NEW YORK -- A year after filing for bankruptcy and changing ownership, Crunch is making waves with the addition of new clubs.

This week, Crunch added two clubs in the San Francisco Bay Area, clubs that were formerly Gold’s Gyms. The New York-based company also announced a new location in Gresham, OR, a suburb of Portland, part of Crunch’s new line of franchise clubs.

The two Bay Area clubs bring Crunch’s total to 21, including six others in San Francisco. New York, Los Angeles and Miami house the rest of the Crunch clubs as the company looks to expand in new markets. During its bankruptcy and sale proceedings last year, Crunch exited the Chicago and Atlanta markets.

The franchise club in Portland is expected to open in September with lower membership rates, varying from $9.95 to $19.95 a month. Crunch’s pre-sale website, www.crunchportland.com, is offering no money down at enrollment and the $9.95 monthly rate.

“We are thrilled to expand the collection of state-of-the-art gyms that make up the Crunch brand,” Ben Midgley, president of Crunch Franchise, said in a statement. “Portland is the perfect destination to welcome these new clubs and to accelerate the growth of this distinctive entity in the fitness industry.”

Midgley joined Crunch in January. He left Planet Fitness, Newington, NH, in the spring of 2009 after having served as Planet Fitness’ vice president of development in charge of franchise sales. Midgley had served as World Gym president when Planet Fitness briefly owned World Gym.

Midgley is no stranger to Mark Mastrov and Jim Rowley, co-founders of New Evolution Fitness Co., Lafayette, CA, the company that bought Crunch out of bankruptcy last year. All three worked together at 24 Hour Fitness, San Ramon, CA.

Crunch is celebrating its 21st birthday this month with its new micro site, www.crunch21.com.

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