{"id":110630,"date":"2025-05-18T02:55:14","date_gmt":"2025-05-18T02:55:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/110630\/"},"modified":"2025-05-18T02:55:14","modified_gmt":"2025-05-18T02:55:14","slug":"former-hilander-at-brynwood-square-in-rockford-set-to-become-new-fitness-center","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/110630\/","title":{"rendered":"Former Hilander at Brynwood Square in Rockford set to become new fitness center"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"VASA Fitness is planned for Brynwood Square, filling the former Hilander grocery store space along North Mulford Road in Rockford. The building is pictured Thursday, May 15, 2025, in Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas\/Rock River Current)
\nBy Kevin Haas
Rock River Current<\/a>
Get our new mobile app<\/a><\/p>\n

ROCKFORD \u2014 A former grocery store in the Brynwood Square shopping center along North Mulford Road is being converted into the new home of a national fitness club.<\/p>\n

VASA Fitness<\/a> plans to fill the space at 2601 N. Mulford Road, which was the longtime home of Hilander and most recently Schnucks before closing in summer 2018.<\/p>\n

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Preliminary work has begun to convert the space into the fitness center. A city building permit shows construction is underway to raise the roof by four feet to accommodate VASA. A full permit for the remaining scope of the work has not yet been submitted, according to city staff.<\/p>\n

A timeline for construction and the opening of the club is not clear, yet.\n<\/p>\n

\u201cThe landlord is currently performing work on the building, but VASA has not yet broken ground,\u201d a VASA spokesperson told the Rock River Current. \u201cOnce we begin construction, we\u2019ll be excited to share that milestone with the community. We look forward to providing more updates in the future.\u201d<\/p>\n

More business: Mongolian stir-fry restaurant with build-your-own bowl to fill former Rockford Applebee\u2019s\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n

VASA Fitness is billed as an inclusive and accessible fitness club in the high-value, low-cost model. It says its mission is to uplift and improve its members\u2019 lives through fun and on-trend fitness. VASA gyms have boutique-style studio classes including infrared yoga and HIIT (high-intensity interval training) groups. VASA clubs across the country also have indoor pools, sauna, basketball, versatile functional turf areas, strength training and cardio equipment, cycling classes, racquetball, and recovery facilities such as a massage chair and steam room. Clubs also have unique features such as light therapy and a fitness cinema to workout while watching a movie.<\/p>\n

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\u201cWhatever your goals, our wide variety of amenities will keep you motivated \u2014 and coming back for more,\u201d VASA says on its website.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

There are more than 60 VASA Fitness clubs across the country, including six in Illinois with others planned for the state on the way, according to the company\u2019s website. VASA was founded in 2014 under the Gold\u2019s Gym name and rebranded to its current name roughly a year later.<\/p>\n

It will become the new anchor tenant for Brynwood Square, which for years was anchored by a grocery store. Schnuck Markets Inc. purchased seven Hilander locations, including the one in Brynwood, from Kroger Co. in September 2011. It then rebranded the grocery store under its name in 2013, according to Rockford Register Star archives. The Schnucks operated in Brynwood until being closed July 8, 2018.<\/p>\n

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Brynwood Square is also home to Baskin-Robbins, Salamone\u2019s North restaurant<\/a>,\u00a0Jerry\u2019s Caf\u00e9, Brynwood Pak N Ship, Salon 3 One 3 and Davig\u2019s Custom Cleaners.<\/p>\n

More business: International dessert chain with gourmet crepes and waffles teases first Rockford location<\/a><\/p>\n

This article is by\u00a0Kevin Haas<\/a>. Email him at\u00a0khaas@rockrivercurrent.com<\/a>\u00a0or follow him on X at\u00a0@KevinMHaas\u00a0<\/a>or Instagram\u00a0@thekevinhaas<\/a>\u00a0and Threads\u00a0@thekevinhaas<\/a><\/p>\n<\/p>\n