For 11 years, the former Mars Supermarket building at Pine Grove Village has stood empty as a reminder of what the Fort Smallwood Road shopping center once was – and what it could become again.
Now, the long-vacant space is being completely transformed into RISE Fitness & Athletics, a sprawling, family-owned fitness and wellness destination expected to open this November at 8573 Fort Smallwood Road.
When RISE co-founder Nick Taghipour first toured the empty building, he saw more than an abandoned grocery store. He saw an opportunity to bring something new to the Riviera Beach area and the greater Pasadena community.
“Pasadena is underserved – Riviera Beach specifically,” Taghipour said. “There was definitely a need for something that could cater to the community.”
Rather than simply filling the building with exercise machines, Taghipour and his team are investing more than $5 million to rebuild and reimagine the space. The renovation includes approximately $850,000 dedicated to a new heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system alone.
The result, Taghipour said, will be a high-end club offering far more than the average neighborhood gym.
“The difference between other gyms in the area and us is that we’re family-owned,” he said. “Our facility is top-dollar and high-end. We wanted to bring something to the area that wasn’t a YMCA or LA Fitness. Our array of equipment is different from what you’ll see elsewhere.”
“The difference between other gyms in the area and us is that we’re family-owned. We wanted to bring something to the area that wasn’t a YMCA or LA Fitness.”
The Pasadena club will become the company’s 10th location. Seven of its facilities are located on Maryland’s Eastern Shore, while Annapolis Athletic Club and Edgewater Fitness are also undergoing renovations and will eventually be rebranded under the RISE Fitness name.
The company’s roots stretch back nearly three decades. Taghipour and his father have operated fitness facilities together since the days of Powerhouse Fitness in Ocean City in 1997. The family later rebranded and evolved the business into Pure Family Fitness, RISE Fitness & Adventure and RISE Fitness & Athletics. Taghipour’s father, a former professional bodybuilder, is now retired, but the company remains family-owned and operated.
Despite those bodybuilding roots, Taghipour emphasized that RISE is being designed for people of all ages, interests and experience levels.
“All of our gyms carry similar traits. We have the same standards – we’re a family facility that caters to everyone,” he said.
The 24-hour Pasadena facility is expected to feature more than 100 pieces of cardio equipment and over 200 selectorized and plate-loaded strength machines. Equipment is being hand-selected from well-known fitness brands including Eleiko, Rogers Athletics, Arsenal Strength, Iron Grip, Booty Builder, MaxPump, Panatta, Nautilus, Core and StairMaster.
Members will also have access to an expansive group exercise studio, a dedicated cycling studio and spaces for hot yoga and Pilates. Taghipour is considering adding a reformer Pilates studio as plans continue to develop. A women-only workout section is also expected to be included.
The club will combine traditional fitness with an extensive collection of recovery and wellness amenities. Plans include saunas, cryotherapy, cold plunges, red light therapy, infrared wellness options, tanning, hydromassage chairs and Human Touch massage chairs.
A large recovery area will give members a place to recharge after a workout, while spacious locker rooms and bathrooms will be designed with comfort and convenience in mind.
“I want people to come in here and want to spend more time in the gym than at home,” Taghipour said.
Families will also be an important part of the new club. A Kids Club childcare room will include enhanced play equipment, allowing parents and caregivers to exercise while their children enjoy a safe, supervised environment. A juice bar will offer convenient post-workout refreshments, and an on-site pro shop will carry supplements, apparel and fitness essentials.
RISE will also carry products from TULUI, the energy and wellness beverage company founded by Taghipour in September 2025. The brand offers zero-sugar functional drinks developed to provide energy and mental focus through natural caffeine and intentionally selected ingredients.
While RISE is offering a broad range of equipment and amenities, Taghipour said the company is equally focused on the quality of the overall member experience. Membership pricing and enrollment will be carefully managed to avoid creating an overcrowded environment.
“We price ourselves so we don’t overfill our clubs,” he said. “We want our current members to have a good experience, so we’re very aware of how many people are attending. We’re catering to our clients and meeting their needs.”
That approach, he added, extends to the smaller details that can shape how members feel each time they visit.
“I’m constantly looking at how we can become better and what we can do,” Taghipour said. “We’re paying attention to all the details, and we’re giving our customers what they want.”
The arrival of RISE is also part of a much larger transformation planned for Pine Grove Village Shopping Center. The longtime neighborhood center is preparing for a substantial facelift that will include fresh exterior paint, parking lot repaving, roof work and other improvements to modernize the property and enhance its overall appearance. With RISE filling the former supermarket anchor space, the project is expected to bring renewed activity to a shopping center that has served generations of Riviera Beach and Pasadena residents.
RISE has also made an effort to involve local businesses in the construction process. According to Taghipour, the electricians, plumbers and HVAC technicians hired for the Pasadena project are all based in Pasadena.
The company plans to deepen those local connections once a club manager and leadership team are in place. Taghipour said RISE intends to become actively involved in the community rather than simply operating as another business along Fort Smallwood Road.
Hiring is already underway for club management, coordinators, personal trainers, front-desk employees, group fitness instructors, Kids Club staff, janitorial team members and other positions.
Membership presales will also begin soon. The first memberships offered will be known as founder memberships, giving early registrants the opportunity to secure special introductory pricing.
“When we sell these memberships, we have what is known as founder memberships,” Taghipour said. “When we do presales, the sooner you sign up, the better deal you get.”
RISE will announce the founder membership presale through its website, social media pages and email list. Prospective members are encouraged to sign up online to receive updates and be among the first notified when memberships become available.
If construction remains on schedule, the company hopes to welcome its first members in November. A large grand-opening celebration is also in the works, with plans for cash giveaways and other festivities.
“We’re going to go all out with our grand opening,” Taghipour said.
For Pasadena, the project represents more than the arrival of a new fitness center. It marks a major investment in a long-vacant property, new employment opportunities and a fresh chapter for one of the community’s longstanding shopping centers.
For more information about RISE Fitness & Athletics in Pasadena and how to join their email list to be notified about membership offerings and the location opening, visit https://www.risefitnessandathletics.com/pasadena.
