Villa Sport Deepens Houston Push With Memorial Athletic Club Acquisition

The California-based operator now operates four clubs in the Houston area and 19 overall, with a significant presence in Idaho and along the West Coast

Villa Sport is expanding its footprint in Texas, acquiring Memorial Athletic Club (MAC) in Houston as the family-owned operator continues to scale its network of health clubs and fitness facilities.

The San Rafael, California-based company announced that it has acquired the longtime Memorial-area club, a facility that has served the Houston community for more than 40 years. With the deal, Villa Sport now operates four athletic clubs in the Houston market and 19 locations nationwide.

“Memorial Athletic Club has a remarkable legacy of serving its members for more than 40 years,” said Villa Sport president Billy Malkovich. “We’re thrilled to welcome MAC’s members and team into the Villa Sport community.”

Villa Sport said existing staff will remain in place during the transition to ensure continuity for members. The company plans to maintain the club’s programming and community-focused culture while integrating the location into its broader portfolio.

The acquisition continues a recent growth push for Villa Sport, which has been expanding both its full-service athletic club concept and its smaller-footprint Villa Sport Fitness brand.

Last year, the operator made a significant move in Idaho, acquiring six Crunch Fitness locations in the Boise-area Treasure Valley. Those clubs were rebranded under the Villa Sport Fitness banner, boosting the company’s regional footprint to 10 locations in a state that’s become a hot market for fitness.

Villa Sport has said its expansion strategy centers on entering high-growth communities where it can become a long-term wellness partner.

With the addition of Memorial Athletic Club, the company now operates eight full-service Villa Sport Athletic Clubs across Texas, Oregon, California and Colorado, alongside its Villa Sport Fitness locations in Idaho and California.

Villa Sport is also preparing to open another club later this year in Campbell, California, it said.