Coop’s Health and Fitness has acquired three ZX Fitness clubs in South Carolina, according to local media reports.

Beginning Friday, Coop’s clubs in Spartanburg, Greenville and Anderson, SC, will take on an estimated 8,000 memberships from the ZX Fitness clubs in Spartanburg, Greenville and Taylors, SC, the Spartanburg Herald-Journal reported.

“I’m absolutely over the moon about this,” Michael Cooper, founder and CEO of Coop’s, told the newspaper. “This is a very exciting time for Coop’s. It is one of the largest fitness mergers in the Upstate’s history. It’s a way for us to become stronger and better serve the fitness needs of the community.”

ZX Fitness spokesman David Buzo told the newspaper that ZX Fitness’ decision to close the three South Carolina clubs was due to its inability to negotiate a long-term lease at each location.

“We wanted to provide an equal health and fitness provider, and as a result of Coop’s reputation, amenities and locations, it was an easy and logical partnership,” Buzo told the Herald-Journal.

On June 18, an employee of the ZX Fitness club in Spartanburg told local authorities that someone had broken into the club, damaged several items and stole fitness equipment, the newspaper reported.

ZX Fitness, Charlotte, NC, entered the low-price/high-volume arena with its $10-per-month memberships after taking over the troubled Peak Fitness clubs, which filed for bankruptcy. The closures leave ZX Fitness with eight clubs in North Carolina. Buzo told the newspaper that the company plans to focus its attention on the North Carolina clubs with hopes of expansion on the West Coast.

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