Fresh Thyme, Planet Fitness to replace Newport Remke

After months of speculation and rumors, Fresh Thyme Farmers Market will open in the former Remke's space in the Newport Plaza, The Enquirer confirmed through facade renderings submitted to the city of Newport.

Planet Fitness next door will expand into 5,700 square feet of the former Remke space, according to city officials and officials with the management of the plaza.

The opening date for Fresh Thyme has not been released. Representatives with Fresh Thyme Market couldn't be reached for comment Monday morning and haven't returned previous messages as rumors swirled they would open in the plaza.

Fresh Thyme specializes in healthy and organic foods.

Remke's closed the Newport location in the plaza March 8 after 14 years operating there. Fresh Thyme won't take up all 53,000 square feet of the Remke space, according to the plans.

The exact size of the Fresh Thyme Market wasn't available, but they are typically smaller stores than Kroger. The two that opened last year in Oakley and Symmes Township are 28,000 square feet.

Facade work has already begun on the space in the Newport Plaza.

Planet Fitness will expand toward the back of its store adding more free weights and strength equipment, said Mike Hamilton, chief operating officer of Planet Fitness Midwest. Planet Fitness has operated for three years in the Newport Plaza.

Across the street in the Newport Pavilion shopping center, two large grocery stores – Target and Kroger Marketplace – operate.

Jaimie Niemczura, real estate manager for American Diversified Developments, couldn't comment on Fresh Thyme, but did say the traffic generated by the Newport Pavilion has increased interest in the Newport Shopping Center and Newport Plaza.

"Just the overall traffic generated from the Pavilion has helped our sites," Niemczura said.