This gym works really well for my specific needs. I have been going here for the better part of 6…read moreyears now. The renovations are a big upgrade, as, prior to them, the place was getting pretty shabby looking. But, I don't evaluate gyms on how they look, but rather care the most about the equipment. There are ample free weights in the lower level, and the new hammer equipment is great. The second floor now has an impressive quantity of cardio equipment. There are always cardio machines open, which is great, because those machines in particular are prone to needing repairs. The staff is nice, but I pretty much keep to myself here. I can't speak to how good the personal trainers are, or anything, because I don't use those services. I wanted a place with ample free weights, showers, and towel service, at a cheap price, and close to where I work--this place checks all those boxes.
Cons: this clearly is a high traffic gym. The equipment gets damaged, but doesn't get replaced for awhile (there's been a big chunk missing from the bicep curl deck for a long time, and one of the lower ab towers has had deflated arm supports for as long as I can remember). But, the price for this place is as reasonable as you can get downtown, so I don't mind paying a little less and using the clearly used equipment. The weights weigh the same here as they would at, say, the River's Club. Members pay a monthly fee, and then every six months, you get another additional charge kind of out-of-the-blue. It's probably so they can say "hey, your bill is $20 a month," when, it's actually $27 a month, but whatever. It's still reasonably priced enough where I don't care. I guess cancelling requires a 30-day notice, or something; I've heard complaints of that procedure, but I haven't cancelled, so I don't really care about that. I have had my membership paused due to health problems, and the gym was very accommodating through that process. But, with that said, there has been some times in the past when the hot water just didn't work, when the soap dispensers in the showers hadn't been refilled, there's a broken dispenser in the men's locker by the sink that no one has bothered to fix in a couple of months, etc.
Again, this place checks all the boxes for me. That's why I've been going here for 6+ years. But yeah, it isn't the Taj Mahal of gyms.