BUCHANAN — With membership at an all-time high, The Fitness Industry has nearly doubled its space by expanding into the vacant unit next door.

The 24-hour Buchanan fitness club has grown from 2,400- to 3,400-square feet, and owner Greg Schuman said members are already benefitting from the extra elbowroom.

“Before we were absolutely tapped for space — people were on top of each other,” he said. “Now there is open space for folks to stretch or use medicine balls. There is so much room now.”

Schuman opened The Fitness Industry January 2013 at 400 E. Front St., Buchanan.

Since then, Schuman said they have seen steady growth and recently reached their highest membership level yet.

“We’ve peaked,” he said. “I think with the addition of tanning beds and more space our retention is going to go up and I think our numbers will continue to go up. The biggest thing is we are so appreciative of the Buchanan community that we could get to this point. Buchanan has been so supportive of us.”

Schuman has always wanted to expand, but the opportunity to do so did not present itself until recently.

He said there are no immediate plans to increase rates because of the expansion.

“I think we will keep them the same,” he said. “If at any point we did increase the rates, I’d be loyal to the members that are current — their rates will never go up. As long as they stay they are locked in at that rate.”

In addition to having more room for exercising, Schuman said the expansion has allowed him to install three tanning beds, including one stand-up and two lay down units.

He expects them to be in use within the next couple of weeks.

“I’ve already had people coming in and joining up because they heard about the tanning beds,” he said.

Members will be charged a separate fee to use the tanning beds and Schuman said he would open up the beds to non-members at a higher fee than what is charged to members.

The Fitness Club can be reached by phone at (269) 409-6060.