Former Salem Resident, Travel Channel Star to Open Fitness Center

For years, Nick Groff has hopped around the country and the globe, chasing the paranormal in some of the darkest, scariest places on the planet.

Now the Travel Channel star has plans for a business venture a bit closer to home.

Groff, a former Salem resident and co-host of the acclaimed series "Ghost Adventures," will soon open a fitness center in Methuen, Mass. The 24-hour facility, called "Drive Health & Fitness," is expected to launch in late May.

Groff's new business is both his vision and that of two others – Tony Hajjar, his friend and personal trainer, and Dr. Vartan Yeghiazarians, a popular, Methuen-based physician with thousands of clients.

The new, state-of-the-art gym will be situated on the third floor of Yeghiazarian's new building on 380 Merrimack St., right above a walk-in clinic on the ground floor and his new, 10,000-square-foot office on floor no. 2.

"This is kind of the first time I have ever seen where medical has come into play with fitness," said Groff. "Usually you see these big-box gyms and that's all they are."

Groff admits that he fell into a sorry physical state when he got into a pattern of not eating right while filming for the Travel Channel. He jumped up to 205 pounds while holed up working on the show.

But Groff decided last year to make his health a priority, and everything changed. Hajjar started training him, and he kicked Groff's butt, which basically knocked him back into shape.

"I went from 205 down to 189, the healthiest I had ever been in my life," said Groff.

Now, Hajjar gives him a fitness plan each time he sets off for another ghost hunt.

For Groff, the goal for his new business was to take that same 360-degree approach, looking at every aspect of his health, and put it all into one place where members could get the same personal attention that he had.

Given the success of both "Ghost Adventures" and of "Vegas Stripped," a six-part series that he also produced for the Travel Channel, it's easy for Groff to think large when it comes to his new fitness center.

"We have the drive," said Groff. "All three of us have the mentality of pushing this to the maximum limit to conquer the industry with our new facility. I really, really believe that we are the future with what we are doing."

According to Groff, the preventive health care center will be very hands-on and personable. The space will be squeaky clean and modern. The equipment will be top quality.

Take the gym's new synergy machine, which Groff likens to "one big jungle gym."

A total of 10 to 15 people will be on the machine at one time, and they will rotate around as a group. Groff and his business partners plan on stationing cameras at all four points of the room where the machine is located.

The audio/visual wiring in the room has a purpose.

"Eventually we are going to offer live classes online," he said. "Wherever you are in the world from Australia all the way back to the United States."

Their goal is to franchise the company across the world, but like any business, the trio want to make sure location no. 1 works out first.

"I just want this first facility, first impression is everything," said Groff. "We want the first one to be amazing to everybody.

As for regional plans, Groff said that it will only take about 200 members in Methuen before the team starts thinking about expanding.

The second location could wind up in either Windham or Salem, and the long-term goal is to continue to combine the fitness and medical components together.

After spending 13 years in Las Vegas, Groff now lives back in southern New Hampshire with his wife and 2-year-old daughter. Every day that he is home and not filming, he said he will be at his new gym.

While marketing the facility with his recognizable face is one thing, what Groff really hopes to do is practice what he preaches.

"The best part about it, it's not like I'm just a face," he said. "I'm the face and this is my Drive Health & Fitness. You will see me working out in Drive Health and Fitness alongside you."

Before the fitness studio opens later this spring, Groff is inviting the public to an open house and book signing on Sunday.

He recently authored a 272-page book titled "Chasing Spirits: The Building of the 'Ghost Adventures' Crew," and he will be giving away free, signed copies at the event.

Those who attend will also have the opportunity to receive early registration specials.

The event will run from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., with demo classes taking place outside from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m.

For more information on Drive Health & Fitness, click here to visit their website.