“It's like a country club without a golf course,” noted Natalie Bushaw, vice president of corporate communications and public relations for Life Time, describing the national healthy lifestyle brand's newest location. Life Time recently expanded its footprint with the opening of its North Druid Hills location, Life Time's eighth in Atlanta and first in DeKalb County.
“Walking through the door certainly doesn’t feel like you’re walking into a gym,” Busaw said, “and it’s not a gym; it's much more than that.” She said members are greeted at a concierge desk where they discuss their goals for the visit and make a plan.
The new Life Time is located on the 8-acre site of the former Athletic Club Northeast, once “Atlanta's most exclusive sports country and racquet club, meeting high consumer demand for premier health, wellness and social experiences for singles, couples and families fulfilled. says Life Time's announcement about the new location, which opened in mid-December.
According to Tara Esmiel, senior manager of the location, some of the people who were part of the old Athletic Club Northeast have joined the new Life Time facility and have been impressed with the new, state-of-the-art amenities. “We are thrilled to bring this world-class lifestyle facility to the region.”
Life Time calls the North Druid Hills location “a stunning, single-story, 65,000-square-foot indoor club complemented by outdoor areas designed for relaxation and racquet sports.” The resort-style outdoor area features a beach club and pool deck, complete with a luxurious leisure pool, private cabanas and chairs, and a bistro.”
There is also a five-lane indoor swimming pool and a pitchside lounge and bar for watching and socializing after the game.
The facility has 12 outdoor racquet courts for pickleball and tennis. “The old Athletic Club Northeast was known for tennis and we want to continue that tradition,” Bushaw said. “Pickleball became popular during the pandemic and continues to be popular.” There are also three indoor pickleball courts.
Inside, there's a spacious fitness floor with “industry-leading cardio and strength equipment, free weights and kettlebells,” as Life Time describes it, as well as “five boutique studios for barre, cycling, group fitness, hot and traditional yoga, and Pilates with the exclusive Course collection from Life Time. There are also dedicated rooms for the signature Alpha, GTX and UltraFit group training programs. In total, nearly 150 classes are offered each week, taught by Atlanta’s best students.”
While parents explore the facility, their children can spend time at the Kids Academy, where there are specially designed classes and programs for children ages 3 months to 11 years. “This is an extremely safe area,” Bushaw stressed. “No one can enter or leave without permission. Parents don’t have to worry about their children getting out and running around in other parts of the facility.”
At LifeCafe, members can receive meals and snacks, including a build-your-own bowl station and grab-and-go assortments. You can order food from any location in the facility. “For example, if someone finishes their workout and wants something to eat, they can order it and have it ready when they arrive at LifeCafe,” Busaw said. LifeCafe also offers a variety of nutritional supplements.
“Since entering the market in 2006, we have experienced tremendous growth in demand for our Lifetime offerings in Georgia. The opening of North Druid Hills takes this into account and further enhances our offerings with improved social, training, recreation, play and leisure offerings. It offers relaxation experiences,” said Parham Javaheri, President of Club Operations and Head of Real Estate Development. “With this opening, along with our recent multi-million dollar renovation at Peachtree Corners and the planned 2025 opening at Perimeter – another location we have acquired that is being transformed into a premier Lifetime destination We are continuing to expand our portfolio into a variety of options.”
