Club Athletic, the New York-born social fitness community transforming training into collective pursuit, is making its Midwest debut with the launch of its first two Chicago studios: Old Town Athletic and Lake Street Athletic. The announcement comes shortly after Old Town Athletic officially opened its doors at 1350 N. Wells Street on September 21. Ahead of Lake Street Athletic’s October 12 grand opening at 1035 W. Lake Street, the studio is hosting a two-week preseason from September 28 through October 11, offering free workouts open to the entire Chicago community.
Unlike traditional fitness classes, Club Athletic centers its model around fixed 20-person “squads” who train together twice a week with the same coach and teammates. Designed to combine structured strength and conditioning with genuine accountability, the squad-based model treats fitness as a team sport where consistency and camaraderie drive individual results. Beyond training, each Club Athletic studio hosts run clubs, drop-in classes, and monthly social events.
“When we started Club Athletic in New York, we set out to redefine how people build consistency and connection in their daily lives,” said Dane McCarthy, Founder of Club Athletic. “Bringing that experience to Chicago marks the beginning of a new chapter for both our brand and the local community. Fitness and performance are always better when you’re part of something bigger than yourself, and the Lake Street and Old Town openings allow us to extend that sense of belonging to a community that has already proven just how eager they are to show up for one another.”
Every Club Athletic studio is purpose-built around three distinct training zones — barbell rigs, free weights, and cardio ergs — delivering a standardized, elite experience for members. Every squad across all locations tackles the same workout on any given day, following a progressive 12-week programming cycle where every session builds intentionally on the last. Leading the floor in Chicago is a powerhouse team of coaches, including NASM-certified personal trainers, CrossFit coaches, and OCB Professional Bodybuilders, who bring unmatched expertise to every session. Both the Old Town and West Loop spaces debut dedicated turf areas to support Hybrid, a specialized program for cohorts training for endurance competitions like HYROX. The studios also feature Club Athletic’s signature post-workout lounge complete with a coffee bar, doubling down on the brand’s commitment to building community beyond the workout.
To apply for a Chicago membership, visit clubathletic.co/apply-chicago.
Club Athletic is a private, membership-based fitness and social community with locations across New York City, New Jersey, and Chicago. Club Athletic combines structured strength training with neighborhood identity and a year-round social calendar that turns routine into community.
Learn more at clubathletic.co or follow @clubathletic.chi on Instagram.
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