Lifeplex members work off steam at Gold’s
By KATHY KAHN

Indoor athletes got a jolt when they showed up at Monroe’s Lifeplex Health Club on Route 17M on June 1 only to find a notice taped to the door that the gym had lost its lease.

The news left more than 300 of its members clearly unhappy with its decision to keep the impending closing under wraps, especially for newcomers who just signed up for a yearly membership. All members, both old and new, were told that Gold’s Gym in Harriman would honor Lifeplex member’s contracts.

“That’s fine,” said one irate member, after seeing the locked door, “but Gold’s Gym is already packed, and how do they expect to accommodate all the members of this club?” Good question.

There’s no doubt Gold’s has a larger membership than Lifeplex: 1,100 registered members at the 10,000-square-foot Gold’s facility. Gold’s also bought a few pieces of equipment from Lifeplex.

“It was a little crowded the first week,” said Gold’s manager Kristie Hagopian. “Also, we had to deal with the frustration of Lifeplex’s members who found out their memberships were transferred to us. We are honoring the memberships for as long as the Lifeplex members were signed up for.”

Things have settled down now that Lifeplex and Gold’s Gym members have readjusted their routines and accepted the fact they must share the same quarters. The manager says Gold’s is in the process of rearranging workout equipment so that the increased membership has room to get their workouts in. “We’ve got four new Precor AMT cross-trainers (a combination stair-master, treadmill and elliptical) and we’re replacing some of our older equipment, too.”

There’s a silver lining in the cloud for the facility and both Gold’s and Lifeplex members can take heart: Gold’s Gym owner Michael Hagopian Sr. is building a new 25,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art facility next to the current gym. “It is going to be a showplace, with plenty of room and the best equipment on the market as well as plenty of space for classes for yoga, pilates and other workout routines,” said Hagopian, who estimates the cost to build and furnish the new facility will be somewhere in the $2 million range. Hagopian has already broken ground on the new gym, which will have underground parking, and expects it to open by August 2009.

Once the new gym is ready for members, Hagopian has plans to retrofit the current gym into office space for medical professionals, particularly those who work in orthopedics and physical therapy. “It would really complement the new gym and make it easier for patients to get their necessary therapy or workout in a facility adjacent to their doctors’ offices.”

Hagopian is doing what many other health club owners are – staking a claim closer to hospitals and/or medical complexes, where gym facilities and exercise classes can become part of conveniently located patient therapy.

Although many health clubs are mandated to post bonds so members can obtain refunds, Lifeplex appears not to have had one. Members of the shuttered club can contact the Attorney General’s consumer helpline at (800) 771-7755 or visit www.oag.state.ny.us to file a complaint and/or seek a refund.

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