by Eugene Scott - Jun. 29, 2012 03:52 PM The Republic | azcentral.com

The founder of Planet Fitness is bringing a new health club to northeast Phoenix.

Rick Berks, founder of YouFit, a new fitness center, is opening a location in July.

YouFit is based in St. Petersburg, Fla. The newest location will open in the strip mall on the southeast corner of Tatum Boulevard and Greenway Road.

YouFit hopes to open five more Valley locations, according to its website. Locations in Mesa, Tempe, Gilbert, Peoria and Tolleson are expected before the end of the year. There are locations at 16th Street and Bethany Home Road in Phoenix, 35th Avenue and Bethany Home Road in Phoenix, Glendale and Chandler.

"We've had success really everywhere we've gone. We space them out. It's not an exact science," Berks said. "We do retro fits of buildings and go to different markets and look for sites that will work for us."

The chain has nearly 50 locations under construction nationally.

Like many boutique gyms that have popped up in northeast Phoenix, YouFit markets itself as a fitness center for "regular people."

"Our clubs are geared more to the average person who is going to get in shape," Berks said. "We're more fitness-oriented. It's not geared towards the bodybuilder type or the triathlete or professional athletes."

Bob Glazar, 58, lives in central Phoenix and joined the YouFit at 16th Street and Bethany Home Road after his previous gym raised its rates.

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Planet Fitness founder brings new club to NE Phoenix area