Planet Fitness set to be half of Winn-Dixie's replacement

NORTH PORT — Almost two years after North Port’s Winn-Dixie sustained severe damage in Hurricane Ian, a different business will take over its space.

Some of it, at least.

Planet Fitness is entering about half of its former footprint at North Port Village Shopping Center.

The gym at 14275 S. Tamiami Trail will be the first Planet Fitness-branded facility in North Port.

There are other locations — in Port Charlotte, 24123 Peachland Blvd., off Kings Highway, and at 1825 Tamiami Trail.

The Dover, New Hampshire-based Planet Fitness was founded in 1992 and has more than 2,500 locations in 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Canada, Panama, Mexico and Australia, according to planetfitness.com. It is branded as a “Judgement Free Zone.”

North Port’s Winn-Dixie never reopened after sustaining damage from the 2022 storm.

The North Port Economic Development staff is meeting with the property owner to help find a business that can take the other half of the space.

An indoor entertainment venue is a targeted use, accorading to North Port officials.

North Port Village Shopping Center includes a laundromat, Chinese restaurant, ice cream shop and other businesses.

The city’s closest Winn-Dixie stores are in Port Charlotte or Venice. Southeastern Grocers, Winn-Dixie’s parent company, was purchased this year by Aldi.