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Citrus Heights Messenger

New Fitness Center You Can 'Bank' On

Jun 10, 2022 12:00AM ● By Story and photos by Thomas J. Sullivan

Owner Andre Benavidez of Roseville is opening The Camp Transformation Center in the Grand Oaks Shopping center in Citrus Heights.

New Fitness Center You Can 'Bank' On [2 Images] Click Any Image To Expand

CITRUS HEIGHTS, CA (MPG) - A former Bank of America branch in the Grand Oaks Shopping center in Citrus Heights is the new home of the Camp Transformation Center (the Camp) opening soon at 7965 Auburn Boulevard in Citrus Heights.

Its franchisee-owner, Andre Benavidez, said the new specialty gym will open to new members in late June.

“We’re just waiting on our final occupancy permit from the city,” Benavidez said. He will then schedule a public grand opening celebration and ribbon cutting event with the Citrus Heights Chamber of Commerce.

Benavidez, who is a successful Roseville commercial and residential real estate investor and developer, watched his own health suffer and his weight increase with each new project he took on.

Emerging from the pandemic, Benavidez vowed to make some health and dietary changes. He took on The Camp’s weight loss challenge program. In six weeks, he dropped over 30 pounds. Not soon after, he applied for a Camp franchise for himself in Citrus Heights and started scouting for a gym location.

The new 5,000 square foot Citrus Heights Camp Transformation Center will be the second Sacramento franchise location for the Southern California fitness chain. Renovation work began last summer.

Current tenants in the 28,928 square foot Grand Oaks Shopping Plaza, built in 1958 on 3.3 acres along Auburn Boulevard in Citrus Heights, include Grand Oaks Bingo, Charlie’s Café, World Appliances, Dollar General, Mary’s Thrift Store and Yummy Tummy, a Greek-American family restaurant which opened in January.

The historic plaza also once served as the temporary home of the Citrus Heights City Hall in 2015, before the new city hall was built.

Inside, the interior was gutted, and a cushioned athletic floor has been installed. Colorful new motivational murals were painted and both gym equipment and free weight stations have been put into place ready for members to use. Both the original bank vault and door remain.

The new Citrus Heights Camp Transformational Center does not offer its members personal lockers or shower facilities. “Our members will come here to work out,” Benavidez said. Founded in 2010, The Camp has nearly 150 locations in more than a dozen states.

Marketing materials describe the company’s signature challenge, a combined six-week motivational weight loss and fitness starting point for its members as “a transformative moment in the lives of those who join, and a launching pad for long-term membership.”

In the 20-week “Challenge,” participants agree to participate in 42 workout sessions in six weeks, setting their own fitness and weight loss goals as they follow a meal plan.

“The challenge encourages members both to be accountable, and show up for their workouts,” Benavidez said.

Once the member has achieved a desired goal, they can move on to another challenge. Success is measured as progress towards a reduced body mass index (BMI).

Benavidez said he will hire between 5-6 employees for core staff and will then add part-time certified trainers as membership grows. Candidates should “enjoy being a part of a team, and who have the interpersonal skills to work closely with individual members to achieve their fitness and weight loss goals.”

“We want our members to know they have a committed team working beside them,” he said.

Multiple membership pricing tier options will be available, he said. Membership allows participants to take either morning or evening classes with no limits.

“We don’t want to cap the number of classes a customer can take. The more motivated a member is to achieve their fitness goals, the more classes they may want to enroll in.”

Opening cost of $107 founding Camp membership allows the member to participate in its 21-day challenge.

Benavidez said he looks forward to becoming “fully involved and engaged in the greater Citrus Heights community which the new Camp will serve.” He’s also hopeful the upcoming Camp Transformation Center will also contribute to the success of city’s broader revitalization goals for Auburn Boulevard.

The Camp Transformation Center is located at 7965 Auburn Boulevard in Citrus Heights. Visit: thecamptc.com or call 916-918-3711 for membership information.