fish Grill began serving customers earlier this summer, while Concord’s first Philz Coffee opened August 26. Cold Stone Creamery, Boba Bliss and other businesses are still preparing their spaces.
The Willows has scheduled a September 24 celebration for the renovated portion of the property. If HOTWORX’s current timeline holds, the fitness studio should begin welcoming members around the same period.
We’ll keep an eye on everything happening at the Willows and keep you updated. Join our free 925 news newsletter here.
