Fitness Formula Clubs East Lakeview

They are charging me additional months after I cancelled my membership. Avoid this gym!!!

Well it’s in boytown so I can’t complain about how crowded it is in rush hour lol most of the staffs are friendly. If you know when to go, you’ll be able to get your equipment without any problem. Nice and quiet though the massage room smells really weird lol Before I just thought it smells bad because they are using a weird scent to sooth people but now I know what it is! Lolol it’s the smell of stale oil. Kind of something hard to control maybe change it to a different brand? Idk lol the therapist is really good
If you want a personal trainer I’d recommend Joe just because I’ve had him for about half a year back when I was at this gym, friendly and knowledgeable; plus he’s cute, so why wouldn’t you? Lol
One thing I forgot to mention is the trainers here do a really good job setting example of cleaning up after oneself so the gym etiquette here is realy good. Though the management could do a little better job at keeping the equipments in better condition. Not just the machines but the little things as well
Kind of wish the gym is ²⁴⁄₇ or at least extend their weekend hours a little bit… Kind of hard to cope with that hour :/

I joined this gym when I moved to the area because it was the most convenient in terms of lake view gyms. It’s an OK gym if you live close and need to get the basics in, but in most departments it fell short.
The total gym area itself is small — during peak hours it is almost impossible to find workout space on the floor. If you do manage to find a spot, it’s cramped and unpleasant. The machinery itself (elliptical, treadmills, etc) seemed to be up to par although was nothing new — my grime with it was that every time I used the machines the TV’s seemed to be constantly on the fritz and were never fixed in the 8 months I had my gym membership.
The reason for terminating my contract, along with the cramped space and older machines was that the lines of communication between client services and customers seemed non-​existent.
When I signed there was a special that if you worked out x amount of times in your first three months you received a free hour long massage. When I tried to redeem they said I had forgotten to claim my «coupon link» for a coupon that never expired, and I was ineligible to receive the massage. When I talked to one of the managers, she said she emailed her corporate office to reset the offer — when I tried to follow up my emails went unanswered. The massage was not really an issue, but if you promise a customer something in their contract and then don’t deliver it becomes an issue.
Long story short this gym is fine if your company pays for most of it, but if you’re already paying $ 80 a month, pony up the extra $ 20 and join somewhere else.

I can’t complain. I’ve been a member of several gyms in the past and FFC is the cleanest. They have every machine you need, for whatever you’re trying to achieve. I also like that they have a pool and steam room to relax in after a tough workout. It can get crowded at certain times but that’s any gym. Every night I’m in here, the staff is either wiping down machines, vacuuming or putting out clean towels. Overall, very pleased with the gym and the laid back feel inside.

I’ve been a member for almost 2 years. I have been a member of LPAC, X Sport and Bucktown Fitness. None of those compare to FFC. This particular location is not so busy that you have lines at machines, at least most of the time. I also love that FFC has so many extras from deodorant, to Q Tips, towel service, and shampoo/​conditioner. My only gripes with this location is that the layout is weird. It does have 3 floors that you need to navigate. Also, when you sign up they promise your enrollment fee back in a gift card. I did my mandatory visits in the 3 months and never got the gift card I was promised, or so I thought. Turns out they sent me an email which landed in my Spam folder. The offer expires too so I had only like 3 days to spend it all. Luckily I had planned on spending it for personal training anyway.
That leads me to my next review. Joe Dankowski is in my opinion one of the best trainers if you’re looking to lift. Ex wrestler (maybe current) who practices what he preaches. He knows his stuff! Take advantage of your free PT sessions then use your enrollment fee credit to purchase some sessions with Joe.
The 4 stars (–1 star) is because of the layout, overall size of the gym, and the variety of machines for the price.

I joined this FFC in August because of its location. I’ve enjoyed the experience so far-it’s clean, has all the equipment I need, friendly staff and attractive clientele. Personally I find it good value for money.
Since I joined I’ve been training with Joe Levita. Joe’s super friendly, super attentive and flexible to build a workout program around both my goals and my exercise preferences. He pushes me but he also makes the workouts fun, and he’s been very accommodating around my busy schedule. I’ve achieved a number of fitness goals already thanks to Joe and I’d highly recommend him.

I joined this gym about 2 years ago as it was close to my corporate apartment. As others stated, if you live in the area, it’s a fine option for working out. However, if you need to drive to it, I’d suggest you find another option.
The gym space is small. There are not a lot of machines — meaning if you want to do a lat pull, there is one machine that does that. It’s also lacks a variety of free-​weight machines in general. Everything is plate and cable systems.
Parking is offered, but at peak times you may be out of luck. Gym staff also park in the member spaces so you compete with that as well.
They do have a very good personal training staff. I worked out with 2 of them and they were great — but they both left FFC. Seems they have a revolving door of trainers and can’t hold on to the good ones — in my opinion.
The equipment is rather run down. And if you report a machine broken or in need of repair, don’t count on it being fixed — or at least fixed properly. I reported a few pieces of equipment to at least three different people and got a litany of reasons why nothing was done.
One instance — the person I was dealing with didn’t return my email for close to three weeks. Then told me his delay was due to his travels. Sadly, I’d seen him on-​site during this time, and his boss was copied on the messages.
I terminated my membership 30 days ago — and gave the above feedback to the woman who helped me file the paperwork. To this day, the equipment I reported STILL doesn’t function properly. So I know I made the right call going to a gym that follows up with members and deals with equipment issues.

This is one of the best gyms I have been a member of– I am moving and had to cancel my membership and I am sad I had to do so!
The staff is friendly, the gym is clean, and there are plenty of fitness classes to choose from! The layout is a little inconvienent but the way I look at it is the stairs just add to my workout.
It is a little pricey but I think it is worth it. You get unlimited fitness classes and quality workout equipment.

Great fitness club, they have everything you need plus. This place is geared towards overall fitness, but excellent overall atmosphere. If lifting only is your thing, you are likely better off down the street at quads, but if you are looking for an overall nice place to workout, and want an option to get a massage, go for a swim, hit the steam room, and have a locker room you are not afraid to walk around in if you forget shower shoes, then this is the place for you.

the pool is always closed, the hot tub hasnt worked for over a year and the water in the building is always shut down. The staff is super friendly and the times i go there is always a machine avail. But i really honestly wish they could get their shit together when it comes to maintenance. I pay good money to work out here and cant even use the pool when i want to work out abs. cant sit in the hot tub to relax muscles and when the water is shut off in the building i cant even use the steam room to sweat out toxins. why do i work out here???

I have been going to this gym for two years and just cancelled my membership. It is definitely overpriced but that isn’t why I am leaving. I am leaving because the equipment is old and beat up. I am changing because the jacuzzi has been under repair for over 6 months. I am leaving because every time I take my daughter to swim, drops of water are falling ion me from the roof. Lastly I am leaving because the staff really aren’t friendly and can be late in opening up at 5am — not good when it is snowing. I would look for another gym.

What a friendly & clean neighborhood fitness center! I’ve been a member for about a year & a half & have always been pretty happy with it. The classes are always challenging, yet fun. I wish there were more boot camp type classes in the early morning! The layout is a bit odd, but nothing to really complain about. All the stairs actually help with a little warm-​up!
I typically work out in the mornings and it’s never crowded which is great. The only negative is that the personal trainers working with their clients always seem to take over certain areas of the gym making you sometimes move elsewhere to finish your workout.

I’ve been coming to this gym for nearly 4 years, and I’m still happily a member. The staff is great, very friendly, from the membership folks to the check in desk, to the class instructors and trainers. I used to go to classes all the time — my work schedule killed that, but now as I’m getting back into routine, I see the familiar smiling faces welcome me back… and some new faces as well.
Yes, the layout isn’t the greatest, with having to go up and down stairs to get to/​from locker room and gym floors, but I think of it as a little cardio warmup, lol.
Parking is also nice… when it gets to the busier times of year and the garage gets full, they have a valet to take care of your car.

I go here simply because of the proximity to my apartment. Once I move, I will cancel my membership. The fee structure is excessive to say the least. They had a promotion to get your enrollment fee refunded in the form of a giftcard, which we used at the downtown location to buy gym clothes, but getting the refund was like pulling teeth. I was told our friend would receive a $ 100 giftcard for referring us, and then the story changed to $ 25… which they forgot to give her.
The layout at this facility is less than ideal. I hope you like stairs. If you are someone looking to lose weight, take classes, etc. then they have a lot of options. If you are someone like me who just wants to get in and out and do your own thing… you are probably better off elsewhere.
It does have some daycare option/​pregnacy classes (more fees) if you’re into that.
Oh and after a year of membership, they thank you by charging an extra $ 100 to «re-​enroll». Save your pennies and look for a Fitness 19.

Gym is overpriced. The gym floor is way too small for the amount of equipment they own. At the same time they added a physical therapy office which took more gym space away. Stop stealing away gym space!
Nice staff! Gym is kept really clean.
I was notified I would be assessed a one-​time $ 100+ assessment fee on November 2014. Why do you need more of my money? You overcharge, receive rent from physical therapy office, and charge for visitors.
I only go to this gym for convenience.

If you want to go to a gym where the color scheme is bodily fluids, then this is the place for you. Absolutely the ugliest gym I’ve ever been to. However, the neighborhood doesn’t really have many options. The place is pretty clean; cleaner than most.
The biggest issue is another design one: the layout. It is constantly changing and doesn’t make sense. It literally looks like someone threw a bunch of work out equipment across three different floors in an unexplainable order.
Lastly, people like to hold work out groups or personal training sessions in aisles and small places they don’t belong. It’s really annoying considering the hefty price for the membership.

Like all of their locations, the equipment is kept in great condition. The only negative is a strange and sort of inexplicable layout with varying pieces of equipment across three floors with no really discernable reason.

Watch out for this gym. They randomly charge extra monthly fees because they couldn’t make their revenue goals, promise all access to clubs then find out you have to pay $ 100 to use a different location and have a promotion on initiation fees of being credited back then claim it wasn’t true.
The worst gym!!!

This is not a review of FFC, but this specific location.
The set-​up here is ridiculous. It’s broken up over 3 levels with no identifiable reason of how it’s broken up. Equipment is located on 1 and 2, locker rooms on 3. You usually have have I bounce between the first two levels to complete your strength training-​total pain.
The staff here is lacking. Aside from the membership sales personnel (who se super friendly, go figure), the staff are okay but nothing compared to other locations. 90% of the time I have to wait for the front desk staff to finish their convos before they check me in or validate my parking. I can only speak for one of the trainers, and she was so under-​trained that I wasted 2 of my free sessions on her teaching me how to use the Activtrax software that is included with the membership.
In sum, this location is convenient only because it’s 24 hours. Otherwise, go to the one on Halsted– it’s better in every way.

What can I say about this gym? I’ve been a member for YEARS now, and they basically treat you like your cell phone company and your cable company treat you… raising the rates on the folks who already have memberships («One time fees» of approximately $ 60-​$ 120) happen regularly, about 3 times since I’ve been a member. I contacted management and corporate to complain and was told that «for my convenience» they can charge an additional fee for several months, rather than just the one. Please, you’re too kind.
Anyway, it has kind of become a ripoff. I pay $ 80/​month. I paid an initiation fee of $ 250, and I get stuck paying these «one-​time» fees. And the gym has that gross sweaty smell, and the equipment is not well-​maintained. The membership structure is also not so great. You can’t belong to just one club. If you live in Lakeview, you have to have at least the «green» membership level, which does give you access to a few locations, but not the new ones. You will pay more than those who belong to the brand new swanky West Loop location (the one with the indoor and outdoor pool, alcoholic bar, indoor juice/​healthy bar, etc.). The Lakeview one does not have a juice bar or anything remotely similar to that FYI.
This location does have a 50 foot pool. However, I think the pool is one amenity that could be really great, but they just let it go. They’ve started allowing children in, but do not have the additional staff around to clean the pool. I’ve come in after family swim to a pool full of kick boards, buoys etc., towels strewn all over the deck, and a filthy film all over the entire pool area. Recently, there were ants crawling all over the pool deck. I’ve seen the ants on several occasions recently actually. In addition, there are sections of the glass windows that are fully covered in a green mildewy moss. Also, only one of the pool lights works. It really grosses me out to use this pool facility. And it really good be very nice (pretty atrium natural lighting).
The cardio equipment does not seem to be well taken care of, and the machines are constantly out of order. The classes are okay, and some of the teachers are good, but not all. There used to be a great spin teacher there years ago (Brian), who would engage people and make them feel welcome in his class. I have not felt that way at the gym since he left.
Also, they have been promoting heavily that it is one of the best gyms in Chicago under $ 80/​month from a Chicago magazine review. Note the above criticism re: pricing. It really isn’t an accurate statement. Moreover, certain memberships are regularly over $ 80/​month. There have been several complaints about this (see the Chicago Magazine online comments for a few).
This gym would be great at $ 30/​month. Maybe even up to $ 45/​month.
FFC doesn’t seem to care that it’s members are not satisfied. And it’s not the people working the front desk for $ 8.00/hour. They are all fine. Even the cleaning people are probably doing the best they can. It’s the management and corporate folks who only see $$$$. It’s not an $ 80/​month gym. It’s not even a $ 50/​month gym. They do not care about their members or what we want to stay committed to the facility.
I am really surprised it has such high ratings on Unilocal actually. After many years with this gym, I had one too many one time fee to continue with a company with such a deceptive business practice. I’m quitting.