From Deseret News archives:
Bally Fitness abruptly closes its 2 Utah clubs
With no warning, members visiting those locations Wednesday discovered that the lights were out and doors locked following the company's decision to permanently pull out of the area due to declining business.
The Utah closures are part of a nationwide plan that includes closing 19 clubs around the country, said Bally Total Fitness Corp. spokesman Larry Larsen.
"The decision was made as part of our ongoing review and evaluation of our real estate portfolio," Larsen said Wednesday. "We look at the performance of stores and decided to close the two locations in Salt Lake City."
Before the closures, Bally operated 347 facilities nationwide, including locations in Midvale and Sugarhouse.
Larsen said that the company would work with all members who are affected by the closures to meet their individual needs. He declined to disclose how many members the two Utah clubs had.
"This location is now closed" read a sign on the door of the Midvale location. It listed a toll-free telephone number (888-210-4725) for members to call.
Bally filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection last week for the second time in less than two years. The Chicago-based gym operator said it would use existing cash reserves to continue operating its remaining locations. But Larsen said that the Utah closures have nothing to do with the bankruptcy filing.
"This is part of our normal course of business, the ongoing re-evaluation of our real estate portfolio," he said. "Like any company, we do evaluate our portfolio and make decisions based on performance."
He said revenues at the affected clubs had been lagging, which prompted the move to shutter them.
According to Midvale personal training manager Tammi Reiss, her club had seen its membership dwindle in recent years as more competition entered the Utah market.
"With the opening of so many Gold's Gyms and so many 24 Hour Fitnesses, the competition definitely increased in the last five years," she said. "They had brand-new clubs, new equipment and cheaper pricing at times, and they attracted that younger crowd."
Still, Reiss said Wednesday that she was surprised to learn that her place of employment for the past three years would be closing so suddenly.
"Last night, I got a call and our manager said, 'Bally's is closing in Utah, so you've got an hour to come over and grab your stuff because the doors are going to be locked tomorrow,"' she said.
She said she feels sorry for all of the employees at the club who had no warning that they would be out of work and have no prospects for new jobs in a very difficult economy.
