Anyone go to this gym? What's it like?

no frills, but fine. Plenty of weight and cardio machines, and free weights, though it gets crowded at peak times, like after work.

Very light on the classes (a few yoga, pilates and toning offerings).

Nice folks.

Certainly no frills. Yet, good price, or at least when i joined, and easy in and easy out. All the machines you need. Plus, the staff is very friendly. The mix of folks is great. Not a sterile place. Plus, you should try the Soy Cafe going in or out. If you like NL's you will like the gym. If you like Rittenhouse Square you will find it hard.

Covers the basics as far as equipment, but music played obnoxiously loud. Don't bother bringing your ipod.

why not just ask them to turn the music down? They are nice folks. I have no problem using my iPod.

i belong here, and while everyone is super friendly and all the machines are fine, they have ZERO classes in the morning, and for some reason, refuse to add any. does anyone know a place in the neighborhood that has morning classes? thanks!!

I think they did add a Tuesday morning class. I think its "morning tune up" or something like that. Yesterday, it started at 5:30, and went until about 6. I didnt take it, but it looked ok.

oh my gosh, really? that is so exciting, i have been begging them to do this for almost a year. do you know who taught it?

If you join through Globalfit.com, the membership is even less expensive. Many employers and insurance companies are qualifiying participants so if you can find your company, school, or insurance carrier on their list then you are eligible. It costs me $29 a month with about $100 down. Great Deal...works for many other gyms in the city as well.

that sounds great. i wonder if i can join and get my membership reduced or something like that. thanks!! oh, and i found out jp is doing the class, so it should be spectacular!!

If you are already a member of a fitness center, meaning that you already pay the full price for the membership, they do not reduce the price. Global fit usually applies to new memberships only. Although maybe they will be able to do something? Not sure.

i just spoke with them, they said what you said. oh well, i tried!! so do you go to classes at the gym? i wish they had 2-3 morning classes a week, that would be fantastic!!

So I was kicked out of Ironworks II today...a friend told me I should post what happened here as I reported on Phillyblog!

http://www.phillyblog.com/philly/showthread.php?t=30266

Brooke,

Wow, that sucks.

I was considering getting a membership there, too... because I like meatheady places with creatine drizzling off the walls.

Looks like I'm using the crappy school gym until that place on Spring Garden opens up.

Lol. Well, there's really three types of co-ed gyms the way I see it: the kind I used to go to (1) the geriatric gym. I'm 30 years younger than the average clientele so I felt SUPER in shape; (2) The meathead gym. Not really targetted for women with basic weightlifting equipment and protein supplements, etc.; (3) The Meatmarket gym. Women put on makeup before they work out and guys pretend to be able to lift lots of weight to have the women check them out. I went to this type of gym for years in Upstate NY before moving here and I found that a simple Walkmen (now Ipod) will keep most of the advances away and it makes for a nice gym experience with shiny, new equipment.

I've got no problems with a gym being a meathead (or meatheads for that matter!) gym, I just haven't really felt it's the type of gym that best suits me. City Fitness says "virtual lap pool" and I'm eating that right up. That says, "Might have ample outlets in the bathroom for hairdryers" and other things we women dig on.

But now I guess I'm some sort of a rebel for getting kicked out of the first place in my life. ;)

brooke: you're the rosa parks of iron works! that's a shockingly appalling story.

iron works management: care to give your side of the story?

Brooke,
I currently go to Iron Works II, and while I'm basically content (it is a little rundown and a number of the cardio machines were broken for the better part of a year), I see absolutely nothing wrong with you sharing your views on a public blog. I find it unbelievable that the guy banned you - especially knowing in advance that you post on a well-read public forum. He might have just dug his own grave with his long-standing neglect to quality in his gym, his obviously terrible business sense and customer service and the new gym opening on Spring Garden. What did the owner look like? Is he a shorter white guy with dark hair who is there every once and awhile? Just curious.

hi guys,
what about the city fitness on 2nd and spring garden? they're opening in the spring and they have tons of classes, a huge space and i got a rate for $39 per month. i can't wait.

Yeah, I had never seen this guy before since I started going there on 2/1 but I normally go on off-times during the late morning or early afternoon. He was shorter (although I'm 6'0" so everyone is to me!) and had dark hair and just like one would expect, rather on the built side.

From talking with friends that go there, they said that's definitely who he said he was.

Yep, RI, that's where I'm signed up to go as of April 1. I just need to find a gym that will let me go for the time up until that point now!

You could join a number of gyms, but you're only talking about a month here. Plus, most of the gyms you'd be able to join are in South Philly. Once you join somewhere 3 miles away, do you realistically think you'll take the El there everyday? And, you'll probably end up losing a lot of money b/c of initiation fees and the like. I would suggest you just do some push ups, chair dips and situps at home, throw on a wool cap and take a run. Just a thought.

Well, if I actually thought I'd workout at home, I'd be happy...but from past experience I won't. And I happen to be in "get ready for swimsuit season" mode...

I have a few gyms I'm considering--Ananda and 12st Street--Ananda was offering a promo to people that the gym I used to go to (The Curtis Center) that closed that ended last week...so I'm waiting for the manager to return from vaca to approve me...and then w/ 12st Street, that would be cool because I used to go there and I'm a member of globalfit and I can switch around to different gyms without too much of a hassle.

But none are quite as convenient as Ironworks II.

Man, banned from the gym. It sounds like the guy's being petty. He knows you're leaving anyway and also knows he's the only really convenient workout spot for you, so he's trying to inconvenience you. Maybe with the new place opening, he's thinking of his gym as a "lame duck" business since he should have realized this discussion would take place since he found out about your "transgression" on a board too. He knows his place is going under and he's gonna f--- over some people as he goes done to feel good about his small self.

I'd agree with CC, if you just need a gym for a month do some deck/floor exercises and running (if you're in shape, you might get extra plyometric benefits from running on snow anyway). You might want to look into something called the "Daily 16." It's a series of conditioning exercises (mostly pushups, crunches, and lunge variations ... if you can't do a decent set of standard pushups, but it sounds like you can, this isn't for you) supposedly adopted by the Marines in the past couple of years to maintain conditioning when a gym ain't around. I've had to take a month off from weight training because of multiple biz trips, and it's worked as far as "maintaining" goes. Besides its always good to change things up for a month or so from your usual routine. If you can't find it online (search for like "daily 16" "marines"), I'll see if I can find what site I got my PDF off of.

brooke, i tried to look at the link to see what happened to you, but i couldn't get it.
you could do pilates a few days a week? there are reasonable rates, there's a really good one in fishtown. with katharine livingston.

Did you try to cut and paste the whole thing? I just retried it...it works. Pilates isn't a bad idea. I've never done it before (tried yoga once) but have been meaning to get into it. Have heard Lithe is good too...and you're right, I think they're more "pay as you go."

CoreFitness (6th and Brown, I think) also has pay as you go classes.

The hours aren't terribly convenient, but might be a decent stop-gap if you can get there when they're open. Parking is usually pretty easy around there.

http://www.core-fit.com/

Brooke,

That is terrible. I am a member of ironworks and was actually thinking of staying with them even with the new place going in. But if this is how they treat customers then maybe I will cancel my membership there after all.

To the owners of Ironworks, word gets around if you treat people badly, especially in a neighborhood like this.

So here's an update as I posted on Phillyblog:

Globalfit management reviewed the situation and confirmed it with the owner, who admitted he kicked me out because I made "negative comments on the gym in an online forum and that I continued to do so after being kicked out of the club." Globalfit management apparently agreed with this decision to terminate me and said they'd have to charge me for the remainder of the month at another club, a $15 transfer fee and that a refund of the amount paid to Ironworks would have to be approved by a manager (even though the owner terminated me in his system as of the day that I joined!).

They agreed! This is so ludicrious! So apparently the owner at Ironworks must really know someone at Globalfit because the woman who was helping me went from saying "You know, I moved here from NYC and all I can say is that people from Philadelphia are really, really strange people and that's crazy!" to saying "The Club Department of Globalfit is not agreeing with me."

I've further heard that at least one trainer has been fired from Ironworks due to a comment that City Fitness was going to be better.

Good riddance to Ironworks and Globalfit! Thankfully I put the membership on a charge card so I can dispute the bill!

Here's hoping your credit card company sees some sense, Brooke. I'm not familiar with Globalfit, are they some sort of gym-payment network? Do other people on this board subscribe(?) to them. Basically they're punishing you for speaking your mind, and I don't know where in a membership contract with Iron Works or Globalfit they'd have the gall to say "Members Must Only Heap Praise on their Membered Gyms, Criticism is Not Allowed, Penalties will be Applied."

I'd strongly encourage others using GlobalFit to contact them protesting this apparent policy. Since they seem to be more interested in actually making money than Iron Works II owner (who seems just interested in using his failing business for spoilsport revenge), they might reconsider policy if their customers protest.

so do the people from ironworks read this site? they should use it as constructive criticism...

Yeah, that blows Brooke, but what you have to remember is that all of these non-franchised gyms and gym-related services are founded by fitness-minded finatics. This is usually a small club of individuals whose paths cross at some point or another. I would bet that the Iron Works II owner is good friends with someone fairly high in the Global Fit org. You'll probably just have to chalk this one up to getting railroaded by the man. Luckily, you didn't really take a bath on this. Really you are only inconvenienced for a month and lost less than 50 bucks. This still sucks, but it could have been much worse.

Brooke,

Is the owner Tom Greer, is he the one that kicked you out? I used to go to old city iron works for years, and liked it......(although it was pretty basic)....it got the job done. Moving to No. Libs next week, and was going to join Iron Works II, even with the new gym opening.....but after your story, I am like, wtf?

If they honestly have nothing else against you (not like they would, just ruling out all possibilities), and kicked you out just because you voiced your opinion about the gym online……that’s absurd. I agree with everyone, what terrible customer service (esp. with a MAJOR competitor opening up in your back yard). Why not address you and ask personally how they can improve? You know, value as a client? To me, the only sane answer possible, would be that Iron Works are silent partners for the new gym and are secretly plotting to relocate…….. long shot. Sorry that crap happened to you. I like the idea of a small local gym where you can get to know neighbors, meatheads and all………… but I thought one paid a membership, not dues to a cult. Weird, especially b/c global fit’s even in the mix. Fishy buis.

What blows is that she is being punished for having an opinion. So what if she thinks that the gym is meat heady? In the grand scheme of things does it really matter? It is not as if she was picketing outside the gym with signage making this claim. She shared an experience she had 2 years ago (under different ownership) in an online forum….big deal. Have things really gotten to the point where we cannot have dissenting opinions without some sort of penalty? Is there more to the story?

Well yes--I mean, what if Craig LaBan was never allowed back in a restaurant after saying his meat was overcooked? What if I was never able to shop at Banana Republic after complaining a pair of pants fell apart? It's not a PRIVILEGE to be able to go to a gym...it should be their privilege to have us as customers. In fact, some gyms even have suggestion boxes on how to improve things.

I kind of think a smart gym owner would welcome criticism and do what it takes to keep customers.

Anyway, at the very most, I'll be out $60 (Globalfit requires 30 days notice for cancellation of membership) and I'll do my part to make sure everyone finds out about what happened to me.

As an aside, the Globalfit woman told me that Jim said I wasn't allowed in the Old City Ironworks either, so he must be affiliated with both if not own them both.

oh my gosh, crazy. the place is dirty anyway, who cares. wonder if anyone will be there after city fitness opens?

Brooke,
Sorry to hear about your experience but you saved me some effort. I was thinking about joining Iron Works II because it is so close to me and the only active thing I've been doing these days is clicking the mouse on my computer. I was afraid of meatheadery at IW II but figured you'll get that at any gym (even City Fitness). What I cannot tolerate is the owner's actions. That has to be the worst customer service I've ever heard of. The power of the internet is clear. They terminated your membership because of your comments and now put themselves in a position to loose new members and possible existing ones. I will NOT be joining IW II. Via la Forums!

iw2 mgmt: i think you need to reply quickly. you are facing a pr nightmare, which can quickly spiral into a fatal situation for your business. as much as i hate to see customers mistreated, i also hate to see local businesses close down.

i think that most people are reasonable and understand that there are at least 2 sides to every story. maybe you had a good reason for doing what you did, and maybe we're not hearing the full story. however, by allowing brooke to control the conversation, there is a growing perception in the community that you over-reacted and acted improperly. by involving globalfit, you have only made a bad situation worse. maybe you think that things will blow over if you maintain radio silence, but i can assure you that things will only get worse unless you act quickly to diffuse this situation.

by doing what you did, and by not releasing a public statement, you have put the livelihoods of your employees at risk and you are subjecting your loyal, paying members to unnecessary humilation by association. even if you do not care about your own livelihood, i would ask that you make a statement for the sake of your employees who probably really need that job.

To the owners of Iron Works II:

I have been an on-again off-again customer of yours for years. It's that time of year when I start to think about toning up, so I was heavily considering starting a new membership. Guess what? Not now. See you at City Fitness, Brooke!

I'd welcome him to respond. He seems to have admitted to Globalfit what happened and I told him in advance that I'd post this online obviously and he said he realized that prior to making his decision. Two sides to every story--but not much of a reason not to believe seeing that the comments he reacted to are online and linked to here and I'm really upset I can't go there anymore. (The only time that the Globalfit woman had ever heard of anyone getting banned previously was through weird behavior that scared other customers...trust me, I'm not the weird lady in the women's bathroom that stays undressed an uncomfortablely long time!)

I honestly think that whatever controversy is going on between City Fitness (a former co-owner of Ironworks II I hear) and Ironworks II has got the owner more concerned with loyalty than with keeping and maintaining his customer base. It's foolish to think customers are ever loyal. But it's also foolish to support a local business that doesn't value and strive to keep its current membership. Competition can be very good and a lot of the people that I know who go to Ironworks II were previously saying that they thought they'd stay members because it would be less crowded when everyone leaves for City Fitness and it would finally force the cheap owner to upgrade to compete (quoting them here).

I think the situation (and I'm just really making an assumption here) would have been different had I not framed my comments around the fact that I was just going to join City Fitness anyway.

Somehow I think many of the employees may have jobs at City Fitness...

brooke: i didn't mean to imply that your side of the story wasn't true, nor was it my intent to raise your level of anxiety (i'm sure you've had enough of that). if it came across that way, i apologize. i believe you. i think that anyone who reads phillyblog knows that you are the voice of reason on that board.

i was just trying to give the owner a chance to tell his side of the story. i suppose that it was wishful thinking on my part that he would come forth and do the right thing. his continued silence and the absence of any posts from iw2 supporters speaks volumes to the type of individual he is and to the type of organization that he runs. this is certainly a good case study in how not to run a business. as the saying goes, "you can lead a horse to water, but you can't get him to drink."

r.i.p. i.w.2.

Thanks. I did work out at Ananda at 4th and Walnut today with my free week membership but I don't think they'll let me stay after that without signing up for a full-on membership. I'm hoping the trainers I know can have some pull. It's a nice, clean space with super space age equipment I need to learn how to use...and a very tempting spa connected thereto. (And shockingly, a comment box in a private area of the gym...it's crazy that a gym would actually want member feedback to perhaps improve on weak areas!)

There were a few people on fishtown.us (in my effort to get $60 worth of bashing in locally, figured I'd let people in my neighborhood know as well) that defended the gym and said if they were him, they'd have done the same thing and didn't think it was a meathead gym.

As far as I can tell, it's going to be those 3 people and he and his wife chillin' at the place in the not too distant future.

One of the posters above said the new gym (Spring Garden) is owned by the previous owner of Iron Works. Is that a theory or is that fact?

I too almost joined Iron Works II as it is the closest in the neighborhood. As I did my research, I realized a few things that turned me off before even going there:

I have heard countless people say the cardio equip rarely works.

I have heard they DO NOT have air conditioning in the summer...enough said.

I have heard that the place is really dirty.

For all of those reasons, and others, I was glad to join the new gym, even if I do have to wait until April. Now that I know how good the customer service is, I am glad I made that decision. I just hope all IW2 employees are looking for new work!

Actually, "need to work out," I think all of your points are completely false. I go to the gym all the time.

-H

Just called City Fitness - they don't anticipate opening until May, at the latest beginning of June - some construction delays, etc.

Far be it from me to defend them but they did have plenty of functioning cardio equipment and it was pretty darned clean. I've seen much worse.

Are you freaking serious?? You got kicked out for saying it was a meathead gym?? Is that even legal for them to do that?? What A**ho**es!! Free speech, right?

Brook,
I just read your story! That is crazy! They really are horrible there and they never clean their equipment. But worse than that, I had a horrible situation happen to me there last night. I was working out on the weights and happened to be the only girl at the time. Two reps into my set, this guys came over and told me to move b/c he wasn't done yet. He was really nasty and scared me a little so I just moved. When he finished I asked him if he could readjust the equipment b/c I had stuggled to move it. He said "no way b*%@#...you ingorant for using it before I done." All I said was "I wouldn't really expect anything less from someone like you." After that he proceded to follow me around the gym making rude innappropriate comments. I saw a female staff member and was attempting to tell her what happened when he ran up and continued to curse at me. I was trying to go into the bathroom to talk to the empolyee but he began to follow us into the women's bathroom!!! He was at the enterance of the bathroom...I became scared he was going to assult me or push me into the bathroom so we would be alone in there. I said I wanted to go to the front to fill out a complaint. He followed be up there and continued to call me a stupid f***ing b***ch and said he would bring his boys up to take care of me. At this point I went outside (probably stupid) and hid in my car and called my husband to come up to help me. We both live in Fishtown and he was born and raised in Fishtown. When my husband got there, he tried to handle it with this thug man to man, but of course he wouldn't go outside! No longer tough now that me husband is there! We ended up calling the police and filing a report. The office that took the complaint told me that I should join another gym b/c a lot of drug dealers from the projects started going there and its really not a safe place to be...and all the cops quit b/c they can't work out with the same people they arrest!!

So today I get a call from the "wonderful" (horrible) owner who pretty much tells me that he wasn't there so he can't say either way...that I probably provoked him...that calling me a ***** really isn't a big deal...that the has been a member for three years...that he doubts he would have done anything to me in the bathroom and probably just wanted to talk...and that he LEGALLY can't kick him out b/c then the guy will say it is about race (I'm white and this man is black)...BUT we both could have a free 1 month membership!!! I told him that I was harrassed, threatened, and followed into a women's bathroom and out to the front of the gym being called a "stupid f***ing b**ch" and he was going to not only allow this guy to stay at the gym, but give him a free months membership. I told Jim that he clearly does not value his female members' safety or membership, and I wanted to cancel my membership immediately. He told me that I would have to still give 40 days notice and come fill out a form at the gym alone b/c my husband is not a member. I am so appauled by how poorly the situation was handled at this stinky, roof leaking, pipe freezing, bacteria fested gym! And the small, small owner has upset me so much that I now am having my husband handle all matters related to it. Girls...if any of you belong to the gym PLEASE PLEASE be careful of a man named Dominic...he is a black male about 5'9" in his early thirtys, and he is always talking on his silver Razr phone. And enter the gym at your own risk, b/c Jim Greer (owner) and the management are not willing or able to protect the safety of the female cliental and provide a safe and enjoyable place to work out. I can't wait till City Fitness opens!!!!! And maybe I'll check out that gym in Fishtown in the meantime!

this place is a joke...and management is still too stupid to respond to this thread! unbelievable. sorry bout all your bad experiences. i work out at 12th street and i LOVE it. it's a hike but unless it's cold, i don't mind taking the el.

Runner girl your story made me sick. I belong to that gym, and you just made my mind up to join city fitness.

That is so crazy and scary at the same time. I mean, mine was irritating and ended up costing me an additional $200 (I joined Ananda for a 3 month membership) but I never felt unsafe there.

This guy has no idea what he's doing running a business clearly.