West Seattle’s Allstar Fitness has a buyer: Ex-Seahawk Sam Adams

WSB has just confirmed that Allstar Fitness, put up for sale as part of its Chapter 11 bankruptcy (as first reported here February 5th), has a buyer – a company owned by former Seahawks player Sam Adams, who already owns other former Allstar locations.

Allstar’s staff received word of the sale this morning, and a handout about the announcement is available at the club’s front desk, Allstar’s Chapter 11 trustee Richard Hooper tells WSB. Hooper confirms that the prospective ownership company is West Seattle Athletic Club LLC, which state records verify is owned by Adams, who was a Seahawk for six seasons and was then part of the Super Bowl-winning Baltimore team in 2000. The former player owns five fitness clubs under the umbrella of Oregon Athletic Clubs, four including former Allstar locations in southwest Portland and in Tacoma. According to the Portland Oregonian, Adams bought the other three Oregon clubs last fall. (He also was reported in 2011 to have owned a downtown Seattle club that moved into a former Allstar space, though we haven’t been able to verify its current ownership.) Adams is a Kirkland resident, according to this recent story on the Seahawks website. Trustee Hooper tells WSB that nothing will change with West Seattle Allstar – “it’s status quo … a great place to work out” – until and unless the bankruptcy court approves the sale, although he doesn’t expect that to take more than a few weeks.

Julie February 22, 2013 (3:03 pm)

Sure wish 24 Hour would have bought it!

Texmati February 22, 2013 (3:04 pm)

Will they have Boston Lager on tap?

mark February 22, 2013 (3:12 pm)

That’s great to hear. WS All Star has been going downhill for almost a year. It needs a fair amount of work (broken machines, missing weights, paint, etc.) but I enjoy the location and staff.

supernova72 February 22, 2013 (3:19 pm)

Sounds good to me. I felt for the staff trying to remain upbeat during these times of no maintenace on equipment and them freezing at the front desk : )

Hoping Yoga and other classes remain “free”.

Good luck and congrats to Sam!

Anna Eileen February 22, 2013 (3:26 pm)

Yeh, that is good news! I am glad it’s not a 24 hour fitness as I didn’t want to join a national chain. I hope the new owners compensate the trainers well enough to stay and continue to improve the facilities.

Roy February 22, 2013 (3:38 pm)

Hopefully they bring on a world class steam room technician. That thing breaks down at least once a week. Although that is part of its charm.

kate February 22, 2013 (4:34 pm)

Ha ha Texmati! I thought the same thing. Anybody know how the other clubs owned by Sam Adams have been since he took them over? Hope we don’t go from the frying pan into the fire.

onion February 22, 2013 (4:36 pm)

“”Will they have Boston Lager on tap?–Texmati””

Best line of the day. Thanks for that.

Gary February 22, 2013 (4:37 pm)

Well, I guess that’s good news. One thing that concerns me a little is the comment that “nothing will change”. There are a ton of repairs and maintenance issues at the gym that definitely need to be addressed. I hope the new owners invest some cash up front quickly.

Cal February 22, 2013 (4:42 pm)

I hope that this means repairs will be made and upgrades will happen. BUT, I just checked the reviews for Oregon Athletic Clubs and for the former Tacoma club (now, Lincoln Plaza Athletic Club) which the new owner also bought … they are very mixed reviews with many of the same problems that exist at Allstar currently.

Let’s be optimistic.

Citizen Sane February 22, 2013 (5:55 pm)

Other than Lindsay Lohan’s “Movie Star Fitness” in Hollywood, what fitness club gets 100% positive reviews?

Even when walking the dog for free, I sometimes step in it, if you get my drift…

kate February 22, 2013 (6:17 pm)

I can’t imagine the new owner not taking care of repairs. If the repairs are not immediately addressed they will lose current members, they won’t be able to gain new members, and will eventually have to shut down. What would be the point in buying a shabby gym?

mz February 22, 2013 (6:55 pm)

I am glad a chain did not buy it. Lets hope he fixes broken machines and gets it cleaned up and kept clean.

Evan February 22, 2013 (6:58 pm)

RE: Gary – “nothing will change”

That’s the statement that popped out at me as well. The article states: “Trustee Hooper tells WSB that nothing will change with West Seattle Allstar”. So, it doesn’t provide much to be excited about. They definitely need a LOT of changes.

WSB February 22, 2013 (7:01 pm)

Sorry if I wasn’t clear – nothing will change, he said, till the sale is final (a few weeks). In other words you’re not going to show up tomorrow and see a new sign or whatever. After that – up to the new owner. – TR

carol February 22, 2013 (9:46 pm)

I am hopeful that things will get better, and that the trainers won’t leave, they do such a great job with the classes. Pay them what they deserve!!!

DaB February 22, 2013 (11:23 pm)

I really hope they make a big change, and decide to have trainers for the general public…. It appears that none of the trainers there currently are avaiable to help you, unless you sign an expensive contract…. What ever happend to having staff around to help folks…. answer questions, etc? I guess the way of the industry now, is to sell the membership, then you are on your own….

Dick February 23, 2013 (10:30 am)

So glad it didn’t get bought by 24 Hr. belonged to one once. Totally hated hearing them advertise themselves and their products over the PA.

alki February 23, 2013 (10:38 am)

A comment to Kate,

Sam Adams took over the downtown All Star Fitness in July of 2011, never paid rent, never did any cleaning, never upgraded equipment, and has already lost the club. He was at All Star West Seattle with his brother, partner, on Friday. Both wearing their hats on backwards and unprofessional looking. Don’t expect him to even be there. He will let his new “crew” come in and take over all current employees’ jobs.

supernova72 February 23, 2013 (11:55 am)

Follow-up here from first post. I hit the gym last night and talked with one of the staff for a quite a while and about the potential change of control/new ownership. He/she was impressed by what they saw and heard yesterday from Sam and Bro. Staff will be wearing uniforms…I’m sure Boo Hoo for some.

Sam Adams (man, not beer) and his brother were there most of the day yesterday going through the gym. I was told they are open to suggestions on how to improve it not just repair the broken equipment.

Not sure the best path to do that but if you have some suggestions maybe shoot them a note from the website. How about “overhead fans in the cardio area”. : )

Daldart February 23, 2013 (5:19 pm)

Hope they change the policy in which so much of the upstairs equipment is only available to folks who are working with a trainer.

dsc February 23, 2013 (7:23 pm)

I hope they do keep *some* things the same! The things that are working really, really well…. (childcare, awesome group exercise offerings, etc.)

alki February 23, 2013 (9:55 pm)

In response to Kate,
Sam Adams bought the All Star Fitness Downtown in July of 2011, and moved his other downtown club, Epicenter, into that facility. He didn’t keep it clean, he didn’t do repairs, he didn’t upgrade, and best of all, he never paid rent. He’s already lost that club. Who thinks he is going to come in here and spend alot of money. If you look at all the recent purchases he has made of clubs, how much funding do you think could be left. If you have a contract with “free” months added onto it, don’t plan on getting them once he officially takes over.

WS All Star Investor February 23, 2013 (10:45 pm)

I’m one of the people who invested in the supposed Issaquah All Star facility. We’re trying to organize to explore a possible civil suit. If you or anyone else you know was one of the investors in the Issaquah All Star LLC (or any other related to All Star) please contact us at
wsallstarinvestor@gmail.com

Thanks much

Icy ice February 24, 2013 (11:58 am)

The club’s footprint seems big — is there enough room to build an ice rink there, too? Given that there’s no ice in Seattle, hockey requires at least a half hour drive from West Seattle, and building ice in a place where a lot of other people are already coming for workouts might be a good match. Need ice for hockey in Seattle!

scout 1 February 24, 2013 (4:14 pm)

The front desk has more particulars regarding the specifics of memberships impacted. It will be no problem for those of us who recognized that All Star was going belly up 8 months ago and went to the month to month option. There is a possible loss for those who invested in the year package. New ownership is NOT required to maintain those contracts.

Debby-Lee February 24, 2013 (9:37 pm)

yeah but they would be silly not to honour those contracts and lose a good chunk of their market base. Why upset ppl that are willing to pay upfront..

Anna Eileen February 24, 2013 (9:50 pm)

I renewed in Oct (I find it easier to pay for a year upfront vs a monthly bill) knowing they were in financial trouble but hoping for the best and happy with 6 months free – I kick myself now! If they don’t honor it, I will not give them any more money. It’s my fault to renew for a year knowing they were having trouble. I guess I will wait and see.

Jeff February 25, 2013 (9:54 am)

Well, if its going to be run the same as before, then Sam is going to lose his investment money. The place is being neglected!

Screwed February 25, 2013 (10:06 am)

I spoke with the trustee and they will not be honoring current contracts, so if you ahve pre-paid consider yourself screwed. There may be a class action lawsuit starting soon for those members and also for the the invest fraud. To be continued….

WS All Star Investor February 25, 2013 (10:47 am)

Very bad news if they won’t honor the existing contracts. If you’re reading this, Screwed, can you get in contact to make sure you’re part of the conversations. And was the trustee speaking for the new owner when he said this?

wsallstarinvestor@gmail.com

Dana V. February 25, 2013 (12:47 pm)

I also did a year renewal and asked directly about what would happen when they sold the gym. They were upfront about the gym being up for sale and they told me that whoever purchased the facility would honor the contracts. I hope this turns out to be correct.

scout 1 February 25, 2013 (12:50 pm)

People need to understand that the new owners of the space are not the individuals to be venting anger.
Mr. Adams and company are merely buying a gym space and equipment. They should not and will not be held accountable to individuals who lost their money.
The later contracts with the ” 6 months free” clause, were a red flag!!!

Curtissimo February 25, 2013 (8:56 pm)

Scout do you just make this stuff up? I did some research on Sam Adams and he seems like a pretty good guy. Married a local girl when he was with the Seahawks, still married to her, and raised all his kids here in Seattle area. Never left despite having played out most of his career in other cities. His dad was Sam Adams senior who was an all pro with the New England Patriots in the 1970s/80s so he grew up in a normal household. He was recently on King 5 New talking about the Seahawks and despite wearing a backwards hat he seemed very polite and respectable. For a 350 pound guy anyway.

scout 1 February 26, 2013 (8:57 am)

That is not the point. The point is that unfortunately some people are going to lose money and their current contracts with the prior ownership will be void.
I agree that Sam Adams has a good reputation and apparently a nice man. That however, has very little to do with the loss of money individuals will be experiencing.

Little Lord Fauntleroy February 26, 2013 (5:12 pm)

This is an outstanding result to the alternative – an empty building with the equipment being removed or auctioned. I look forward to being able to enjoy my classes and workouts in a facility that is so convenient for me. All I need is a little brighter, a little cleaner and a keen eye on keeping the equipment repaired. Welcome to West Seattle, Mr. Adams!!

Debby-Lee February 26, 2013 (8:08 pm)

Yeah I’m not convinces scout1 isn’t just trolling. The staff at the gym seem pretty optimistic.

scout 1 February 26, 2013 (8:16 pm)

Not trolling. Hope I am way wrong.

Jane February 28, 2013 (5:28 pm)

If you think things will get better, think again.I am a member of the Seattle Executive Fitness in the SMT building downtown. A member for several years, when it was Allstar.
For starters the pool has been unswimmable because of cold temperatures, low to mid 70’s since Thanksgiving.
We had weeks without hot water in the showers and plenty unfinished projects around the club. On top of that a graphic of an aggressive swimmer doing butterfly plastered over the south facing windows of the previously light letting in windows. How much money does he have to pour into the West Seattle location or any other?

jane February 28, 2013 (8:44 pm)

scout 1 March 1, 2013 (12:44 pm)

Sorry to hear that Jane. That goes along with what my sources tell me about the new ownership.

pat carr March 3, 2013 (1:05 pm)

This is great news. we went down to the tacoma location at 31 montana and saw repairs had already been done to the machine area, lockerrooms and showers. We are looking forward to this

pat carr March 3, 2013 (1:06 pm)

Jane what does Executive fitness SMT have to do with this? does sam own this club? we also exercised there for a long time

metroarea4 March 4, 2013 (9:41 pm)

A guy named Merle Gregg owns Seattle Executive Fitness and another club downtown. Sam Adams has nothing to do with those clubs. Do your homework before spreading misinformation

Joe B March 9, 2013 (1:47 pm)

Just got the official notice in the email today – our 3 year membership my partner and I bought last year won’t be any good apparently after the sale … as mentioned in the post above I will connect with this email address … wsallstarinvestor@gmail.com

Kristin Griffin March 13, 2013 (9:34 am)

Here is a petition I have started to get our voice heard. If we get a good number of signatures I will try to take it to the judge at the first hearing on the 22nd.

http://www.change.org/petitions/allstar-fitness-gym-in-west-seattle-and-potential-new-owner-s-honor-all-gym-membership-prepaid-contracts-up-to-the-sale-date-of-the-gym?share_id=KiYUzcmxIX&utm_campaign=mailto_link&utm_medium=email&utm_source=share_petition

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