WICKER PARK — Title Boxing Club, a nationwide franchise specializing in group classes, will be opening in Wicker Park by late summer, the business announced Monday.
The new Wicker Park outpost at 1355 N. Milwaukee Ave. will be Chicago's fourth Title Boxing Club — following existing locations in Lincoln Park and West Loop. A South Loop location will open at 1136 S. Delano Court in the Roosevelt Collection mall.
Mike Confalone, a franchisee who also owns the city's first Title Boxing Club, which opened in Lincoln Park in May 2014, will be running the new club.
"It's a fantastic location. A lot of my members in Lincoln Park and members in the West Loop [owned by franchisee Graham Goy] live in Wicker Park and are saying, 'Hey, you've got to move over here; it's a terrific area," Confalone said.
Confalone said the 4,200-square-foot gym will have "the same look and feel" as the Lincoln Park location and will feature 54 punching bags, a boxing ring, free weights and elliptical machines.
A typical group boxing class involves each participant taking on his or her own heavy bag and going eight three-minute rounds.
In between rounds participants take a one minute "active" rest, which could involve squats or some sort of stationary activity, before the bell rings and they get back to hitting and kicking the bag.
It's a full body workout along with the intense cardio aspect, according to reports.
Confalone said that in the nearly three years since opening in Lincoln Park, more than 1,000 members have signed up at his and fellow franchisee Goy's gyms.
"About 70 percent of our members are women. We'll have someone who has not worked out in years next to someone who just ran the Boston Marathon. A lot of members say it was really intimating when they heard about boxing, but once they get into it, they come back," Confalone said.
Currently, Confalone said there are 44 classes weekly in Lincoln Park, starting as early and late as 5:30 a.m. and 8:30 p.m. daily.
During each 60-minute group class, a participant can burn anywhere between 800 and 1,000 calories, depending on their intensity, Confalone said.
"The harder you hit, the more punches you throw, the greater the workout," he said.
On weekends, some classes are 75-minutes for those desiring a longer workout.
Monthly memberships are $149 per month and include unlimited classes and use of a small cardio and free weight area. Those who sign up for a year pay $119 per month.
If everything goes as planned, the new gym will open in mid-to late summer, Confalone said.
Landlord Jimmy Seidenberg "was able to accommodate the bag rack. The bags are like a big erector set, with steel beams anchored into the floor," Confalone said.
Seidenberg got a permit to build out the spot for a storefront in late January, city records show. Most recently, the space was home to a pop-up Halloween costume shop.
