MIDDLETOWN — As people streamed into the bright new two-story Edge Fitness Club with loud music pumping and the energy high, Michael Markman, president of BET Investments, said it was exactly in line with his vision.

“When we first started this process, there were a lot of people that told us we were crazy because if you look at the whole country right now, no one’s done such a dramatic tear down/rebuild of a mall property anywhere in the United States,” he said Saturday at the opening of the new fitness facility on the campus of The Promenande at Granite Run. “The interesting part is a lot of tenants that were not interested when we first started looking at it on a piece of paper are now coming out here and they’re getting excited.”

BET Investments purchased the former Granite Run Mall as it was in a state of decline and had a vision for a mixed-use development of shops, restaurants, entertainment and medical office facilities.

Currently, Markman said, leases are signed for about 85 percent of the 860,000 square feet of retail and 75 percent of it is occupied. 

For the residential portion, the common areas and leasing office will open in February and occupancy will begin in April.

“We already have multiple people signed up,” he said. 

In the first phase, 192 luxury apartments will be available. Once they are 75 percent leased, BET Investments can build another 208 units, Markman explained.

But, the entire property is still undergoing its dynamic transformation. Boscov’s had a new front on two sides of its building and the store has been remodeled as well.

Markman said he’s working on 15 proposals with new tenants and Petco and Turning Point restaurant will soon be joining the Promenade at Granite Run community.

There are also two pads for restaurants that will be occupied and as Markman is negotiating their leases, he was unable to name them yet.

He’s also evaluating Sears. After going into bankruptcy, Sears Chairman Eddie Lampert plans to purchase 425 of the stores across the nation, including the one in Middletown.

“We’re currently monitoring the Sears situation,” Markman said. “We’re going to watch it and do what’s best for the property.”

On Saturday, the mood was festive and energetic as crowds flocked to The Edge Fitness Club.

With natural light pouring into the facility and a host of amenities from a smoothie bar to turf floor to a kids’ playing area complete with a rock wall and exercise classes of their own, visitors had a lot to sample.

“It’s Number 20,” Laura Altieri, The Edge’s marketing manager, said. “We’re so excited to be in Media and serve the community here. This is the best club we’ve ever seen. It’s unbelievable from the great staff to the look and feel of the facility to the location. It can’t be in a better spot, it really can’t.”

Rates start at $9.99 to $29.99 a month and include a variety of amenities from a designated Spin room to group exercising classes to team training classes, weight lifting and cardio equipment, a special women’s-only exercise area and The Edge Cinema in which patrons can use treadmills and other cardio equipment while watching a movie.

Even with all the perks, Altieri said what differentiates The Edge is its staff of 25.

 “I think it’s really about our people,” she said. “We have a beautiful facility, great value. The price, it’s unbelievable. But really what makes it special is the people behind it. Our desk staff cares just as much as our personal trainers. We really change lives. We really care about our members. We want them to come in and work out.”

The facility is open 24 hours Monday through Friday and 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays.

As Markman watched visitors walk from TJ Maxx to the gym, he emphasized that the Promenade was designed solely for that purpose.

“If you look at what we have here, this is encouraging people to walk and to shop,” he said. “We really fixed up the common areas. It’s still in process.”

He explained why he wanted a gym to be a part of the Promenade at Granite Run.

“To have a mixed-use property, you want all the different elements which include shops, restaurants, apartments and a gym was an important element of that because basically gyms become part of every day life,” Markman said.

What he liked about The Edge was the whole package.

“When we looked at the gyms that were interested, Edge actually, they offered the most as far as the different types of workouts and the quality of the facility for the money,” he said. “If you take their cost and what they offer, I don’t think there’s a gym out there that offers as much for the amount of money that you pay to come here.”

In the meantime, he enjoys watching the progression of the development.

“For me, its actually its very satisfying,” Markman said. “Everybody that drives by here looks up and they’re like, ‘Wow!’”

And, his hope is that the benefits of the new facility ripple throughout the area.

“What feels good about this project is I see it as a pivot point for the whole area,” Markman said. “It was a blighted property that was really hurting the area. To be able to come in and have a plan, execute on the plan and invest and then turn the tide of the property which then has a reverberation effect on the whole area is really exciting.”