Franchise Opening April 1 in Former Rite Aid Building on Main Street is First to Operate in West Virginia
By Jeff Toquinto on March 25, 2024
The newest plaza retail development has yet to be completed and two of the three spaces already have tenants.
Last week, it was announced that Veltri Family Dentistry would be moving to 300 West Main Street in the former Rite Aid building. It has also 
been learned that Stretch Zone Bridgeport will be occupying another unit.
been learned that Stretch Zone Bridgeport will be occupying another unit.
Stretch Zone is a franchise. This will be the first location in West Virginia, and it will be owned by Jack and Maria Spatafore. Jack Spatafore is the owner of Bridgeport Physical Therapy that is attached to the new trio of units, while Maria Spatafore has quietly been revamping the outdated former Rite Aid spot into a new welcoming look into the Main Street corridor.
What is a “Stretch Zone?”
According to press information supplied by their Web site, Stretch Zone is the first and largest franchisor in the stretching industry and the only company that combines a proprietary stretch method with patented strapping equipment to improve muscle function throughout the body. 
Stretch Zone practitioners follow specific methods to properly position, stabilize, isolate and manipulate muscles using powerful principles of neuromuscular behavior to improve range of motion.
Stretch Zone practitioners follow specific methods to properly position, stabilize, isolate and manipulate muscles using powerful principles of neuromuscular behavior to improve range of motion.
The company was founded in 2004. It now has more than 300 locations across the country.
“Our community hasn’t seen a business like this I’m hoping they will embrace it and utilize it,” said Bridgeport Community Development Director Andrea Kerr. “I’ve spoken with Jack Spatafore about the level of employees he is bringing in, the service he is bringing in and think this will be as unique as it will be fantastic.”
Work is getting finished up at the site, which is a good thing. Spatafore said he plans to open April 1. Already, he said there is a manager and an assistant manager, and he hopes to hire eight certified stretch practitioners. Anyone coming in for a stretch will be worked on one on one, he said.
“I actually wanted to do this in the my physical therapy clinics (they also have a site at White Oaks) for 10 years,” said Spatafore. “I was in South Carolina last summer and saw this and realized it was exactly what I wanted to do. I never thought I would be involved with a franchise, but the company is top of the line and after seeing what they do and how they do it I didn’t think it would be productive to try and reinvent the wheel.”
Spatafore added that the service is not covered by insurances. However, he said it does not come with prices similar to healthcare treatment. He put it in line with the costs associated with a massage.
The new location is at the corner of Main Street and Virginia Avenue. More information can be found on the local group’s Facebook page by clicking HERE. You can visit the franchise’s Web site for information by clicking HERE.
Editor's Note: Top two photos, from Stretch Zone's Web site and social media platforms, show individuals being stretched. Bottom photo shows one of the rooms being worked on at the new Bridgeport site.
