Sign at The Gym, which will open Fridaty.

Mike Blais, right, and general contractor Lawrence Williams of Bowdoin have been working on the renovation of the former Fitness World behind Marden’s in Lewiston. The official opening of the new gym, The Gym, is this Friday.

LEWISTON — After the gym he’d belonged to for five years closed abruptly last summer, Mike Blais started jogging the numbers.

He wanted a workout spot, and the financial picture made sense.

Blais and business partner Michelle Twitchell signed the lease for the former Fitness World space behind Marden’s on Nov. 19. After a whirlwind renovation, they’ll open The Gym on Friday.

Blais said they worked with Marden’s Realty to acquire the equipment left behind when Fitness World closed last June. They’ve added 25 new cardio machines, knocked down walls and made the entire gym space handicapped accessible.

“I hope when (people) come in, whatever kind of feel they’re looking to find, they’ll find it,” Twitchell said.

That might be high energy in an aerobics class or mellow in a stretching room.

The gym will offer classes such as group cycle, cardio fitness, yoga, pilates, Zumba and Les Mills Body Pump and a barbell class, all included in the cost of the monthly $34.95 membership fee, Twitchell said.

For extra, The Gym will offer nutritional counseling, massage and personal trainer services.

It opens Friday at 7 a.m. Regular hours will be Monday through Friday, 4:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The Gym has no affiliation with Fitness World, Blais said. He was one of many people who were taken by surprise, and lost membership money, when it closed without warning. He said he isn’t able to offer discounts to people who belonged to the former gym.

He declined to reveal how much they’ve invested to start the new business.

“When people come by and take a look at this facility, they’ll know,” he said. “We’ve turned that building around in 70 days.”

kskelton@sunjournal.com