I loved Penfield Sports and Fitness which is now Athletic Apex. New owners have done some upgrades which are nice but not quite there yet. It's been challenging due to Covid19. As long as I live in the area I will always be a member. read more

Friendly staff, salt water heated pool with family swim hrs and lessons for kids, great daycare you can volunteer at in exchange for your membership, free towels, quiet adult lounge area with Wifi if you need to get some work done, beautiful spa-like locker rooms with saunas and steam rooms. They also have some unique stretching equipment and a recumbent elliptical! The weight area is huge, well ventilated and well laid out with lots of space! Recently bought out by Apex athletic clubs which means even more new equipment, Starbucks at the drink bar and a Bionetics programs among other improvements. read more

New management, essentially, for the former Penfield Sport & Fitness. Unfortunately, new management is rather dodgy. I suspended my membership early in 2020 because, between COVID and other more personal reasons, it was not clear to me when I would be returning to the gym regularly. It was therefore a surprise when they re-activated my membership in September; I found out only when I got my credit card statement. I called to re-suspend my membership, but was charged again in October. I called in October to cancel, and followed up with 2 e-mails, but was charged yet again in November. At that point, I finally blocked them with my credit card. They have remodeled to no small extent and have some nice, new equipment. But I have nothing good to say about the ethics of the management; I am not the only one they've done this to. Go somewhere else unless you're ready for a dispute down the line. read more

I too Like another negative review was scammed by the Athletic Apex penfield. I was charged during the shutdown during the covid. The only way I was able to stop the charges was to cancel my credit card. Even though the contract said that the charges could not be charged if the services were not available They said I got my money back even though l have documentation that I did not get my money back. i would not advise anyone to join Athletic Apex Penfield Especiall do giv them your credit card. I also receive a copy of another person in my situation as well as another person on line My only option is to go to small claims read more

Pros: The staff here is very friendly and kind, especially at the shake bar. Cons: The equipment, especially the cardio, is very run-down. There are two decent treadmills, and they are always taken. For the price you pay per month ($60), it's not worth it. I have $30 a month at the RAC, and their equipment is always updated. read more

My home away from home! This is no impersonal "big box" (empty box) gym. I love walking through the doors and always being greeted by friendly, familiar faces. I like that there are multiple workout spaces, which helps vary up my workout. I can choose from a couple cardio sections, hit the main weight room, or hang out in the quiet women-only room for a gentle stretch. There's a lot of variety in the equipment as well, so I never get bored--and I've discovered some cool new machines here that I've rarely seen at other gyms! (Seriously, how come so few people try out the Krankcycle?? If I had space, I would get one for my apartment! Best upper body cardio machine ever!) PSF has been thoroughly renovated and updated multiple times, and the locker rooms here are the nicest I've seen at any gym. As a former competitive swimmer, I usually go for larger cooler pools, but the pleasantly warm PSF pool is honestly delightful for a relaxing post-workout stretch-out swim. (Kids love it for swim lessons--even in the middle of a Rochester winter!) The hot tub is a sweet bonus. Love this place. :) read more

I'm very pleased with this gym. Been a member since 2001. Equipment gets updated periodically. During evening prime time, the treadmills and ellipticals tend to fill up. Try a week guest membership to determine if a problem for the times you go. Very friendly staff. Excellent trainers. Fun and friendly classes. Regulars will greet you. Family friendly. Free towels. Whirlpool occasionally breaks but they try to repair ASAP. Pool is great for walking but so-so for lap swimming (temperature is rather warm; times inconvenient for evening goers after work; not Olympic-size). Pool is salt solution rather than chlorine, so easier on the eyes and bathing suit. Good variety of strength training areas. Recently addressed the prime-time parking problem by adding 70 spaces. Price is mid-range and reasonable for the services you get. read more

I came to this place back in the day (late 70's, early 80's) when it was primarily a racquetball club. In fact, it was called "Penfield Racquet Club." Back when it was new, it was a nice RACQUET club. Went back there a few weeks ago and it is really showing its age. In fact, it looks like it hasn't been refreshed or updated since the 70's. The racquetball courts are crummy, the general condition is crummy, it's smelly and humid, and the place looks like the owner is just trying to squeak every last dime out of the poor patrons who actually pay to be there. When you contrast the condition and the price ($60 per month) to other options like the new Penfield YMCA, LA Fitness, and other new clubs, I am amazed that customers still pay to be here. Sad to see this place deteriorate so much from its glory days as a "racquet" club. I used to love this place! read more

Enough is enough. I called in January and February of 2019 to cancel my membership and was told that I needed to pay through the end of the contact year. Fine. But at the end of the contact track year they continue to deduct the funds from my bank account. Another call in September and then in October and still they are deducting funds. December 31, 2019 and another deduction. I do not recommend this gym to anyone. They do not honor their contracts or work with you if you have circumstances that might warrant an early contract dissolution -- you cannot get a manager on the phone to communicate your concerns. read more

It isn't a horrible GYM and it is conveniently placed if you live/work in the area but there are better GYMs in Rochester for the money. I've giving the GYM a low rating because the classes are sub-par and they oversell the quality of the classes. They have many classes, just don't' expect hardcore, intense workouts. You won't push yourself or grow through the classes they offer. If you are more advanced in your workouts or skill level you'll find the quality of their classes very introductory. The equipment is okay (average to below average) and the lifting area is small compared to most GYMs. This GYM seems geared more towards people who causally workout or want to be able to say "I go to the GYM." It is a comfortable environment for first-time GYM goers, the elderly, or people not in the best of shape. I would not recommend this GYM if you are more intense and want a serious workout. read more

The children's swim classes were a disappointment. Poor communication to even get enrolled in the classes and the management of the program is disorganized. If you are looking for an organized, structured swim program than this is not to place to go. read more

Since joining last year, I've been overwhelmingly impressed by this gym. It's clear the staff genuinely cares about the happiness of their members. It's impossible to walk in, (or out of) the gym without being met with eye contact and a smile from everybody on staff. Phil the trainer bounces around the place with a permanent smile, waving hello to everybody no matter what. I like that kind of attitude, especially in an environment where encouragement and positive energy are so important. The equipment is always clean and runs smoothly. Though I tend to visit in early mornings or during lunch, there's never a crowd, and I'm always able to get to the machines and equipment I need. Showers, bathrooms, locker rooms and steam/sauna have always been kept clean. Plenty of fresh towels and an overall good feeling in just about every corner. I haven't even tried any of the group classes, but for me, my membership to Penfield has been worth every penny. read more

This isn't really a gym. More of a social club for old people. Equipment is old and run down. Newer equipment is reserved for trainers and their clients. Very cramped, one squat rack, run down cardio equipment. Two of the treadmills have been broken for several months. No room to do any ab exercises. Dumbbells are falling apart. There is no semblance of organization. 45 lb plates are underneath 10 lb plates and vis versa. You have to scour the small free weight area to find the weights you need to use. They have decent racquetball courts though and both a dry and wet sauna. Overall not worth it though. Place is way overpriced for what you get. Pass on this place. You're better off spending your money elsewhere. read more

I'm writing to counter some of the other reviews as I've been extremely happy with this gym as a family gym. Been a member since about 2012 I think. I'm a serious runner and I've been very happy with the treadmills. They have large enough beds and go fast enough. There's another whole room of treadmills in a smaller workout area, there's a woman only stretching area, we go to "family swim" and it's so fun (I actually have just taught my 3 year old to swim), free towels, very nice locker room. It doesn't seem run down at all to me. I have been at some gyms like the rac, la fitness, midtown and you have to call ahead for babysitting or pay extra money for the daycare. This daycare is the best!! I have 3 kids under 4 and they are moms that take excellent care of them and will even change their diaper (unlike at midtown where they text you to stop your workout to come change them. read more

I love this gym. There's a great family atmosphere because it's family run. I go here mostly to play racquetball and occasionally lift, and my wife goes here for everything else - cardio, classes, quiet room, pool, you name it. Regarding racquetball, it's true that there used to be 8 courts and now there's only 4. That's probably because racquetball has waned in popularity over the years and they needed to adapt and make more room for traditional gym equipment to stay in business. However, they manage their 4 courts very well in the sense that they get enough use to keep them around. They have leagues starting about every 2 months and tournaments twice a year. The leagues are organized by level (open/A/B/C) and time (i.e. Mon 5 pm) and planned as singles, but they are not strict, which is a good thing. You don't report a score or anything, and often singles can into doubles and people who aren't in the league can still find a game. It's really good to ensure you'll always have a court reservation and other people that are the same level who want to play at the same time. However, the courts do need slight renovation. The floors are fine, and so are the sides walls and back wall, but some of the front walls are uneven in places making for an occasional unpredictable bounce. It's rare that this actually happens, though. I typically place 5-8 games in a day and it might occur once during that time. If you pay close attention, you can notice how they've used the space very wisely from where the 4 old racquetball courts used to be. They've knocked down a few walls and put up some windows to create a very expansive main gym area with cardio, weights, nautilus, stretching area, etc. It has lots of natural light and high ceilings. They also have a spin room, a personal training area, a kids room, a quiet room (with cardio/strength training equipment, but no music), a studio, and a big lounge with a few couches as TV. There's probably more that I can't remember. My wife loves the classes they teach. She's done kickboxing, aquarobics, yoga, insanity, and a bunch of others. They have the classes posted online. She also uses the pool a lot and it's one of the few that's actually warm enough where she feels comfortable for more than a few minutes. About the only thing we haven't used is the basketball court. I declined the free personal trainer session, but my wife did 2-3 sessions (I believe you get ~5 free) and enjoyed them a lot. Other things we like are the locker rooms, each with a sauna & steam room. They have a towel service too. Also, the shake bar has really good shakes at a reasonable price (Peanut Butter Cup is all you need to know). The membership costs more than other franchise gyms, but in my opinion it's more than worth it, especially for what's included. We were able to get a military discount and I believe there's other discounts available for seniors, etc, but I would still be a member even if I didn't get the discount. Unfortunately, we'll be moving soon and will have to end our membership. However, if I could, I'd transplant this place to our new home. There's a feeling that if we came back years later, they'd still greet us by name. read more

The swim department is inefficient in getting back to queries. I wanted to enroll my son in their swim lessons and called them twice. Both times I was told they would call me back but there has been no response. read more

I would come home every summer for many years from school with viewing the Penfield racket club at my gym they always offered a reasonable price and never gave me much of a problem. Biggest issues with that it was always busy and had way too many machines. Wasn't really meant for serious bodybuilding in my opinion. But at that time I wasn't really doing that kind of work. Overall it would be a very good place for a person looking to stay fit and be healthy. Excellent resource for the community of Penfield would highly recommend. read more

I really like this facility. There are people of all age and fitness brackets that work out here. My only complaint is that they don't have enough yoga classes. Everything else is great. The staff is super friendly and helpful. This is the best gym I have belonged to in years. read more

I waited a decent amount of time before I actually wrote a review for Penfield Fitness in order to get a good idea of this place, and it's a great health club. For starters, I get the "young adult" pricing which is significantly less than the normal rate, otherwise I probably wouldn't be going here. Whenever I'm here there aren't too many people ever working out, and that's probably the biggest reason I joined. The facilities are very nice, with nice updated locker rooms. Everyone who works here is very pleasant and friendly, and more than accommodating. The steam room is fantastic for after a hard workout in order to loosen up and relax, as well as the whirlpool. The pool is too warm for lap swimming in my opinion, but offers a great way to do some quick cardio or judge lounge leisurely for a swim. All in all, give this place a shot. It offers a ton of amenities at a great price, including free apples! They offer trial passes in order for you to decide if you like it there or not, and I would take advantage of them to help you in your gym/health club decision making process. read more

I love this place!! Great equipment, great environment and even better people!! Feels like I'm walking into a home away from home!!

Great facility. Been member for years. Awesome trainers and staff. Great new equipment!!

Pool is not great for working adults - you are not able to swim right after work due to water aerobics and kid swim lessons. On Saturdays, you can forget about morning swims unless you get there at the stroke of 7am (and even then you have exactly 55 min to lap swim until first class starts. After that - the next time you can go is 12:20pm. Sundays are very similar. Also if you are lap swimming, it's only 20 yds. Lastly, severely disappointed in the mbr cancellation process. I called to find out how to cancel - was given an email address. Emailed that person on Friday right before lunch. Did not hear from that person until right before lunch the next Wednesday. That person called me to "discuss my request." Why in the world did they make me waste my time to email if she was going to call me anyway? It really did not sit well with me that it took 5 calendar days to hear back. If I were to call about starting a membership, I would have spoken with someone right then! Also, contract signers be aware - you must give 30 days notice to cancel. In 2019 with automatic withdrawals/transfers, that's ridiculous. read more