I originally joined the gym when it was Fitness 1440, so when the Alexanders took over, I was a bit concerned about what the changes would be. I was relieved when those changes ended up being for the better. There's more floor space, not as much repeated equipment, things are fixed immediately, and you don't need to deal with long waits or any overly aggressive people. Plus, everybody knows each other here, so there's more of a family feel. The environment has definitely improved. There are going to be three posts total: one for Google, one for Yelp, and one for Foursquare. I'll include those links at the bottom of this email. Foursquare has a limit for how long a review can be, so I created a shorter version of the review that can be posted there. The above version of the review can be posted to Google and Yelp, while this shorter version will go to Foursquare: Ever since the Alexanders took over, there's more floor space, not as much repeated equipment, things are fixed immediately, and you don't need to deal with long waits or any overly aggressive people. read more

Under new ownership. Place is completely remodeled and redone from its Fitness 1440 days and the previous owners. It's clean and filled with equipment, and every time I'm there, there's always a treadmill or bike available. The owners and trainers are friendly and encouraging, and are the kind of people who say hello and get to know you and who genuinely care about others. It's just a really positive atmosphere. The classes are great, including spinning (I'm addicted to spinning!), and there's also a racquetball court and a smoothie bar. I also like it because I can bring my 18-month-old son during childcare hours and there is someone there in a toy-filled nursery to watch him while I workout. And it's only an additional $2 an hour -- it's kind of a no-brainer, and he's always happy to go there. Great place. Can't say enough good things about it. One of my favorite places to go, honestly read more

I was a college wrestler, so staying fit is a lifetime decision for me, and as far as I'm concerned, coming to Alexander's is a no-brainer. The staff is friendly and helpful. They give good direction, and are willing to show you the new and improved facilities and equipment. I really like the multipurpose room. It's user friendly, and it's set up so that anyone can find something that works for them. It's especially good for people who don't like cardio. The free weights, TRX, and ropes are neat add-ons for your workout, because they add cardio without you having to run. The classes are also great. My wife takes some of them, and there's a class for everybody. We're parents now, and Alexander's actually offers childcare, which is amazing because there aren't many gyms that do that. It's a great place to workout. read more

It was fun growing up in the gym. I've been coming here ever since I was a kid. I started out in the daycare, and met a lot of people growing up there. A lot of the people that were coming to the gym when I was in daycare, still come today, so I still get to see them. I got to meet a lot of good people by being here. I got to have fun as a kid too. This place was like a jungle gym for me. I got to hang out at the front desk, by the racquetball courts, in the daycare. It was a great experience growing up here. It's also nice because people like Dave, Molly, Sue, and Ricky, who were around when my dad ran things, I get to work right next to them. It's really good having them by my side, because they teach me something new everyday. It really is like a family here, and for me, this place was a second home. read more

I've been going here ever since the gym opened up 30 years ago when it was Wallbangers. It was 90% racquetball courts back then. Over the years it became Gold's Gym, and then Alexander's. It went from mainly racquetball courts, to mainly weights. They've made a lot of changes over the years, but that transition from racquetball to weights is my favorite change. Plus the facilities are clean and well maintained. People always talk about how clean the gym is. If everybody brings that up, it must say something about other gyms in the area. Personally, I can say that the people are great, and the trainers are great. I'm sure anyone would love it here. It's above and beyond what I like. For me, it's a super high class gym. read more

"I was originally a member back when the gym was called Wallbangers, and it was owned by the Kratsa family and Phil Garner. It was a racquetball club with about 20 courts. It didn't even have any weights. I was a member there, and they needed someone to help, so I signed on, and now I've been here for 40 years. Around August of 1987, Mr. Alexander took it over and licensed the Gold's Gym name. After a few years, though, he renamed it Alexander's. Now in the early 2010s, Mr. Alexander decided to rent out the space to another gym, but in October of last year, his sons took over the operations, and changed the name back to Alexander's Athletic Club. Thanks to that, the gym is more family oriented. " - Molly read more

I wrestled in college with Geoff and Justin, and became good friends with them and their family. Thanks to that, I had heard of the gym, so when I moved to Pittsburgh, I decided to come here. I had actually taken some time off after finishing my wrestling career, but I felt like I needed to get back into it, so I came here. The cool thing about this gym is that it doesn't matter what your age or gender is, or if you're an athlete or not. This gym has so much that you'll find something here for you. It also has great trainers, who are willing to help you with your work out and your diet. This gym is perfect for anyone who wants to change their lifestyle. read more

My fiance had been urging me to come here. He's been here since he was young, along with his family. I finally started in the beginning of the summer, and it's the best gym that I've tried. The staff makes the experience anywhere you go, and the staff here is welcoming. They take special interest to learn your name, and say hi when you come in. They notice when you're there, and when you're not. They inquire, and they actually take an interest in you. Plus, they really utilize their space efficiently. There's a ton of equipment, and no wasted space. They fit as many things as possible, and even when it's busy, there's still other machines to use. read more

"I've known about Alexander's gym from back in the 80's when the father owned it. It's managed to retain a lot of those members. This place is like a family. It's the first gym where I felt like I belonged. I know everyone's name, and everyone knows me. Sometimes it takes hours to leave even after my workout, because I'll sit down and talk with people, or play cards with them. I recommend it all the time, especially my trainer Rick. He's tough, but he helps me keep track of my diet and body weight, and prepare for the Mr. Pittsburgh competition. He's one of the best trainers I've ever had, and he's become a good friend." - Ray L. read more

I started working here part-time in 1992 when it was still Gold's Gym. During the time I was here, I got to know the Alexander family very well. With time, my role evolved from working at the front desk, to becoming management. Once ownership changed hands, I left, but eventually Justin and Geoff took over and they asked me to come back. This family is filled with good people, and they always help you any way they can. It makes you want to help them the same way. The facilities are great, but the members are the highlight. The people here make you look forward to coming back. read more

There are a lot of good qualities to Alexander's, so it's easy to get comfortable here. My mom first brought me to the daycare when I was young, and I started training when I got older. There was a period when I stopped going to gyms altogether, because of how weird it can be working out around strangers. Here it's welcoming, though, and the environment is better than other gyms. You get to know everyone well, so you kind of fall into place. I'd recommend the three day trial, because it really lets you see what the gym has to offer. read more

Here there's real equipment, and real people who know what they're talking about. Rick, Molly, Dave and the team are great! I moved to the area, and heard that Alexander's was a good place to work out, and I've been satisfied. The equipment isn't for show; things are set up to actually be able to get things done. There are free weights, there's the turf room. Room for everyone to work out. There's actually space. I would recommend Alexander's if you're serious about working out. read more

The facilities here are pretty clean. You don't have to worry about messes anywhere. The staff is great as well. They know your name, and they talk to you when you come in. Personally, I started coming here when I found out the gym was open for 24 hours. It's incredibly convenient, since it's never too crowded. You don't have to worry about waves of people or students coming in all at once, so you're free to use the facilities and the turf room without a wait. read more

I grew up in the area, so I've known about Alexander's since I was a kid. I started working out here when I was training for football and baseball, and they have the best free weights in the area. No one else comes close. Even after graduating, I keep coming back. My wife comes here as well. She's liked the HIIT classes that she's taken. The gym as a whole has a great, friendly atmosphere. It's pretty family oriented. I'd recommend it. read more

The staff here puts in a lot of work to improve the facilities. They're constantly trying to make the gym better for everyone. I go to school 9 months out of the year, and whenever I come back, it's always better than before. Here, they really take in feedback, and care about what the members want. The gym didn't use to be open for 24 hours, but it is now. You can't beat that. There's not one gym around here that's better than this gym. read more

I've been coming here since 1997, and I've seen this gym undergo a lot of changes. I've never had a negative experience here, but I feel like the gym is better now than it ever has been before. There are great people, and no big egos. Everyone is willing to help you if you need it. You meet good people, make friends, and even find yourself talking with them for an hour or two. You lose track of time because of how friendly it is here. read more

"I've been coming here for 15 years, and I've gotten to know people on a personal level. It's like a family, and they make you feel welcome with open arms. I even met my best friend here. I would definitely recommend it to others. There are a lot of cardio and weight options, and everything is organized well. Kathi's step class was great, and in the future, I may take more cardio-focused classes, like the spin class." - Taylor S. read more

I like that Alexander's is air conditioned well. Some other gyms don't air condition well, so it gets hot. It's not overly crowded either. This place is more personal; it's smaller, but not so small that you can't get on any equipment that you want to. I especially love the hammer strength machines. I could go to any gym with my insurance, but not many gyms have the hammer strength equipment, so I like using that. read more

The gym I used to go to closed down, so I ended up coming here after that. I'm still a relatively new member, but I've gotten to know some of the staff and members. There have been a lot of renovations done with the building, the equipment, and the turf room, so there's a lot of variability in what you can do here. I'm mainly focused on cardio, and staying in shape, and there are plenty of ways to do that here. read more