Saying he wants to provide an option for health-conscious islanders, fitness professional Jeff Giblin announced Monday that he and his wife Jill will open a full-service fitness center this fall in the Pavilion.

Their partner in the venture is Brian Lewis, who formerly managed the gym on Madison Avenue for the now-defunct Health Maintenance Organization.

The Giblins are both career-long fitness professionals. Both have bachelor’s degrees in physical education, and she has a master’s degree in physical therapy.

Giblin said he had no connection with the HMC operation “except being a member.”

The island was left without a fitness facility in February, when a court-appointed receiver for HMC shut down the Madison Avenue operation.

The Madison Avenue gym has been re-opened by Mike and Alexa Rosenthal, who are trying to negotiate a new lease on the property, and plan to bid for the existing equipment, to be sold at auction.

Proceeds of that sale will go towards expenses of the receivership, and possibly to begin reimbursing investors who bought unregistered stock in HMC.

The new facility, aptly called “the Gym at the Pavilion,” will go forward regardless of what happens to the Madison Avenue gym, Giblin said.

“Running a gym has always been in the back of our minds,” he said. “This is an opportunity to do something at home rather than commute to Seattle, and that was the driving force behind it.”

The new gym will have 10,000 square feet of floor space on the second floor of the Pavilion. The equipment will all be new, Giblin said.

In addition to the Cybex workout equipment, the Giblins plan to offer classes in aerobics, spinning, kick boxing and yoga. Personal trainers will be on staff to provide individual exercise programs.

Hours will be tailored to accommodate all users, including early morning commuters, Giblin said. He anticipates opening at 4 a.m., and remaining open until 11 p.m.

Prices for memberships have not yet been established. But Giblin said that all former members of the HMC facility will be given three free months of membership at the new club.

For more information or to inquire about memberships, call 842-8922 and leave an email or home address.