PHOTOGRAPHY BY LASZLO REGOS

oodbye Franklin
Racquet Club. Hello
Franklin Athletic Club.
This Southfield fitness
center and family-owned business
just underwent a major renovation
to the running total of S4 million
plus. Besides a new name, there's a
new look and an updated business
plan.
Founder Seymour Brode and his
son, Rick Brode, president of
Franklin Athletic Club (FAC), beam
as they describe their new addition.
"We have evolved into a way of
life," says Rick.
"Yes," pipes in Seymour. "We're
catering to facets of a diversified
community starting with young peo-
ple ages 3 and 4," he adds.
The 240,000-square-foot club,
with a 10,000-square-foot fitness
area, includes yoga, Pilates, cycling,
a North American Doubles Squash
court, golf training facility, outdoor
and indoor swimming pools, 13 ten-
nis courts, two basketball courts, an
indoor and outdoor track and a
licensed day-care center. And if
you need physical therapy, the out-
patient location of the
Rehabilitation of Michigan on the
lower level has an updated 1,500-
square-foot space.
To further accommodate mem-

g

bers, FAC added a concierge to
make reservations for dinner, the-
ater, personal training, massage
therapy and more. "We are a pre-
mier facility to give our members
value, reaching out to everybody,"
notes Rick. The Brodes mention
their goal of attracting the entire
family by offering summer camps,
birthday party venues, classes and
lessons in all sports, even golf and
hockey. They've hired well-
known staff members from the
community, including Athletic
Director Brian Clayton, a former
physical education instructor at
Hillel Day School, Junior Tennis
Director Dave Farmer, former
head tennis coach at Eastern
Michigan University and Young at
Heart Director for seniors, Joyce
Weckstein, formerly of the JCC.
Part of FAC's strategy is keep-
ing ahead of the competition,
retaining membership and attract-
ing new clients. The state-of-the-
art renovation includes several
plasma flat-screen televisions in
the fitness center that allow mem-
bers to access e-mail and surf the
Net, all while working out.
According to Rick, "We are a
vanguard in the industry. We set
the pace."
— Carla Schwartz

Renovations designed by Jeff Nichols, Fort Lauderdale, Fla. and executed by Gary Yurich,
Commercial Building & Retrofit, Inc, Troy.

1 6 • NOVEMBER 2003 • STYLE AT THE JN