LA Fitness

This gym got 1 star because its clean and has a pool. If you are simply looking to get in and get out, it’ll do. Its inexpensive compared to most gyms and I guess you can make the argument you get what you pay for, but I didn’t think that meant irresponsible trainers and rude staff. I went through 4 trainers in about 15 months. The first was decent but they fired him for unknown reasons. The 2^nd tried to get me to quit the gym and take sessions with him directly which I didn’t want to do; he bothered me through text messaging to the point that I felt uncomfortable even going to the gym (obviously dropped him as a trainer) and called the corporate office to report it. The 3^rd (was at Randolph street location) would show up 5 — 10 minutes late and it wasn’t because of other sessions, I would find her socializing at the front desk and doing her hair in the bathroom, I was on my lunch break and made this known several times but she never respected that. The 4^th trainer, I didn’t even start with. He blew off my 6am appointment and never called to reschedule. I’m not going to get into the countless times the staff was rude because at the very least, I wasn’t paying for their time like I was the trainers. I now see a trainer through Chitown Trainer. If you have a building gym, they are the way to go.

I don’t know what it is about every LA Fitness i walk into, that makes wonder why i keep going back. I have never disliked a gym so much! I will never give them my business ever again. I am now a proud member of LAC (Lakeview Athletic Club)

I’ve been to LAF signature clubS around country. This one’s among the best. Pool area is lovely. Airy, infinity edge pool and fun Virgin airlines kind of club lighting. Only minor beef is that pool’s stainless steel surface is a bit slippery on flip turns. #wetpeopleproblems
Staff was friendly and helpful. Locker rooms are tidy and you don’t need your own lock.
Read a lot of crap reviews of this location — not sure what they’re used to but by chain gym standards, this one’s pretty swell.

I have been here more than five times since the past two months. Every time I paid for 20 dollars for a guest pass, and explained by four of different friendly staff here that I could use it for 24 hours from the time I checked in, means I still could use it in the next early morning. However, manager here on duty at my 5^th visiting told me a totally different story basically saying that 24 hours means the calendar day, so I am not permitted to come back with the same guest pass. AND saying four of her staffs were wrong before and needs some training. This really piss me off, I will never come back here again!

Reading the reviews on here, you’d have thought you’d entered one of the circles of hell. Maybe my standards are pretty lax (since I used to belong to the Y in Lakeview), but I don’t really see what’s so awful about this place. the space is nice, I’ve never seen the towels piled up, they seem to have fixed the lockers, there are plenty of machines in good shape, and it’s dirt cheap through Blue Cross, only $ 25 a month. Maybe I’ll have an awful experience later and dock them stars, but this place suits my needs just fine (I couldn’t give a flip if the weights are stacked just so, you muscleheads).

Note to gym seekers;
You can always tell how well a gym is managed, not by the cleanliness of the locker rooms, rather the tidiness of the free weight area! Even if you don’t plan on using the free weights — you’d be well served to check out the area in any gym…
Mark my words, ‘if the free weight area is not well maintained with weights racked and other equipment stored in appropriate areas, the gym is not worth the membership price — whatever that price maybe!’ This is true because a messy weight room breeds a lack of respect by users of the facility and their co-​members. Not because the gym’s clients are low-​lives either. It’s because people grow tired of «doing the right thing» when others in the same circumstance don’t follow the same credo. Further disappointment comes as you watch staff members walk around the mess and do nothing as if to say, «that’s not my job!». Finally, that feeling to «help out» becomes further diminished when you’re reminded that you’re actually paying for a service that is not only non-​existent but, in fact, you’re being forced to provide yourself.
This LA Fitness is one of the worse I have been to when it comes to management. The issue regarding weight room tidiness is a direct reflection of the fact that the manager (whoever he or she is) does not care enough to take the time to walk the floor of the gym and assess. This is not only a cleanliness problem but also a huge safety concern that will come back to bite LA Fitness if they do not address the problem in the weight room. So, even if the manager (s) could care less about the level of service they DON’T provide, their primary responsibility, at the very least, is to protect LA Fitness’ financial interest. Which, in a gym, is to ensure the members safety. They don’t HAVE to concern themselves with the members expectations, not their level of satisfaction, not even the safety of their members belongings. All those problems can be glazed over easily with strong sales performance. However, the quickest and most sure fire way to get a gym to change it’s ways is litigation. People; members, staff, guest, potential members, area residents and businesses, lawyers, judges and juries generally don’t expect much from a gym when it comes to physical results. They do, however, expect NOT to become injured while they are at the gym. Operators are well inclined to avoid the many situations that present hazards to their users — unracked weights, equipment thrown about and general sloppiness on the fitness floor is a good place to start. Unfortunately, this LA Fitness is doomed to fail because they (management) don’t even do that — the simplest and most remedial part of their job — lift things up and put them back!
Because of these simple issues you can be pretty sure this club will be sold or closed within 24 months. Either they already have plans on it, which would explain their inaction. Or, they will have no choice. Either way that facility won’t be LA Fitness. Pretty sure it will remain a health club because of the large space and pool. Which actually won’t be a bad thing for the neighborhood because we will get a better run facility in return. We may have to pay a bit more but, in essence, LA Fitness should be paying us when we put our weights away — NOBODY ON STAFF DOES IT!
Finally, I’d say wait for that change to happen before you join. Take a look at some of the other options in the area. Nonetheless, if you must join LA Fitness always wait until the end of the month for the best deal. This facility will be struggling for every sale they can get! Just make sure you get a receipt and be prepared to put in a good days work — I don’t mean workout…
I would give zero stars if I could…

I am posting this letter here because the manager of the club refused to give me her full name. yep. She also refused to give me any email where I sound send the letter. Furthermore, she indicated that my letter is not welcome as she said, «Why don’t you tell what’s it about over the phone» (never mind that I did that about *ten* times before!). No. This time I am leaving a paper trail.
«September 9, 15
To whom it may concern:
I am a disabled, wheelchair-​bound person and I have been a member of your club from before it even became part of the L.A. Fitness chain. I have no use of my legs and a very limited use of my arms. Swimming is the *only* physical exercise that is possible for me and it is strongly recommended by my doctor. This is the only non-​pharmaceutical way for me to maintain the shreds of health I have left.
And yet, your elevator has been out of order for months now. I cannot go to the changing room and function like any able-​bodied club member when the elevator is broken. I cannot even take a shower in privacy. Let it also be noted that the shower in the pool area does not have a reliable stream of hot water. It is either lukewarm or *ice cold*. Yep. Someone with a weak immune system is expected to shower under ice-​cold water. When asked about the expected date of the repair, you give me vague answers. This lack of basic accessibility is in direct conflict with the ADA guidelines.
It is also worth noting that the elevator has been out of status *repeatedly* over the years. No one deemed it necessary to fix it for good. I assume the disabled are not even expected to exercise.
So, I am sorry to say, but this is *not* a fiscal matter. This is a legal matter insofar as we are talking about discrimination.
I expect the elevator to be fixed within one month from the date of this letter. Barring that, I will be forced to file a complaint with Attorney General and Illinois Commerce Commission.
Regards,
Kristina Lebedeva»

There is only 1 squat rack in the entire gym, 1 smith machine and they close at 10 pm on week nights. I wish they had multiple squat racks and stayed open until 11 pm.

As a member of LA fitness I’m always looking for the most complete gym. For the most part all LA FITNESS have everything but this one is missing a few things like row machine. Although this one in particular is really nice and clean not having all the machines keeps me from giving them 5 stars. The pool is really nice and for the most part always empty. As a signature member here you have towels and personalized entrance key that also works as a lock in the lock room. Really cool!

Can you say ‘LA Fitness-​Third World Country’? Wow this place has REALLY gone down hill, especially in the last three months. I’ve been coming here for the last four years and watched it steadily decline. Its dirty and there are rarely enough towels unless you consider the ones on the floor in the locker room. Whoever the manager is at this particular location sure got some bad career advice from his high school guidance counselor because he is not suited for this job. I’d advise LA Fitness Corporate to make a visit and see how crappy this place has become.

Typical corporate bs. I’ve been coming to this place since before the corporate transition and have seen it spiral downward, extract as much profit as possible for the corporation without giving anything back or even up keeping this location. Great location, just not not run right.

I usually go to the signature club on Randolph — but due to the weights floor being refurbished, I was forced to go here. I was actually shocked by hie terrible this club was (how they can call it signature, God only knows). Old equipment with no thought to what people actually need — clearly a case of the equipment manufacturer choosing what to sell/​place as opposed to any fitness staff. The gym itself was pretty much empty but still filthy — and no cleaning staff present. Really not worth a visit or membership especially when there is a better club half a mile away.

A company who really cares needs to buy what used to be a super high caliber place. There is no comparison.

I wish I could combine the good parts of this location with the good parts of the newer LA Fitness (not a Signature Club) on Lawrence. That way I would keep the hair driers and towels that come with the Signature Club (that’s a HUGE plus for me) but would also get much newer equipment.
This location only has 1 squat rack, while the one on Lawrence has 2, and a power rack that you could call a 3^rd. With only one, I have to wait for the squat rack almost every single time I go, and I don’t even go during peak times. And then there are like 6 bench presses, which I have never seen being used all at the same time. It doesn’t make sense and is really annoying. They also don’t have a seated row machine – isn’t that pretty standard? So they could really use an upgrade and should sub out a few bench press setups for squat racks.

First the good. Shampoo, conditioner in the locker rooms and the place is relatively clean. Overall the equipment and the feel of the gym is not ghetto. Towel service is diligent and good.
Now the bad. There is more of that unfortunately. The pool is PERENNIALLY closed. To give you an idea, in the last six months, the pool has been closed for over a month TWICE! And worse, the management has no idea when the pool reopens. They put false signs and keep giving false assurances to customers that the pool is about to open but the pool never opens. And instead of working diligently towards fixing it and showing sincere regret, you will often seeing the managers fist bumping each other, flirting with other female staff, and more concerned about their own weight training at the gym. You can tell that they are simply not serious about managing this gym. In fact, now the sign says «pool is closed» without a date. And the staff pretends as if they have no control on it. Umm — how about refund memberships for the months your major amenity is closed?
The layout of machines is very tight. It becomes awkward moving from one machine to another.

I live in the building where this gym is located. We have a gym in our building, but I always find I get a better workout when I am doing something more active than riding a bike while watching espn. I typically have been a road cyclist or runner on the lakefront given where I live. However, it is getting cold out, and I figured that I could go to the la fitness in my building for workout classes. I find the spinning classes to be very good, and the facilities are among the best I have seen at a gym.

This location needs a renovation. To be fair, I would have given it 2.5 stars and they do have a very small space to work with. I imagine owning/​renting a property in this part of town is quite expensive.
My complaints:
— a number of broken lockers in the men’s locker room that don’t even have doors on them and look poorly kept up
— no pre-​loaded barbells. First time I see that at a full gym that isn’t in a hotel
— old equipment. Many items, including the cables was very aged, rusty and hard to adjust

Do yourself a favor, AVOID THIS PLACE AT ALL COSTS. I know its a good location, but the people here are, at best, jerks.
The locker room is smelly. Fitness equipment is ok.
Worst of all: the people that work here. Manager ERICA promised to refund me $ 55 for a month of service I never agreed to. Never happened. VICTORIA yelled at me over the phone after I told her I was billed an extra $ 55, and tried to fix the situation. She never called back, just like WADE also promised (funny how I got two calls a day before giving my credit card number, but after no one gave a darn). MARCUS told me it was on me to call them, even though they made the mistake. MATT was the one who conned me to begin with.
… nothing but headaches. This team makes our Congress look like all-​stars. I could go on; many more stories of their ineptitude. I’m floored. This place is so bad, I’m speechless, and just want my money back so I can pretend I never stopped by that seemingly harmless Friday after work.
I’ve already contacted my credit card company and
.

Employees are rude as hell, not one of them has been upbeat, friendly, smiled. I received an email with a trial guest pass and I’ve been considering joining a gym, so I felt like I’d go check this one out since it’s close and all. They didn’t even want to let me IN the place. I showed them my pass and they looked at me all disgruntled and said «we don’t let people use these unless they’re actually going to sign up for a membership.»
…excuse me? A. How do you know I’m not going to, and B. the point of a complimentary trial is to see if you like the place and want to follow through with a membership. I literally had to convince them to let me in, it was a joke. So finally I got in and an oh so slightly more pleasant employee briefly showed me around. After he showed me where everything is, he took me into an office and began questioning me further regarding my interest in a membership. I told him I might be but I’d like to look around more, use the facilities they offer and check out the pool to get the whole experience, because that’s the point of this trial. Again, this employee just seemed annoyed and let me on my way.
So as far as the actual facilities go, things aren’t too shabby at this gym. Nice equipment in great condition, plenty to choose from with a large separate room for free weights, a huge cardio room that’s sectioned off, and then the main area with cardio, weights, the whole nine yards. The pool was pretty fantastic actually with a large 10 person spa, a nicely sized sauna, and a pretty good steam room. And the great thing too is that’s none of it’s overly crowded.
The locker rooms though…
I thought maybe people on this site were just freaking out a bit about the cleanliness issue but no, believe what you read people. The locker room was disgusting. I’m talking used towels left and right, abandoned hanging off of random lockers, all over the floor, all over the countertops, toilet paper scattered all over the floors of EVERY bathroom stall, there was even a sweaty pair of someone’s boxers crumbled into a corner near the lockers that someone had apparently left behind because it stayed in the same spot for 2 hours straight, my whole visit. Eh. Don’t even get me started about the amount of pubic hair that was trapped in the drains in the shower room.
On my way out after that lovely shower, I dropped off my locker key and kindly said thank you, and one of the women who «let me in» was still there. She didn’t even look at me. Didn’t say a word. Just snatched the key out of my hand and quickly sat back down to eat her lunch.
Never. Going. Back. What a joke.

Sad to say it, but this gym sucks and here’s why.
1) Weekend Hours: They gym opens at 8a. m and closes at 5p.m. Why they don’t open earlier on the weekends is one of the mysteries of the world.
2) Employees: I’ve been a member of this gym for a year ½ now and in that time they have gone through about 8 — 10 trainers (they usually have 3 there at a time), 10 sales people, 4 managers and 7 front desk/​guest reception people. Its like employee roulette with this place. I can say that the only 3 employees have been at this gym the entire time I’ve been a member (1 female trainer, 1 guy who works the front desk in the morning and 1 girl who works the front desk on the weekend).
3) Machines: Some of the cardio equipment makes noises like they are about to breakdown and go to that junkyard in the sky. There’s a lack of weight equipment compared to the other gyms in the area.
4) Lock Room: The men’s locker room is disgusting. Just walking in there I feel like I’m going to catch something. I don’t understand how guys walk around in there barefoot because I swear the floor probably rivals a petri dish found at the CDC. 90% of the lockers will have some type of trash in them, some have locks that don’t work and some are even missing doors.
5) Unprofessional: I have never been to an establishment where the cleaning crew is cleaning while there are patrons in there. Like seriously, the cleaning crew will be mopping the floors while people are walking round and dusting the machines while people are using them. One would think that the cleaning crew would do the cleaning either when the gym closes OR before the gym opens, but I was told that LA Fitness doesn’t pay for employees to work during hours that the gym is not open so that’s why the cleaning crew has to clean during business hours.
The only reason why i haven’t switched to another gym is because I live two blocks from LA Fitness so I have no excuse not to go to the gym when the weather blows. This is also why I’m giving the gym 2 stars instead of 1.