by Katherine Sayre

Orangetheory Fitness, a franchise company focused on interval training at studios across the country, will open its first Louisiana location at the Mid-City Market, the New Orleans Business Alliance said Friday (Nov. 6).

Stirling Properties, which developed the Mid-City Market anchored by Winn-Dixie on North Carrollton Avenue two years ago, is expanding the shopping center by renovating the former Loubat Foodservice Equipment warehouse at 4141 Bienville St.

Orangetheory Fitness will be the first retailer to open at what’s being called the Offices at Mid-City Market.

“Already, this store is the top in the nation for pre-opening sales, and we’re really pleased with the pool of applicants we’ve seen for our employee base,” said Elle Mahoney, owner of the New Orleans location and franchise area developer for Louisiana, in a news release. “Clearly New Orleans was the right decision for our first Louisiana location, and we expect to expand to other sites in the city in the immediate future.”

Orangetheory spent $500,000 to build the 3,300-square-foot facility, according to the release. It expects to open by late December.

The New Orleans Business Alliance said it worked with Stirling Properties and Orangetheory on bringing the company to New Orleans, including helping in the permitting process.

Orangetheory offers one-hour group classes, in which each participant wears a heart-rate monitor. Half the class focuses on cardio. The other half focuses on strength and power exercises.