Walnut Creek and Pleasanton have landed new 24-Hour fitness super clubs, an indication that the Bay Area fitness industry has managed to buck the region's sour economy.

San Ramon-based 24-Hour Fitness has struck a deal to open a Walnut Creek fitness center on a parcel that a concrete company once used to crush rocks.

Separately, the privately held fitness company also has agreed to lease an existing complex in Pleasanton's Hacienda Business Park. The facility once was used by the Tri-Valley Herald as a newsroom and publishing plant.

"We're very excited about opening both clubs," said Peter Berkowitz, a vice president of real estate and strategy with 24-Hour Fitness.

Both the Walnut Creek and the Pleasanton locations will be considerably larger than existing facilities that the health club chain operates in the respective cities.

As a result, multiple fitness companies are scouting for expansion space in the Bay Area. Among them:

-- 24-Hour Fitness rented 42,000 square feet at 2800 N. Main St. in Walnut Creek. This site will replace an existing 24,000-square-foot club in the city.

-- Separately, 24-Hour leased 50,000 square feet at 4700 Willow Road in Pleasanton. At present, the company has a 25,000-square-foot site on West Las Positas Road in the city.

-- In-Shape Health Clubs rented 32,000 square feet at a former Circuit City building at 4300 Delta Gateway Blvd. in Pittsburg.

-- Fitness 19 is seeking sites ranging in size from 10,000 to 20,000 square feet, brokers said.

-- Gold's Gym is seeking at least five new locations in the Bay Area. The company wants properties ranging from 15,000 to 50,000 square feet.

-- Planet Fitness also is looking for future locations.

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