I've been a member of Power Palace Gym for four years. I initially came to this gym because of the…read moregreat environment, unique equipment, and great people. Sadly, if you have read any of the other reviews, or even better, the replies to the reviews, you will likely notice a trend.
The biggest problem with this gym is the owner's attitude and ego. Carey has been on a self-proclaimed "two-year hiatus" from lifting, despite apparently having just finished another "two-year hiatus." Regardless of how much he currently lifts, he still treats members as though they know nothing about lifting. He has told me, "If you can't do it with a barbell, you can't do it with a machine," and "Romanian deadlifts are the exact same exercise as hip thrusts." Statements like these are difficult to take seriously when they are delivered with such absolute certainty.
The reason I am writing this one-star review is disappointing because I have especially loved the gym for the 4 years I've been a member. The situation started over a Facebook post made by the gym. It was a roughly two-minute-long video of Carey publicly antagonizing a 16-year-old for lifting more weight than the hip thrust machine could handle. The video quickly gained traction, blowing up to over 200,000 views and hundreds of comments within a day. The majority of the comments criticized Carey and his approach to publicly shaming a teenager. I commented that instead of shunning the kid online, instead post a clear weight limit on the machine.
Due to the significant amount of negative feedback, the post was taken down. Carey later made a follow-up post claiming that people need a refresher of the rules and referring to the people who disagreed with him as "novice-lifters"
Upon showing up to the gym, I was met with Carey, who instantly confronted me about my criticism. My multiple attempts to get him to leave me alone and let me work out were futile. I refused to change my beliefs on the issue, so Carey banned me from the gym. More surprisingly, the other four members on my plan were also terminated, despite having absolutely nothing to do with the situation.
The gym has serious potential but is held back by the severe lack of care and maintenance. A year after the gym launched, the gym owner was threatened with a lawsuit and moved out of state for three years. The condition of the gym spoke for itself during that time. The rubber on the dumbbells and most attachments is still shredded, piles of dust have accumulated on the floor, and large amounts of the walls remain unpainted. Even the gym mats have not been properly cut to fit their intended areas because, according to Carey, "That's too much work."
The gym is not a comfortable environment for its members either. Numerous reports over the years tell me that women do not feel comfortable here. The gym owner also sleeps in his "office", which consists of a display of cameras and a mattress on the floor. I implore anyone who is considering coming here to take a tour of the place.
Ultimately, the biggest issue is not any single piece of equipment, a dirty floor, or even the condition of the facility. It is the constant denial of criticism, ego, and attitude from the owner. Look at the responses to the other negative reviews, and you will see the same pattern repeatedly: Carey denies that the reviewer ever set foot in his gym or dismisses their experience entirely.
I genuinely wanted to continue supporting this gym after four years of membership. Unfortunately, the way criticism is handled by the owner has made it impossible for me to feel comfortable supporting the business. Based on my experience, I would strongly recommend taking a tour, reading the reviews, and paying close attention to the owner's responses before deciding whether this is the right gym for you.
Edit: Let the owners immature response speak for itself. He has already flagged and removed multiple low rating google reviews.
I was tresspassed after leaving the facility, and yes the local school board threatened a harrassment lawsuit against you and police were at the facility at the time.
The person that broke the machine you claim to be a friend of mine I have never met in my life, nor do I condon his actions. I requested that you don't blast him online.
When referring to Ronnie Coleman, I stated that he could lift 2000 pounds on leg press for reps yet 800 on squat, demonstrating the mechanical advantage that machines give. Common sense.
