Dupont Circle Health Club and Spa to Open Downtown Location

WASHINGTON, Dec. 10, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- Premier health club and spa, MINT, announces today a signed lease agreement with Ashford Hospitality to open its second DC location at K and 16th Street, Northwest this winter.

The location is currently home to the Capital City Club & Spa owned for the last 15 years by The Capital Hilton with operational support from WTS International. The facility will undergo a complete renovation including significant expansion along the building's K Street facade. Build out includes an all-new interior of modern design featuring wood, concrete and glass finishes. The new club will be 14,000 square feet on two floors with an additional mezzanine level.

"We believe in the MINT concept – a full-service boutique health club and spa focused on wellness as well as fitness – and feel it will be especially well-received in downtown Washington," said MINT owner Patrick John. "K Street professionals can find a calming retreat in the heart of downtown at MINT."

"We look at your gym time as much more than just a great workout, but also time to decompress both physically and mentally," said MINT General Manager Eric Somerville. "And our clubs are designed and staffed according to this philosophy."

"What has been most popular at MINT is our creative programming," said MINT owner Melissa John. We offer a wide variety of classes and our members particularly enjoy the Intensity workouts and yoga fusion classes."

Owner Patrick John notes, "MINT is built on the principles which most people cite as why they love a gym: it's clean, not crowded, staff is professional and friendly, and it's affordable."

Connected to the Capital Hilton, this MINT location will offer a large cardio area, strength and functional training floors, a 1,200 square foot cardio and yoga studio, one of the city's largest Stott Pilates Reformer studios at 1,000 square feet, a dedicated cycle studio and a five-room spa. Like the Dupont Circle location, MINT Downtown prides itself in a retreat atmosphere and asks members and guests to refrain from cell phone use. The club will offer coffee, healthy snacks, and free Wi-Fi in a designated area that is cell-phone friendly.

Rippeteau Architects, who designed MINT Dupont, serves as architect and interior designer for the new club. Though the club will be closed to the public for 30 days during the extensive build-out, the MINT sales team is currently taking appointments for membership at the new location with low pre-opening rates.

Representing the landlord in the transaction was Bary Maddox of DCR Realty while the MINT ownership was self-represented.

About MINT

MINT is a full-service boutique health club and spa offering a complete wellness experience since opening in 2005. MINT's unique features include impeccable cleanliness, a membership limit that ensures the club is never crowded, and a highly educated and very friendly staff. Unlike many health clubs, MINT offers an urban retreat atmosphere with fine amenities throughout the club like mint infused water, cooled towels, and locker rooms that are well-equipped with fine organic products, laundry service and digitally coded lockers. MINT offers a wide variety of classes that include signature cardio-intensity classes, twelve types of yoga, a dedicated Pilates studio, Tai Chi, Zumba dance, cycling, TRX, cardio and martial arts. MINT trainers and dietitians are highly credentialed experts in their fields. The Pilates Studio and Spa at MINT are open to the general public by appointment. More information:  www.mintdc.com.

SOURCE MINT