Death of the small hardcore gyms ?

[the goose]

Recently I changed gyms and posted here re it being a private club with 300 max members, it is exspensive for what I normally would pay aprox $ 110 per month it a midsize gym nothing jaw dropping , but it offers atmosphere and the very best in gear

Watson machines and all the members are there to lift ,no bullshit or fake personalities , the posing room is a phenomenal perk. Despite my only con being no drop ins not even a coach simply because it is a private facility and that is strictly adhered to

Recent bodybuilding show in Alberta the owner brought in for a one day seminar , meet and greet 2 IFBB pros one being Labrada ,lifting and chatting together

I live close to the flagship GoodLife and I
have worked out there maybe a handful of times and hate the place for numerous reasons

However with recent opening of Obsidian in Edmonton I can’t help but see the trend continue ,,,that being fucking massive gyms

The sheer size of these places and a few other I see pop up on my Facebook page are beyond comprehension

Is this the future ? Are small gyms a thing of the past never to return ?

 

[Hussell]

Recently I changed gyms and posted here re it being a private club with 300 max members, it is exspensive for what I normally would pay aprox $ 110 per month it a midsize gym nothing jaw dropping , but it offers atmosphere and the very best in gear

Watson machines and all the members are there to lift ,no bullshit or fake personalities , the posing room is a phenomenal perk. Despite my only con being no drop ins not even a coach simply because it is a private facility and that is strictly adhered to

Recent bodybuilding show in Alberta the owner brought in for a one day seminar , meet and greet 2 IFBB pros one being Labrada ,lifting and chatting together

I live close to the flagship GoodLife and I
have worked out there maybe a handful of times and hate the place for numerous reasons

However with recent opening of Obsidian in Edmonton I can’t help but see the trend continue ,,,that being fucking massive gyms

The sheer size of these places and a few other I see pop up on my Facebook page are beyond comprehension

Is this the future ? Are small gyms a thing of the past never to return ?

It is appear to be getting harder and harder for small gyms to stay afloat, you really need to find your niche and create a dependable group of members. My gym pays apparently 60k a month in rent that's alot of memberhsips lol.

 

[3bills]

In the lower mainland we still have a decent amount of good gyms still available.

Westcoast is probably the best choice. I always end up back training there eventually.

If I had the space I would definitely make my own home gym

 

[The Old Guy]

I feel lucky that Olympia is 5 minutes from home. Old beat up equipment but lots of it.

I think I pay $45 per month.

Sorry in Mississauga On.

 

[Bigwheel]

I’m lucky enough to work out in a hardcore old school gym owned by a bodybuilder, tons of weights, loud metal music, walls covered in posters and no broccoli heads. Only drawback no a/c but they have big overhead dooors opened up.

 

[strongmann]

I

I feel lucky that Olympia is 5 minutes from home. Old beat up equipment but lots of it.

I think I pay $45 per month.

Sorry in Mississauga On.

I Used to love that gym when Henderson owned it and it was a gold's gym when he did. Then it changed to Olympia and the new owner i didn't care for. I was a rep for Musclemeds/MHP back in the day and called them to see if i could get Kai Greene and Victor Martinez a workout there cuz they were doing appearances at the Toronto Pro show. He wanted me to pay to have 2 top pros workout at his gym. Priceless! I said thanks anyway and took them to 365 fitness instead. The exposure 365 fitness got was insane! They even stayed after their workout to take pictures and sign autographs.

 

[SteveM]

I feel lucky that Olympia is 5 minutes from home. Old beat up equipment but lots of it.

I think I pay $45 per month.

Sorry in Mississauga On.

Yes - old beat up equip is usually really good. Usually set up for excellent body mechanics. My son is 16 - he has been lifting for a year and a half - works out at anytime fitness - mostly machines - ok if you have joint problems - but alot of the machines just don't have the correct anatomical movements - especially stuff like leg extensions. I belong to Crunch fitness in Kitchener - used to be Popeye's gym (I've been a member for 40+ years) - hardcore with hardcore equipment - but it's gone to shit - things are falling apart - they have a big roll up garage door on the second floor they used to open up in the summer - it was great - but now they don't open it up for insurance reasons - so bloody sad... and they have removed all the Arnold posters.....- I've taken my son there a few times - he really likes the older equipment - still steel dumbells !! - and he likes going there. I have my own little gym with old hardcore equip bought off facebook & kijiji - and an old kenwood stereo with big paradigm speakers that crank out old 80's & 90's rock when I lift - soooo much different than the crap music I have to listen to when we go to my son's anytime fitness gym .

I was at anytime fitness over the weekend - they had a leg extension / hamstring combination machine that was so complex with so many adjustments- hard to believe- who in gods name would use that shit ? and when I tried it the motion was terrible - had to be a 7500.00 machine if not more.

My son is thinking about opening his own hardcore gym when he gets older - he really likes lifting - he is ripped with abs showing and (so far) still all natural - he got me going on the peptides.