NYC-Based Club Athletic Makes Chicago Debut

The squad fitness brand is expanding beyond the New York area, opening two Chicago locations as it pursues national growth

Club Athletic has officially arrived in Chicago, marking the New York-born fitness brand’s first expansion into the Midwest as it looks to build a national footprint.

The squad-based fitness concept opened Old Town Athletic at 1350 N. Wells Street on Sept. 21 and is preparing to open Lake Street Athletic at 1035 W. Lake Street in the West Loop on Oct. 12. The latter location has been offering free community workouts ahead of its grand opening.

The openings follow Club Athletic’s rebrand from The Athletic Clubs in May, when founder Dane McCarthy outlined plans to expand beyond New York City, including into Chicago, Washington, D.C., and additional markets in 2027.

“When we started Club Athletic in New York, we set out to redefine how people build consistency and connection in their daily lives,” McCarthy said. “Bringing that experience to Chicago marks the beginning of a new chapter for both our brand and the local community.”

Club Athletic differentiates itself from traditional boutique fitness studios through its squad-based training model, which places members into fixed groups of 20 people who work out together twice a week with the same coach.

The strength and conditioning workouts follow progressive 12-week programming cycles, with each location offering the same daily workout. Studios also host run clubs, drop-in classes and monthly social events designed to build relationships beyond the gym floor.

Both Chicago locations feature dedicated turf areas for Club Athletic’s Hybrid program, which caters to members training for endurance competitions such as Hyrox. The studios also include post-workout lounges and coffee bars.

The Chicago debut represents another milestone for Club Athletic, which has grown from a small outdoor workout group founded by McCarthy in 2021 into a multi-location fitness business.

Club Athletic operated seven New York City locations and served more than 2,000 members as of May. Its growth has attracted outside investment, including a $3.5 million funding round led by Solidcore founder Anne Mahlum in 2025.