NBA's Draymond Green unveils his next Blink Fitness gym in Redford

Pro star and Saginaw native Draymond Green ventured deeper into the increasingly competitive gym chain business with the grand opening Thursday of his second Blink Fitness franchise in Michigan.

Green, 29, a three-time NBA champion with the and a former Michigan State University standout, is one of four partners in the new Redford Township gym.

His 15,736-square-foot Blink Fitness at 9395 Telegraph is situated in a shopping plaza space that previously held an Ace Hardware. The franchise is just one of several recent off-court business ventures for the All-Star power forward, who says he is aiming to become a billionaire by age 40. Last month, he agreed to a four-year, $99.7- million contract extension with the Warriors.

"Growing up in the city that I grew up in, that’s like such a far-fetched goal that it’s probably not something that should come out of my mouth — but that’s a goal of mine," he said of his billionaire dream. "I'm 29, so I have about 10½ years. We’ll see."

Blink Fitness' Draymond Green, far left, Nate Forbes, second from right, cheer as Brandy Williams, far right, cuts the ribbon during the grand opening of Blink Fitness in Redford Township, Thursday, Sept. 26, 2019. (Photo: Junfu Han, Detroit Free Press)

Started in 2011, Blink Fitness is the lower-cost option of the upscale Equinox gym brand. There are 140 Blink locations open or in development in 10 states, according to the company.

Membership rates at the Redford Township gym start at $15 per month, or $22 for a membership that can work at all Blink locations.

Inside of Blink Fitness in Redford Township, Thursday, Sept. 26, 2019. (Photo: Junfu Han, Detroit Free Press)

Green's four partners in the new Blink franchise are metro Detroit businessmen Nate Forbes of The Forbes Co. shopping owner and development firm — owner of Somerset Collection mall — and Dan Mullen, a former top executive at the Detroit- based Bedrock real estate firm.

The other partners are Tom Shumaker, a Grosse Pointe native who now lives near Chicago, and Danny Sillman, the CEO of Relevent Sports Group.

Forbes said there is room in the fitness market for Blink to thrive, even with competition throughout the region from chains such as Planet Fitness, Anytime Fitness, Crunch Fitness and locally owned Powerhouse Gym, plus the planned opening of four The EDGE Fitness Clubs.

Todd Magazine, CEO of Blink Fitness speaks during the grand opening of Blink Fitness in Redford Township, Thursday, Sept. 26, 2019. (Photo: Junfu Han, Detroit Free Press)

"I think Blink is going to carve out its own niche in the fitness space," Forbes said."The depth of the equipment, both from the cardio perspective and from the free-weight perspective, and all of Blink's different offerings in a very clean, crisp environment, I think is going to speak to the fitness enthusiast at a different level than a lot of the other facilities in the market.”

Green opened the first Blink in Michigan in June in Warren. The next Blink could open in December in Midtown Detroit, next to the Detroit Pistons' new practice center and team offices, although Green said he won't be involved in that particular location.

“With NBA rules, I can’t be in the Pistons practice facility,” he said. "So myself per secan’t be in it, but my partners are."

Green said he plans to open about 20 Blink locations in the next four years. Green's other business investments have been in the at-home teeth aligner business SmileDirectClub, the Mark Wahlberg-backed company Performance Inspired Nutrition, and a small boutique fitness club chain called Rumble Boxing.

Blink Fitness made a donation of 50 one-year memberships to the Detroit Police Athletic League with the Redford Township gym's grand opening. Mullen on his own made a $5,000 donation to PAL.