I trained clients at this gym for approximately five years, so this review is based on a long period of firsthand experience rather than one isolated incident.
My biggest issue was the lack of consistent ownership and accountability. In my experience, the owner seemed to pick and choose when he wanted to actually act as the owner of the facility. He rarely communicated with members, frequently did not respond to messages, no-showed appointments, and when conflicts arose between members or trainers, the response was often essentially that we needed to handle it ourselves.
That included situations where a male member was yelling across the gym at a female member and, rather than stepping in as the owner, people involved were expected to resolve it themselves. Over the years, I also personally felt that women were not treated with the same level of respect across the board. I cannot speak to his motivations, but the differences in how certain women were spoken to and treated were noticeable enough that it became a significant concern for me.
The facility also had ongoing cleanliness and safety issues. Equipment and barbells were regularly left lying around, creating obstacles people constantly had to navigate. There were significant gaps and uneven areas in the flooring, I sprained my ankle many times because of these gaps that are unavoidable. When safety concerns about equipment being left in walkways were raised, members would receive responses along the lines of, "You need to watch where you're walking," rather than seeing the underlying problem addressed.
In terms of cleanliness, the gym was frequently dirty and basic upkeep did not happen consistently. Dust was absolutely everywhere. Anytime you put something on the floor, be prepared to ingest dust and debris. Members were also not consistently held accountable for putting equipment away or maintaining the space, so the same problems continued.
Communication regarding billing and business matters was similarly frustrating. I was made aware of situations where people continued to be charged after cancelling and then waited weeks for refunds. There were also occasions when the owner would leave town without communicating that to people who relied on him, and when contacted would respond that he was on vacation and did not want to deal with the issue. No matter what he tells you, he only spends 10-20 mins in the gym every 2-3 days for "upkeep".
Heat and air conditioning were also a battle every year. Mornings in the winter got extremely cold because he refused to heat the gym 24/7 even though the gym is open 24/7. The same issue existed with the AC. There were mornings when it was in the upper 40s before he would turn the heat on. He charges numerous fees but does not consistently heat or air condition the building appropriately.
My own departure reinforced many of the concerns I had developed over the years. I struggled to get clear answers regarding policies and expectations. After I chose to leave, the owner contacted the owner of my new gym and made several negative claims about me that were all lies. Among those claims were that I had been terminated, that I had bent or broken a barbell, and that I had issues with many members at his gym. I have dated messages documenting that I chose to leave, and I later obtained evidence that the barbell I was accused of damaging remained in use at the gym. So either he's lying, or letting his members use a "broken" barbell. Both are very bad looks. I'm unaware of any issues with members other than when I first started, and that's another story of him not supporting me being bullied. Lying like that is absolutely defamation.
If you are considering training here, especially if you are an independent trainer, I would strongly encourage you to get every policy, fee, expectation, and termination term in writing, keep copies of everything you sign, and pay close attention to how concerns are handled when something goes wrong. Keep your distance from the owner. Don't delete anything. You may have a lawsuit on your hands. read more