Fitness 19 Menifee Will Open its Doors on Dec. 24

Fitness 19 Menifee will include more than 2,000 square feet of workout space.

The long-awaited opening of the Fitness 19 health club in Menifee will take place next Tuesday, Dec. 24, the club's general manager announced today.

Dean Hofmaster said the club will open its doors at 5 a.m. on Christmas Eve. The club's scheduled hours on Tuesday are 5 a.m. to 3 p.m. The club will be open on Christmas Day from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Hours on New Year's Eve are 5 a.m. to 6 p.m. On New Year's Day, the club will be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Regular hours and additional information will be listed on the club's Facebook page.

Hofmaster said he was at City Hall on Wednesday, completing final details on permits that would allow the club to open by Christmas. He thanked city officials for their part in completing the process, which has been a long and sometimes frustrating one for clients.

Fitness 19 began advertising the arrival of this club in April. That was at the very beginning of the application process to occupy part of the former Albertson's market at 26100 Newport Road (cross street Murrieta Road). Club officials began taking applications in August. From that point, the process to renovate the property and acquire the necessary permits turned out to take more than four months.

During that time, a scheduled opening was delayed at least three times. Residents -- some of whom got in on the early $9 signing deal last summer -- expressed their displeasure on Menifee 24/7 Facebook postings. But starting Tuesday, the facility is available for use.

Fitness 19's facility will cover more than 2,000 square feet of workout space, an aerobics room, kids' room and other amenities. Classes in a variety of workouts -- including a boot camp, yoga and Zumba -- will begin on Tuesday.

According to information posted on the club's Facebook page, paperwork will be honored on opening day for customers who don't yet have their membership cards. People with questions about billing or registration should contact the club on that page or inquire at the facility beginning Tuesday.