Understanding your club's Easter schedule requires a look at how the company operates behind the scenes. Planet Fitness is overwhelmingly an asset-light franchise enterprise. Over 90% of its facilities are operated by regional franchisee groups rather than the corporate parent company in Hampton, New Hampshire.
Ownership groups like National Fitness Partners, Excel Fitness, or Sunshine Fitness oversee dozens, sometimes hundreds, of clubs across distinct regional territories. These franchise groups retain significant autonomy over their operating margins and labor budgets on non-federal holidays:
- In parts of the American South and Midwest, franchise groups routinely mandate complete closures on Easter Sunday to accommodate community traditions and reduce employee turnover.
- In high-density metro areas like New York City, Chicago, or Los Angeles, clubs owned by large institutional franchisees often choose a modified holiday schedule instead of closing entirely, capitalizing on steady foot traffic.
- Staff Overtime Considerations: Keeping a club open for a fraction of regular traffic while paying holiday wages presents a straightforward financial downside for franchise operators.
These decentralized franchise location policies explain why two facilities situated just eight miles apart can post entirely conflicting holiday notices on their respective entrance doors.
