PHOTO PROVIDED Tony Brown, a franchisee for Blitz 45, said he is not looking to compete with the big-box gyms, but to focus on a niche market.

The workout equipment hasn’t been moved in yet and the space is completely empty, but, by the beginning of next month, area residents will have a new place to work out with the help of certified trainers.

Blitz 45, at the Publix plaza on Hancock Bridge Parkway, is set to open by Feb. 1 and will offer individualized and group training that will fill a niche for those looking for advanced training from those who know.

Tony Brown, the franchisee for Blitz 45, said he is not looking to compete with the big-box gyms, but to focus on a niche market.

“We’ll have one or two trainers here to make sure people are doing the exercises correctly and really try to motivate people,” Brown said.

Brown was a Fort Myers police officer for 10 years before deciding to go into business for himself, opening a 7-Eleven convenience store gas station before entering into an agreement to run his own gym to replace Fitness 1440 in Weavers Corner, which closed two years ago.

“I had been working out for a period of time. I looked into Blitz 45, which is out of Miami. It’s a small boutique gym,” Brown said. “There will be a lot of personal training.”

According to its website, the name Blitz 45 comes from the notion that it shouldn’t take more than 45 minutes to get maximum results.

They emphasize functional training, which attempts to adapt or develop exercises which allow individuals to perform the activities of daily life more easily and without injuries.

Functional training involves mainly weight-bearing activities targeted at core muscles of the abdomen and lower back done in a group team setting.

Brown said there will be everything you would expect a gym to have such as dumbbells, medicine balls, kettle balls, rubber-band resistance and much more.

Brown said he is starting a membership drive to get people in the door early.

“Membership will be $99 per month for unlimited sessions. It will be month-to-month with no annual contract where you have to pay additional fees to cancel,” Brown said. “For couples, you buy one membership and get the second for half off.”

Brown said he has also worked with several local DJs at nightclubs and is looking to get them to play during some of the sessions. He also is speaking with radio stations about doing remote broadcasts.

Blitz 45 is at 4085 Hancock Bridge Parkway, Unit 104. Once open, expect the hours to be from 5 a.m. to 7 or 8 p.m.

For more information, call 257-3998 or go online to blitz45fortmyers.com.