A long-vacant building on Michigan Avenue is about to hum with treadmills instead of shopping carts. VASA Fitness will open its first Michigan location at 23000 Michigan Ave. in Dearborn on September 26, taking over the sprawling 58,300-square-foot space once occupied by a Kroger grocery store that closed in 2019.
The Colorado-based gym chain's arrival closes out a long and, for some locals, emotional chapter for the property. As reported by hometownlife.com, the Dearborn store will include strength and cardio equipment, coach-led classes, a three-lane indoor pool, hot tub, cold plunge, steam and sauna rooms, massage chairs, and red-light therapy. Before VASA moved in, the building had a long retail history: it was once a Farmer Jack grocery store, and Kroger bought it in June 2007, operating it directly across the street from a second Kroger location until closing it for financial reasons on May 18, 2019, according to the Times-Herald Newspapers. Longtime residents reportedly nicknamed the store “KrogerJack” for its Farmer Jack roots.
A Grocery Store's Long, Empty Afterlife
The closure hit some in the community hard. When the Kroger shut its doors in 2019, surrounding Dearborn residents held a candlelight vigil outside the property to mourn the loss of their neighborhood grocer, according to ClickOnDetroit. The building then sat vacant for years, though it wasn't for lack of trying: the site was also eyed for an Amazon Fresh supermarket, but those plans never materialized.
The site's transformation from grocery store to gym reflects a broader trend: gyms and studios are moving into retail spaces. Crunch Fitness increased its leasing activity by nearly 50% year over year in 2025, according to Athletech News.
New Leadership, Aggressive Midwest Push
VASA Fitness launched in 2014 when 17 Utah gyms rebranded under the VASA name, and the company now operates more than 70 locations across nine states. The chain is now expanding into Southeast Michigan.
The Dearborn opening comes under new leadership. VASA Fitness CEO Michael Osanloo, who was appointed to the role on March 31, 2026, replacing eight-year CEO Rich Nelsen, said the company will bring “more equipment, more ways to train and recovery amenities at an exceptional value to Michigan.” “Dearborn represents an exciting new chapter for VASA,” Osanloo said. He said VASA aims to become part of the Dearborn community and welcome people at every fitness level.
The Dearborn club is expected to create approximately 50 local jobs. Membership plans start at $14.99 per month.
What's Inside, And What's Coming Next
The Dearborn facility features commercial strength and conditioning machinery from major manufacturers including Life Fitness, Matrix, Booty Builder, and Arsenal Strength, according to DBusiness Magazine.
VASA plans to offer public tours of the Dearborn club from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on September 25, the day before its official opening. The company is also eyeing a second Wayne County location at 30070 Plymouth Road in Livonia, expected to open later in 2026, according to Hometown Life.
