A new fitness franchise intends to up Naples’ game. 

D1 Training expands into Collier County with Monday’s launch in Meridian Marketplace at 3397 Pine Ridge Road, just east of Livingston Road in North Naples. 

D1 Training, a national chain based in Nashville, is the place for athletes, especially Division I athletes, said local managing partner Alex Nicholas. “We define an athlete as anybody who takes their health and fitness seriously,” Nicholas said. “We’re excited to invite every family. We look for the ESPN family—people who love sports, watch sports and they played sports at some point or they always wanted to.” 

The membership-based fitness facility will offer one-on-one athletic training, group activities, on-site therapy, weight rooms and more on multilayered turf and customized equipment found in Division 1 universities. “We have all the top equipment that the D1 schools have,” he said. “The coaches are all certified in D1 training and D1 coaching. So, people get that experience of that Division I vibe and feel here as they’re enhancing their health and fitness.” 

D1 Training’s fitness programs are geared toward a variety of age groups. “We have a rookie program, which is ages 7 to 11; a developmental program that we call the devo program, which is ages 12 to 14; and then we have the prep program, which is really prepping them to train for Division I collegiate sports or just to really get them in the best shape of their life. That’s 15 to 18,” Nicholas said. “And, then, our final category is adult, which is all adult classes.” 

The Naples franchise enrollment has about 50% adults and 50% kids, Nicholas said, noting that he already has 200 members signed up through pre-opening sales, so the local business is nearly at capacity. Walk-ins, however, are always welcome. “They can either walk in, which I would love, to tour our facility,” he said. “Or, if they look at our schedule online, they can sign up for a free class.”   

Monthly memberships are still available for the new business, which plans its soft opening on May 2 with a grand opening on May 14. “We call it a prescribed-based fitness formula,” Nicholas said. “People come in for assessments. When we do the assessments, we figure out what they truly need, what they want to work on and how long it’s going to take them to get to their goals.”  

D1 then prescribes group fitness classes or personal training. “What’s most popular is a little bit of both,” Nicholas said. “We also do team training. So, if there’s high schools, middle schools, elementary schools where in the off-season there isn’t a program set in place or they’re looking for a place, D1 fills that void.”

D1 will occupy the nearly 5,000-square-foot, freestanding building next to EJ’s Meridian Cafe. “We took it over, the whole thing. We’re the first business to occupy it,” said Nicholas, noting that he couldn’t find a better space in Naples. “We’re very excited about this spot.” 

Nicholas has three other smaller investors who have 10% or less in the company, but he owns 70% of the business and is the active principal owner. A Fort Myers resident, Nicholas originally planned to start a franchise in the City of Palms, but that territory was already taken. Locally rooted NFL players Tre Boston and Jaylen and Sammy Watkins last month launched a D1 Training franchise in Colonial Square Town Center off Six Mile Cypress Parkway in Fort Myers. 

While he didn’t necessarily aspire to the NFL, Nicholas had his own Division I gridiron start. “I played at the University of Delaware – 1-AA, the Fightin’ Blue Hens – back in 1998,” he said. “When I was in college, I was actually a receiver. When I was in high school, I was an all-state defensive end and a halfback.” 

Despite a recent stint as a real estate sales associate, the energetic Nicholas has had an over-the-top career in athleticism that put him on TV. He was on a variety of shows, including “American Ninja Warrior,” “Spartan Ultimate Team Challenge” and “Steve Austin’s Broken Skull Challenge.” He also was part of the original Reebok Spartan Race Pro team, a venture that allowed him to travel around the country.

Nicholas eventually ended up in Miami, where he ran a fitness center. “It was my own brand called Epic Interval Training,” he said. “COVID really did a number on our businesses.” He also licensed Epic to 11 other locations but COVID put them all out of business. “It was impossible for them to stay sustainable,” he said. 

On June 1, Nicholas plans to relocate to Naples, where he can be close to his new business and raise his active children, ages 2 and 6. “I’m a very hands-on type of person.” he said. “I feel very passionate about fitness.”