Gold's Gym International wants to pump itself back up in Hawai'i by opening several franchised fitness centers following the closure of four locations that left the chain with just one gym in the state.

The Dallas-based company said it is seeking one or more franchisees to expand the chain in Hawai'i and take over the corporate-owned Gold's on South Street in Honolulu.

"We think we can make it easy for them to start by taking over that location and use it as a launching pad," said Keith Albright, senior vice president for franchising at Gold's.

Albright said the company would like to have five to seven Hawai'i Gold's gyms open in the next few years.

That would make Gold's one of the larger health club chains in the state. Others include 24 Hour Fitness, which has eight Hawai'i locations, and Curves International, a chain of smaller fitness centers for women, with more than 20 Hawai'i locations.

Numerous smaller chains and independent health clubs such as Powerhouse Gym and the Honolulu Club also compete in the industry.

The Gold's effort to rebuild its presence in Hawai'i is part of a larger goal to grow the chain from about 650 gyms today to 1,000 by 2010.

Gold's was established in Venice, Calif., in 1965 by Joe Gold and became famous through its affiliation with Arnold Schwarzenegger and the 1977 documentary film "Pumping Iron" staring Schwarzenegger and Lou Ferrigno.

Gold's developed into a chain covering 30 countries primarily by franchising over the last three decades, and calls itself the largest coed gym chain in the world.

But in the last decade, the number of Gold's gyms in Hawai'i has been unstable.

In 1996, three Gold's gyms on O'ahu were converted to 24 Hour Fitness Centers after local operator Gym Masters Inc. sold the business to Pleasanton, Calif.-based 24 Hour Fitness Inc.

When Texas billionaire Robert Rowling's TRT Holdings Inc. bought Gold's in 2004, there were five Gold's gyms in Hawai'i. But since then, three locations on Maui and one on Kaua'i have been closed by a franchisee, according to Albright.

Albright said that in the past the relationship between franchisees and the company had less structure and support, but earlier this year was strengthened to provide shared operating practices, advertising programs and a development program.

"We're very excited about the opportunity we have in Hawai'i," he said. "It's kind of like a relaunch of the brand."

Albright said it typically costs around $2 million to open a 20,000-square-foot gym, though the cost can vary by market and amenities.

Many new Gold's gyms are featuring "cardio theater," an area of cardiovascular exercise machines set up in front of a large movie screen playing films.

Albright said prospective franchisees need to have a minimum net worth of $800,000 and liquid assets of at least $300,000.

Reach Andrew Gomes at agomes@honoluluadvertiser.com.