Serotonin Centers, a wellness and anti-aging concept, broke ground on the first of five Garden State franchise locations, the brand announced Aug. 25. 

The center, located at 178 Route 537 in Colts Neck, is expected to open in late fall.  

The company said it is in the final stages of determining the exact details of the four other New Jersey centers; however, the Serotonin website lists “Coming Soon” locations for Wall, Shrewsbury, Marlboro and Livingston.

All five Garden State locations will be operated by co-owners Dr. Lisa Granado and Danielle D’Alessio, a physician’s assistant in emergency medicine. 

“Dr. Granado and I are eager to spread awareness on the benefits of anti-aging in our own backyard,” D’Alessio said in a statement. “We’re confident our combined experience as medical professionals and med spa owners, coupled with Serotonin’s unique value proposition, will help people to take back their youth, turn back the biological clock and improve their healthspan.” 

Founded in 2021 in Florida by New Jersey native Eric Casaburi — who also established the Retro Fitness gym brand — Serotonin Centers offer technologies to “holistically fight” aging through hormone replacement therapy, medical weight loss, immunity and recovery and procedures such as Botox and CoolSculpting.

The five New Jersey locations will be the brand’s first sites outside of Florida. 

“While the progression of this development agreement has been exciting to witness, there’s plenty of work ahead to ensure this first facility is up and operational in line with the timeframe we’re anticipating,” Casaburi said. “Not only will that serve as a benchmark for the locations to come but will allow us to begin introducing area residents to our outstanding concept.” 

In a July statement announcing the franchises, Casaburi said the pandemic was part of the reason for the industry’s growth, saying more people starting thinking about their health “in a way they hadn’t in the past.” 

“More than ever, people are realizing that once health is lost, it’s difficult to regain. As a result, a proactive approach to personal wellness is taking hold, which has worked to propel Serotonin’s growth,” Casaburi said.