A new children's fitness franchise is headed for New Braunfels, with KidStrong set to open a location at 738 FM 306, Suite 102, in the first quarter of 2027. The franchise will be run by Manuel Torres, a New Braunfels local who decided to bring the brand to the area.
Torres's plans align with construction filings registered with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation on August 28, which detail a 3,199-square-foot interior finish-out for the FM 306 space, an estimated construction cost of $200,000, and a scheduled start date of October 28. As reported by Community Impact, KidStrong describes itself as a science-based kids training program designed to help children build physical strength, self-confidence, and character. According to its website, the program serves children from the time they begin walking through age 11, with weekly classes running 45 minutes each.
Torres pointed to the city's expansion as a driving factor behind the decision, citing New Braunfels's continued growth and its rising number of families as reasons to bring the franchise to the area, per the same account. That growth is well documented: U.S. Census Bureau estimates show New Braunfels reached 122,492 residents by July 2025, a 34 percent jump from the 90,403 residents counted in the 2020 census. Census Reporter data also shows the city's median household income sits at $90,284, with children under 18 making up roughly 24 percent of the population — a demographic profile that has made the city an attractive target for youth-focused businesses.
A Fast-Growing National Franchise Finds Its Way to Texas
KidStrong's roots trace back to 2015, when Matt and Megin Sharp, along with Lincoln Brown, founded the program in Lexington, Kentucky, originally developing the curriculum to build physical and cognitive skills for their daughter, according to the International Franchise Association. The company has since relocated its headquarters to Frisco, Texas, and grown into a major national franchise operation. In March, private equity firm Princeton Equity Group acquired a strategic stake in KidStrong, at a time when the franchisor supported 184 open locations serving more than 85,000 children across North America, with over 320 additional centers in development.
The brand's momentum has continued to build. Entrepreneur magazine named KidStrong the No. 1 children's fitness franchise in its 2026 Franchise 500 rankings, placing it No. 96 overall following the opening of 40 new locations nationwide in 2025, per 1851 Franchise. Texas has emerged as the chain's largest market by far, accounting for 29 of its 219 open centers nationwide as of July, or roughly 13 percent of its total footprint, according to data compiled by ScrapeHero.
What It Takes to Open a KidStrong Franchise
Franchise disclosure documents reviewed by BizBuySell show that opening a KidStrong center requires a total initial investment between $448,100 and $600,000, including a $45,000 franchise fee, for leased spaces typically ranging from 3,000 to 4,000 square feet. The FM 306 space fits comfortably within that range at 3,199 square feet.
New Braunfels isn't KidStrong's first foray into the region. The chain expanded into Guadalupe and Comal counties in September 2024, when franchisee operators opened a location along FM 1103 in nearby Cibolo, roughly 12 miles south of New Braunfels, according to Community Impact's earlier reporting on that opening.
Public and Private Fitness Options Both Growing Locally
The new KidStrong location will join a local fitness landscape that already includes a mix of public and private options for families. In August 2024, the City of New Braunfels Parks and Recreation department launched a structured physical education program at its Das Rec recreation center for homeschooled children ages 5 to 14, as Hoodline previously reported. The commercial fitness scene in New Braunfels has also been shifting, with Crunch Fitness recently replacing Gold's Gym in the city as part of broader changes in the local gym market.
With construction slated to begin in late October and a targeted opening window of the first quarter of 2027, Torres's KidStrong franchise will be one of the newer additions to a New Braunfels fitness scene that continues to expand alongside the city's population.
