Speakeasy Fitness Bought Historic La Brea Site
The fitness operator acquired a former Hollywood complex to anchor its eighth Southern California gym.
Updated on Sept. 23, 2026 in Fitness
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Speakeasy Fitness has purchased the property at 1336 N. La Brea Ave. to serve as the site for its next gym location. The site previously housed the American Academy of Dramatic Arts and was once part of the historic A&M Records complex.
Why it matters
By owning the buildings it occupies, Speakeasy Fitness avoids common commercial real estate hurdles like lease escalation clauses and changing parking fees. This strategy supports the company's goal of geographic concentration across Southern California.
The company is investing $20 million in the acquisition and renovation of the site, which will be the brand's eighth gym. This expansion aligns with broader market trends of over 700 planned boutique fitness store openings across the U.S. in 2026.
The players
Speakeasy Fitness
A fitness operator that focuses on geographic concentration within Southern California.
American Academy of Dramatic Arts
A professional actor training school that previously occupied the La Brea Avenue site.
A&M Records
A legacy record label that formerly operated a complex at the site of the new gym location.
The details
The company frequently acts as its own anchor tenant to secure long-term operational stability. This new location continues a pattern of adaptive reuse, following the company's 2025 sale of a building in North Hills.
Timeline
The property was sold by the company in North Hills in 2025.
A research brief on gym growth was released by CBRE in August 2026.
The company expects to open a new location on Beverly Boulevard in October 2026.
The new La Brea gym is scheduled to open in the spring of 2027.
Health Landscape
The story follows the pattern set by the August 2026 CBRE research brief on fitness store growth, which projects over 700 new store openings for 2026.
Local residents can expect a new fitness facility in the neighborhood by spring 2027. The ownership model suggests the gym will likely maintain consistent operational costs for members by avoiding volatile commercial lease terms.
The takeaway
Companies that own their facilities are often better insulated against the rising rents that frequently force independent gyms to close or move. This business model allows for long-term consistency in membership rates and operational stability.
Further reading
For more on the local market, visit Los Angeles Fitness.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Bisnow.
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