Gold's Gym in New Braunfels is on its way out as Crunch Fitness readies a takeover of the Marketplace shopping plaza space, a swap that is set to shake up workout routines along the North Business I‑35 corridor. The change is poised to upend memberships for hundreds of locals who count on the gym's classes and full‑service amenities. State permit records flag a major interior renovation starting Wednesday and running through the end of the year.
According to MySA, a team member at the club said the closure will disrupt memberships for hundreds of gymgoers, and that management has not yet given staff an official shutdown date. The employee also said a lease involving Crunch is moving ahead in the background, even as the Gold's location was still operating in mid‑March.
Crunch Files Permits For A Large Renovation
Paperwork filed with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation details an interior renovation of 42,763 square feet at 651 N. Business I‑35, Suite 900, with an estimated price tag of $1.5 million. The state listing notes a start date of Wednesday and a target completion date of Dec. 31, and it names New Braunfels Marketplace LLC as the owner and Reed Traphagan as the tenant. For now, those documents are the clearest public sign of the incoming Crunch location.
According to Crunch Fitness, the brand leans on comparatively affordable membership tiers along with group fitness classes and personal training, a model that can appeal to cost‑conscious New Braunfels residents. That combo of low base pricing and optional add‑ons is the same strategy Crunch has rolled out in nearby markets and could lure members whose top priority is keeping monthly fees in check.
What This Means For Members
MySA reports that once the New Braunfels Gold's location closes, the nearest full‑service alternatives under the brand will be in San Marcos and San Antonio. That will leave some regulars weighing longer drives or the option to jump to a different chain. For members with existing class packages or multi‑club plans, the next several weeks will likely be devoted to sorting out transfers, refunds, and new home gyms.
The Crunch permit has also surfaced in regional development coverage. Community Impact highlighted the project among several recent TDLR filings and laid out the projected schedule and cost. That mention, along with the state records, points to a plan that has moved past early talks and firmly into the permitting phase.
For now, the TDLR project page offers the most specific public details available, while local gymgoers wait on an official announcement spelling out closing dates, any membership transfer options, and an opening timeline for the Crunch facility. With renovation permits in hand, the Marketplace plaza at 651 N. Business I‑35 is set to be the focal point of New Braunfels' latest fitness shakeup.
