Updated 10/1: That was fast: NYSC announced that this location was permanently closed as of 9/30.
The New York Sports Clubs outpost reopens today on Avenue A between Second Street and Third Street...
This reopening comes less than two weeks since owner Town Sports International Holdings Inc. said in a bankruptcy-court hearing on Sept. 16 that it is working out a deal with a group of lenders and private-equity firm Tacit Capital LLC for them to serve as the lead bidder for the assets.
Some background via The Wall Street Journal:
Town Sports filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy [on Sept. 14] after facing debt coming due this fall as well as reduced cash flow and liquidity due to coronavirus-related closures.
Company executives need access to capital “so they can reopen the gyms with appropriate health and safety improvements, and comply with relevant consumer protection laws and obligations,” said Nicole Greenblatt, a lawyer representing Town Sports, during the court hearing.
And!
After its bankruptcy filing, Town Sports sought to reassure its roughly 600,000 members that it wasn’t going out of business through postings on its gym brands’ websites.
The company has requested to give back 22 location leases to its landlords and potentially reject 13 more locations, depending on lease negotiations.
This past spring, NYSC members were angry that the club was still charging them membership fees despite the COVID-19 closure. Town Sports did eventually offer refunds.
Gov. Cuomo allowed gyms to reopen with limited capacity in the city on Aug. 24.
Meanwhile, the ground-floor retail space here at 28 Avenue A has been vacant since Gracefully closed in November 2014. No word on the rent ask. What is wrong with this storefront?
P.S.
In other local gym news, Ludlow Fitness on Delancey will not be reopening.
First... RIP Ludlow Fitness. I switched here from NYSC years ago and will miss it and all the great people.
ReplyDeleteSecond... NYSC at this location was simply put gross. I immediately got sick 1 week after first joining and got at least 2 other flus in the 3 years I was there. The ventilation system was terrible and didn't work over half the time. I have no doubt this contributed to getting sick. Also theyd run out of things to wipe down equipment and people would not clean the machines. I ended up bringing my own bleach solution because I didn't trust what they were using.
Eventually I got out of my contract via certified mail but few seemed to have easy success.
This place needs to close and unless they completely renovated the ventilation system it will be a spreading spot for sure. I have no idea howbthey are still operating. Check out their reviews. Sad because the space has potential, but its always been run poorly
Why didn't they give the gyms parking spaces and sidewalks? The answer: no alcohol revenue. I'm so tired of looking at these pampered smug unmasked people sitting on my sidewalks.
ReplyDeleteAgreed. I also find it insulting and privileged thrown in your face.. Not everyone can afford to partake in outdoor dining right now with unemployment still close to 20% in the city. Been barely getting by with food stamps and pantry handouts. Id love someone else to make me a meal for once.l but it would cost what I use in a week. But seeing it in my face block after block really makes me feel crappy.
DeleteTown Sports is shady. I was a member of NYSC for over ten years at a couple of locations throughout the city. I left twice and experienced unbelievable frustration in having my membership closed for medical reasons provided by a letter from my physician. I was charged even when my membership was closed for six months. The management failed to return my phone messages. I paid visits to the gym and was told to wait for the manager; they were never available. I had to contact corporate office and threaten a lawsuit for them to take me seriously. I simply wanted to have the charges cease and to be credited for the money I spent. They eventually did, after seven months, but never issued an apology for the trouble I endured. Look them up on the Better Business Bureau and on Yelp. Many former members have had the same issues. Not surprised they are struggling.
ReplyDeleteI sent them an email last week to suspend my membership. lol.. as if that was gonna work. I guess I have to decide if I want to cancel or be charged for a gym I don't go to. I guess it's time to look into cancelling via that good ol' certified mail.
ReplyDeleteCall your card and block charges from them.
Delete@9:31AM I've been using this location since it opened and I always believed it to be one of the cleaner NYSCs in the city. I'm also fortunate to say that I never got sick here. However, I think you can argue that every gym is a little bit of cesspool.
ReplyDeleteAgree that NYSC's customer service is shady, but I don't think this particular facility is any worse than any other NYC gym - in fact it's one of NYSC's newer clubs with a newer build-out incl. the HVAC and it's better suited for social distancing since it is spread out over multiple floors. I will likely go back as it gets colder and harder to train outdoors.
ReplyDeleteI just canceled - I went to Astor Place to cancel as Avenue A hadn't yet reopened. The 'game' is that you fill in a 'request to cancel' form (which explicitly states "This is NOT a receipt / confirmation of cancelation or freeze." Apparently all this gets you is a phone call within 48 hours from the management.
ReplyDeleteNYSC requires 45 days notice so - you can cancel now and give up your Mar/April refund and (hopefully) end up whole.
Id send certified mail just in case
DeleteWhen you try to cancel they freak out and begin to threaten you. Went there in person and refused to leave until I spoke to a manager. She was psychotic. Told me to go ahead and sue them. I joined one of the many class action lawsuits against them and she said see you in court then! Then tried to charge me hundreds of dollars ro cancel so I changed my bank account debit card info. She emailed later saying we are having trouble charging tour account can I have your new CC info? I just wrote back SURE IT IS 6666666-6666666. She said thanks.
ReplyDeleteRIP, Ludlow Fitness.
ReplyDeleteWhy aren't there specific laws and standards to protect against the types of abuses we read about in this thread? Bally's about 12 years ago was notorious for this kind of stuff. Also: get nice with your credit card provider. Keep records, and if you honestly quit and they charge you, notify the card company. And the Attorney General. It's fraud.
ReplyDeleteNever had any issues with this location as other people seem to indicate otherwise. It's a gym. Locker room was always clean to me. It go there to workout out do my stuff and get out. I recently went with a friend to E 23rd. She was canceling her membership for now. Maybe it's location but she didn't have any issues. The rep was understanding. Took 15-20 minutes and she was out. I'm still a member and for now will keep it.
ReplyDeleteI do hope it fails filed bankruptys so they would not pay rent
ReplyDeleteDJ try cancelling they will hound you with treats but ignore them
ReplyDeletelove Ludlow so much, didn't realize how good it was until it was gone.
ReplyDeleteTried to suspend my membership. Was told I cannot since it's grandfathered. When I said cancel I was told "Sorry you already paid." What inflamed me was #1 never informed that they were reopen. Found out on social media. #2 A manager told me "to look for a corporate email to complain!" Sorry you work for the company not me! Going thru credit card company to dispute charges. I cannot wear the required mask ( I wear a bandana) due to TMJ. Customer service? Don't think that department exists at NYSC.
ReplyDeleteWelp, today NYSC sent an email that this location is officially permanently closed. So much for that grand opening.
ReplyDeleteI got an official email yesterday, 9/30, that they are closing this location.
ReplyDelete