Comments on: Followup: West Seattle’s Allstar Fitness put up for bankruptcy-prompted sale

By: john

john — Mon, 11 Feb 2013 08:11:35 +0000

They are struggling.

Gym has lots of issues.

They already had to fire some staff, don’t believe them if they say of they moved; no they cant afford to pay them.

If doors close and your pre-paid then your SOL on getting money back.

If your m2m when new people come in, they do not have to honor your dues.

And damn parking sucks, but only during busy times.

By: anne

anne — Sun, 10 Feb 2013 22:40:11 +0000

I like going to allstar – previous commenter is right – other members make it a fun place to work out. Wkend spinning classes are motivating and fun. Front desk staff freindly. Lots of equipment, lots of choices. Unfortunately swimming pools & the showers are costly to maintain. I hope they keep it running, I signed for a 2 year term last summer! Joiners beware: don’t fall for “buy one year and get one free” because gyms don’t always last that long!

By: clwhmr

clwhmr — Sat, 09 Feb 2013 19:51:38 +0000

I was a member long ago but left for reasons both mine and theirs. The club had good and bad points.

Pro-Superb location, could hardly be better

Con-All access cardio area had only the balcony door to admit fresh air, important when AC can seem insufficient in summer-

Con-Entry desk supplement sales a poor indicator of club’s fitness beliefs. Fitness nutrition for nearly everybody doesn’t require this stuff. They may have changed it since.

Pro- I was grateful to have decent coffee drinks available. I’m a hypocrite, no? As long as its not supplements ; )

Pro/Con-Never used pool/can’t comment on it

Pro-Never saw anyone shaving and bleeding in men’s showers, unlike other clubs I’ve tried. Who wants to shower standing in bloody drain water which may be infectious? Never saw that here.

Con- Women-only workout area meant I was excluded from
portion of club equipment/workout space

Con-Climbing wall use cost extra

Biggest reasons I left: -parking availability
-at low personal energy level
after grueling work shifts

By: dsc

dsc — Sat, 09 Feb 2013 00:46:51 +0000

Arena Sports just bought the Sammamish Club in Issaquah and they plan to invest in bringing the club back up to shape… maybe there is similar hope for All-Star.(?) Such a great club, with GREAT classes, childcare (HUGE perk), and active, regular members. Would be such a shame to see it go.

By: NeighborMom

NeighborMom — Thu, 07 Feb 2013 23:50:32 +0000

JXD – the staff informed me that the pool was shut down by the health department. My kiddo attends lessons, and a few weeks ago, they were canceled. The staff person said it had been shut down (no mention of the health department at that time) because the ventilation system wasn’t working and the air quality was unsafe. This happened a few months ago, too, I think. Then last week, lessons were canceled again, and I was told clearly that the Health Department had come and shut down the pool after a member had complained. They said the paint chips were falling from the ceiling, like another person mentioned. I called back repeatedly, because three different lessons were canceled during that stretch, and was told they were just waiting for the Health Department’s approval to reopen. They’re back up and running now.

By: kate

kate — Thu, 07 Feb 2013 19:22:57 +0000

The main issue with the pool last week was the peeling paint from the ceiling. A few months ago the ventilation system for the pool room broke. The steam from the pool and the hot tub did not have a place to go so the whole swim area was thick with steam; you could barely see from one end of the pool to the other end. The theory is that the paint from the metal ceiling began to loosen, bubble, and eventually peel because of the heavy condensation that was created from the lack of ventilation. Sheets of paint were falling into the hot tub and the pool. The ceiling has been scrapped, but it has not been repainted. That part of the gym is where the lack of maintenance really shows.

By: Colin

Colin — Thu, 07 Feb 2013 16:42:09 +0000

It has been clear that they are short on cash – the number of broken machines is on the rise, the showers are in need of re-grouting, they have not been able to replace Dom’s personal training equipment (which was a big selling point to new members) and they are now only offering month-to-month memberships.

It’s not a bad place to work out – I still go 3x a week and have few real complaints. And our pre-paid membership was cheap. The lack of grout in the showers is a bit concerning – don’t want to know what’s growing between the tiles.

By: Anna Eileen

Anna Eileen — Thu, 07 Feb 2013 05:42:44 +0000

I have only heard rumor the health dept. shut the pool down for 1 day and this was about 2 weeks ago. I don’t know who has proof. I asked the front desk when it would be reopened and they said they were doing maintenance and it would be opened soon and it was. I have been regularly swimming in the pool for 6 months (off and on before that) and it has been murky with bandaids and lots of hair floating around in it and after that closure (health dept. and/or maintenance) it was cleaner. I too have a pre-paid membership and hope for the best for all of us. There are only 2 gyms with pools in WS and I don’t want to join the Y again as I prefer to work out with adults and All-Star caters more towards adults and is super convenient for me. I too have been to Anytime Fitness and it’s small but good equipment and nice people. I hope for the best for us members and the trainers as we make All-Star.

By: Ruth

Ruth — Thu, 07 Feb 2013 04:40:28 +0000

I go to Anytime Fitness on California. No pool, no locker rooms, but it is open 24/7 and I love it.

By: KCWELLS

KCWELLS — Thu, 07 Feb 2013 02:23:22 +0000

I WANT OUT!!

By: JXD

JXD — Thu, 07 Feb 2013 01:21:51 +0000

Hi, does anyone have proof about the pool being closed by the health department? Not meaning to be contrary just can not find any other citing on line.

I have been an All Star member for five or more years. It has been dismal lately but I hope it finds a great buyer! The rest of the members make it a club worth keeping.

By: EN

EN — Wed, 06 Feb 2013 20:48:49 +0000

I guess I will be learning my prepaid lesson the hard way. My membership expires this fall, and my husbands in spring of 2014 :( I really enjoyed going to several of the classes, and I always enjoyed the womens only area. I hope a new gym and get up & running quickly!

By: dhg

dhg — Wed, 06 Feb 2013 18:45:04 +0000

The major problem I saw with AllStar Fitness was that they had money for bling but not for the basics that would make the place sanitary. ALL of their gyms had problems with air and plumbing. Mold is a problem in the northwest and showers need air pumping through or the wet air encourages growth. They put particle board benches in the showers that were never thoroughly cleaned, the amount of slime under the benches was alarming.

By: kate

kate — Wed, 06 Feb 2013 15:23:43 +0000

I’m there 6 days a week and still think it’s a fine place to workout. Yes, it’s got some major repairs it needs to address immediately, but you’re not going to find better fitness instructors or class selection anywhere else around town and I’ve tried them all. The parking lot is always full during peak hours and the classes are well attended so I just can’t imagine them not being able to find a buyer. From what I’ve heard, the owner took money from the gym and put it into his new mega house and that’s where all the money has gone. If the gym closes the quality of my life, and many others, will go down.

By: bolo

bolo — Wed, 06 Feb 2013 07:53:43 +0000

Twice I have been a member of a gym (two different ones) that went bankrupt, never was able to get reimbursed, seems to be SOP.
I bought a barbell, medicine balls, balance board and keep them in front of the TV. I use them more than the ones at the gym, and feel better because of less rancor towards the gym owners’ shoddy business practices.