Twenty years of Community Partnership: Let’s have an Orange Chamber of Commerce Cheer for Planet Fitness – Orange, 440 Boston Post Road. On Wednesday, February 26th, at 4:30 pm, the “judgement free zone” will mark over two decades of being an awesome Orange business with a milestone ribbon-cutting. A celebration showcasing the best-in-class renovations and state-of-the-art new equipment the fitness facility recently installed throughout their pristine workout floor will follow from 5:00 – 7:00 pm.
The continued investment, and community engagement made by Planet Fitness – Orange and its parent IGNITE Fitness Holdings, is a testament to their commitment to the town and surrounding municipalities.
You may recall that Planet Fitness jumped right in and was the first of six corporations to sign on as an event sponsor for the Orange Chamber Health and Fitness Expo held at the Courtyard by Marriott on January 11th.
Why take the leap? The answer from Ryan Berk, CEO of IGNITE Fitness Holdings said, “We always want to support the Chamber and our communities.” IGNITE is one of the largest Planet Fitness franchisees, currently operating 130+ locations, which includes Planet Fitness Orange.
Feel the Love: Congratulations to Orange Chamber member, Mai Thai Restaurant, on being named “Best Thai Restaurant,” both Statewide and County – 2025 as determined by the Hearst Newspapers readers’ choice survey.
To quote Pamela Mahler of Hearst Newspapers, “Best of” product team,
“Known for its fresh ingredients and flavorful recipes, Mai Thai ensures a memorable dining experience. Whether you’re dining in or ordering takeout, the restaurant promises quality and taste with every dish, making it a must-visit spot for fans of Thai cuisine in Connecticut.”
Located at 501 Boston Post Road, Orange, Mai Thai Restaurant owner Pete Kolakul also donated gift certificates as part of our February 3rd,”Feel the Love” Business After-Hours hosted by the always generous Charter Senior Living of Orange.
A bountiful “beauty basket,” was also donated by Melissa Murphy and Alyson Anderson, the dynamic duo owners of Kashmire Salon, 221 Boston Post Road.
Free to all Chamber members. Charter Senior Living’s hospitality featured mouth-watering ho-d’oeuves, light refreshments, and beverages. And…hey, we were celebrating Valentine’s Day, so you know there were also sweets involved!
More to Love: Yale University West Campus joined the Orange Chamber last October. During this brief time, Yale has proven to be an essential part of the Chamber, as the university is to our region’s economy via jobs, business growth, charitable contributions, and overall quality of life.
As part of the University’s continued engagement with businesses throughout the region and the local community, Yale West Campus kicked off 2025 by becoming our newest Corporate Partner! This is the highest level of membership shared with seven other organizations.
Is this true love, you ask? You, betcha! Corporate Partners and Event Sponsors allow the Chamber to maintain financial stability and access critical operational resources while also creating and optimizing benefits for every Chamber member and the communities we serve.
Group Hug: Since the last column, the Chamber welcomed three new members, including the Regional Water Authority, TLC Mindful Consulting, and the soon-to-open (Ribbon-Cutting Alert: March 1st, 1:30 pm) House of Brides, located at 236 Boston Post Road, Orange.