In West Boca, where the population is booming and new residential developments are trying to keep up, some people are looking to set themselves apart.
That’s where Life Time West Boca steps in. The upscale fitness space, which recently opened at the popular Uptown Boca shopping center along Glades Road, caters to a wealthier demographic, said Susan Setna Mistri, the senior general manager for Life Time in West Boca, Palm Beach Gardens and Boca Raton.
“They are looking for that little clout in the neighborhood,” she said. “It’s like, ‘Oh I drive a BMW, I go to Life Time.'”
Life Time is the latest offering to open at the popular West Boca shopping destination — giving a sense that a significant puzzle piece for the center is now in place. Earlier in 2025, the center welcomed two other large tenants, Whole Foods Market and Homesense, a homeware store.
Life Time is occupying part of a space that once was originally meant for a movie theater, which was set to be a cornerstone project until the COVID-19 pandemic halted construction and reduced the popularity of movie theaters in general.
That led Uptown Boca years ago to look elsewhere to fill it. Eventually, the perfect fit came with Life Time.
On a recent weekday morning, a light stream of people filtered in and out Life Time, some to work out and others for a tour. Life Time describes itself as an “athletic country club” rather than a gym.
For $339 a month, Life Time West Boca members can attend workout classes, sink into a cold plunge, use the sauna or buy a post-workout meal from Life Time’s cafe. And for an extra fee, members can book a massage.
It will join many other Life Time locations in Florida, including in Boca Raton, Palm Beach Gardens, Coral Gables and Miami. Nearly 200 Life Time sites exist across the United States and Canada, and some even feature co-working spaces and child care.
The other businesses and brands situated in Uptown Boca are “like-minded,” Setna Mistri said, making Like Time’s placement very fitting.
“It’s a very vibrant lifestyle hub in West Boca,” Setna Mistri said. “We thought we definitely had an opportunity to capture the West Boca market.”
Other Uptown Boca tenants include Just Salad, Yoga Six, Carmela Coffee Bar, 3Natives, Lynora’s, Tipsy Nail Bar, Sephora, Zoom Tan, Zen Sushi, BurgerFi, Paradise Grills, REI, Sloan’s Ice Cream and more.
Uptown Boca’s success is emblematic of the growth West Boca has seen in recent years.
As new tenants were added to Uptown Boca’s roster, new people continued moving into the area and have wanted places to eat, shop and work out.
Just north of Uptown Boca is Lotus Edge, a GL Homes community, part of which currently is under construction and will offer hundreds of new homes when completed. And earlier this year, homebuilder Lennar proposed more than 700 homes for the nearby 27-hole Boca Lago golf course.
“This has been a very successful plaza,” said Michelle Soudry, a publicist whose firm represents Life Time West Boca.
