November 13, 2026 // Franchising.com // LOS ANGELES - Fitstop, the global strength and conditioning brand, will open its 175th location worldwide on Saturday, Nov. 21, at 310 Culver Blvd. in Playa del Rey, steps from the beach.
The opening marks a major milestone in Fitstop’s continued U.S. growth and brings the Australian-founded training brand to Los Angeles’ Westside under owner Andres Hansen, a former Division I diver at the University of Minnesota who has spent years helping launch and operate fitness studios.
Hansen has been part of Fitstop’s U.S. story from the beginning. He attended the brand’s first-ever class in the country and later became a member before deciding to open a Fitstop of his own.
“Andres has been part of our U.S. journey from the beginning, so seeing him open our 175th location is a special milestone for the brand,” said Pete Hull, founder and CEO of Fitstop. “He understands the training, the community and what makes the member experience work because he has lived it himself. We’re incredibly excited to see him bring that experience to Playa del Rey.”
Fitstop was founded to make structured strength and conditioning training accessible in a coach-led group environment, giving members a clear path to get stronger, fitter and more confident alongside a team. Rather than treating each session as a standalone workout, Fitstop uses progressive programming designed to help members build strength, conditioning and overall fitness over time.
Members train across four core session types: Lift, Perform, Condition and Sweat, combining strength, power, conditioning and team-based training throughout the week. Through the Fitstop app, members can log sessions, lifts and personal benchmarks to see their progress and stay connected to their training.
For Hansen, opening Fitstop Playa del Rey brings together his background as an athlete, his experience in the fitness industry and his belief in the community that can be built through training.
“I walked out of my first Fitstop class hooked on the challenge and the energy in the room,” said Hansen. “The more I trained, the more I saw how the programming, coaching and community worked together to keep people progressing. Creating community through fitness has always been what motivates me, and I’m excited to bring that experience to Playa del Rey.”
Ahead of opening day, the Fitstop Playa del Rey team is offering a final window to join its founding member community, with discounted memberships available through November 21.
Fitstop Playa del Rey is located at 310 Culver Blvd., Playa del Rey, CA 90293. To learn more or secure a foundation membership, visit fitstop.com/us/gyms/ca/playa-del-rey/.
Fitstop is a global strength and conditioning brand designed to help people get stronger, fitter and train with purpose. With 175 locations across Australia, New Zealand, Singapore and the U.S. following the Playa del Rey opening, Fitstop combines structured programming, expert coaching and a strong community to deliver challenging, supportive training built for long-term results.
For more information, visit fitstop.com/us/.
SOURCE Fitstop
Fitstop delivers structured, high-energy functional training designed for real results and lasting progress.