Owner and chief instructor Derek Watson, holder of 6th Dan Black Belt, has operated training center in Germantown for the past 15 years and plans to third location early next month
Strive Martial Arts Family Fitness Center, owned and operated by Derek Watson, a 6th Dan Black Belt holder, has signed a lease with Hill Management Services, Inc. for space within Westview Promenade in Frederick, Maryland for its third facility in the state. The concept, which teaches martial arts for fitness and self-defense to children and adults, intends to open within the 200,000 square foot outdoor lifestyle center on December 1. Ashley Zito, Senior Leasing Manager and Danielle Bridge, Leasing Manager for Hill Management Services, along with Ryan Wilner, Bob Morris, and Mason Bernstein of KLNB represented the landlord in this lease transaction.
Strive Martial Arts Family Fitness Center has operated in the Germantown area for the past 15 years. The concept offers a range of classes – geared to individuals from three years old to senior citizens – designed to improve cardiovascular fitness, improve body composition, decrease blood pressure, and blood fat levels, and teach self-defense. The children’s programs are created to instill confidence and the feeling of accomplishment, as well as emphasize discipline and respect for oneself and others.
“It doesn’t matter your skill level,” explains Derek Watson, who is an Amateur Athletic Union coach and still competes professionally in martial arts competitions, “if you believe in something, the body will follow the mind and you can transform yourself in many positive ways. The message I give to all age groups is that it is vital to get outside and exercise and eat right. But this is especially important for kids who form habits at a young age and that last a lifetime. I want young people to put the video game controller down and visit the playground and run around. For people of all ages, you will be happier and more motivated when you exercise.”
Located at the intersection of Maryland Route 85 (Buckeystown Pike) and Crestwood Boulevard, Westview Promenade is anchored by Regal Westview Cinema and MOM’s Organic Market and features an array of shops, professional and personal services, and both sit-down and fast-casual restaurants. More than 90,000 consumers reside within a five-mile radius of Westview Promenade, including nearly 35,000 households with an average household income exceeding $85,000.
“The Montgomery County area is saturated with martial arts programs but, despite that, we are able to carve out a loyal following based on our highly-trained instructors and our passion for creating value,” Watson added. “We are not a cookie-cutter concept and, when looking for our second location, we wanted to enter a community where we could make a tangible difference. We immediately knew Westview Promenade was the perfect location for us because it is the center of activity in the Frederick area and is always busy with the movie theatre and many restaurants. Parents can shop around or eat when waiting for their children to finish a training session.”
“With kids myself and now in my 40s, I understand the time constraints of adults but I still find time to work out because this benefits everyone around me,” Watson added. “I also believe it is important to lead by example. It takes a community to raise a child and, with the traditional values we are bringing to the Frederick area, intend to elevate and improve people’s lives.”
The concept joins five additional retailers and restaurants that have opened at Westview Promenade over the past several of months, including Chatime Café, Evolve Med Spa, F45 Training, Hallmark, Thai Table and Firebirds Wood Fired Grill.
“Derek Watson is an incredibly passionate and highly-skilled entrepreneur with a strong track record of success in a competitive category, and we believe Strive Martial Arts will attract new visitors to Westview Promenade,” explained Danielle Beyrodt, Vice President, and Chief Operating Officer of Hill Management Services. “To create shopping center differentiation, it is important to attract local business owners with unique concepts and we are extremely confident in the long-term success of this new tenant.”
Founded in 1976, Hill Management Services, Inc. is a privately-owned, full-service real estate development company. Located in Timonium, Maryland, Hill Management owns more than four million square feet of office, industrial and retail space as well as several hotel and self-storage facilities. Hill Management Services seeks to provide long-term investments, exceptional customer service, and develop long-lasting tenant-landlord relationships. For more information visit www.hillmgt.com
