Bayhealth, PAM Health Rehabilitation and Planet Fitness are expanding in central Delaware while a locally owned boxing and fitness center has opened in downtown Dover.
Boxing and fitness center in downtown Dover
A fitness club that also teaches boxing “stepped into the ring” Nov. 8 at 32 W. Loockerman St., suite 101, in Dover.
Olympic boxer Nate Jones was the special guest at the ribbon-cutting for Fears Boxing and Fitness Club, with owner Donnell Fears, his staff, family and friends, as they were welcomed by the Central Delaware Chamber of Commerce and city leaders.
The club offers general fitness training and specializes in boxing including youth boxing along with a variety of classes, one-on-one lessons, family memberships and Zumba.
Fears has been planning his business for four years, including a rezoning approval to allow the club downtown. He described the process as “a long journey full of prayers and dreams,” according to a Central Delaware Chamber of Commerce press release.
His passion for boxing dates to his childhood in the Capital Green housing complex in Dover where playful sparring with friends sparked an interest.
While maintaining a strong connection to the sport, he met life coach and boxing champion Bernard Miller, who mentored him both in life and the sport. Miller inspired him to pursue his entrepreneurial journey, which started as a barber and hair stylist and led to the opening of his fitness center.
Fears said the staff’s mission is “to give clients a positive atmosphere and healthy outlet through the exciting sport of boxing.”
For information, see the website https://fearsboxingclub.com/.
Planet Fitness near Route 13 in Smyrna
One of the largest fitness chains in the world opened a center in Smyrna on Nov. 15.
The 12th Planet Fitness in Delaware is in a new 16,915-square-foot building east of Route 13 behind Firestone at 36 N. Cory Lane, owned and operated by National Fitness Partners.
The site has about 12 employees including a new trainer who will be working at Planet Fitness Smyrna and Planet Fitness Middletown, said Kelly Walker, director of public relations and communications for National Fitness Partners.
“We are honored to become a part of this community,” said Brad Wentzel, senior vice president of operations for National Fitness Partners, a Planet Fitness franchise division. “At Planet Fitness, we offer an affordable membership for a high-quality fitness center and welcome anyone, at any fitness level into our friendly, comfortable, and non-intimidating environment.”
As of June 30, Planet Fitness had approximately 19.7 million members and 2,617 centers in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Canada, Panama, Mexico and Australia.
The Smyrna center is open and staffed from 4 a.m. on Monday through 9 p.m. on Friday and on Saturday and Sunday from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m., with state-of-the-art cardio machines and strength equipment, areas for stretching and training, flat-screen televisions, and locker rooms with day lockers and showers.
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Rehabilitation hospital in Milford
Bayhealth and PAM Health Rehabilitation celebrated the opening of their freestanding rehabilitation hospital in Milford on Oct. 17 as a continuation of their joint venture to expand rehabilitation services.
At 202 Healthy Way on the Bayhealth Sussex Campus, the hospital has 40 private rooms, an in-house pharmacy and gyms with state-of-the-art therapeutic equipment for outpatient and inpatient therapy.
The staff includes physicians, disease specialists, occupational and physical therapists, speech pathologists and registered nurses trained in rehabilitation.
“We are truly excited to increase access to care in Sussex and Kent counties as we expand our Bayhealth Sussex Campus,” said Michael Ashton, Bayhealth Sussex Campus vice president of operations and administrator, in a press release.
PAM Health market director of strategy and integration Erin DelFarno said the hospital staff will “focus on being a resource for our community while providing the highest level of rehabilitative care.”
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Walk-in medical center, occupational health, outpatient rehabilitation at Bayhealth’s Blue Hen center
Bayhealth opened four new healthcare facilities including a walk-in medical center in the Blue Hen Corporate Center, formerly the Blue Hen Mall, in Dover on Oct. 9.
This marks phase two of the company’s plans in newly remodeled space in the building at 655 Bay Road, “a one-stop shop for convenient medical care for our community,” according to a Bayhealth press release.
The first phase started in June when several Bayhealth Medical Group practices including primary care, pulmonology and endocrinology with diabetes management services opened at the new site.
Bayhealth Walk-in Medical Care-Blue Hen is open seven days a week, Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The center provides “full-spectrum care to all ages for minor illnesses and injuries… to help you and your family get quick treatment without an appointment,” said Bayhealth senior director of ambulatory care Deanna Rigby.
Services include X-rays and same-day results for strep throat, flu, COVID-19 and mono.
The other three new medical facilities at the Blue Hen Corporate Center are:
Reporter Ben Mace covers real estate, development and business news. Reach him at [email protected].