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Put Down Your Nanowrimo And Leave The House
Sox Shuffle Continues
So we walked up to the doors of the Cheetah Gym Bucktown/Wicker Park location this morning and found a sign on the door saying it's closed "per David Wilshire" (the owner), giving an AOL address to contact with questions. Which we thought was weird, since his email has always been a Cheetah Gym one. So we went home, deflated from the lack of a workout we were looking forward to (amazing, we know, but we do work out to offset all that booze we consume in the Chicagoist office after lunch), to email him and to call the other locations to see if any of them know what's up. Only no one answers our email or any of our phone calls to the other locations. So we check the website to see what's up, only to find it's down.
So, what the hell is going on? Anyone out there know? We were just there yesterday, and everything seemed fine, and we know Wilshire is in the process of building a Logan Square location, and (most importantly) we already paid our dues for this month, so they had better not be suddenly closing down!
Plus, we don't want to have to go through the hassle of finding another gym we like ... grrrr ...
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The Andersonville location is closed too, says "Cheetah Gym will be closed today. cheetah@cheetahgym.com" (or something like that)
There were some people inside, but no one who paid any attention to my knocking or questioning glances...
I used to work at a gym that closed suddenly (after I left). My advice is to contact your bank regarding your automatic deductions for dues. If you contact them today and let them know that you've already been deducted for the month and tell them the situation, they may be able to get your money back for this month. I would then tell your bank that you want to make sure that no other payments are made from your account because you obviously aren't getting what you contracted for. If the gym reopens you can always start your payments up again, but if it were my money, I'd want it protected. Especially since you can't get anyone to respond to you.
Whelp Tanky, into every life some rain must fall, even the hip Wicker Park crowd can get gamed by The Man. But Oh my gawd, between a yuppie cheetah gym (clearly a threat to the Logan YMCA!) and Filter, I think its time to erect a protective barrier around Loagn Square to keep the Liquor Park element out
Guest #2: That is great advice; that happened to a friend of mine in SF. Her gym closed down unexpectedly and she ended up losing some $200.
THat's what you get for going to a place called "cheetah gym"
I know the real world was filmed there, but what does that have anything to do with this story? or just lack of ideas for a title?
Guest #6, it sounded better than "Hey, what's up with Cheetah?!" I guess I could have made an Urbus Horbis ref too, but decided to go with the gentrification joke.
Guest #5, the name may be cheesy, but it's been the nicest, most laid-back gym I've ever belonged to. And all the machines are kept up well.
And Spook, I live in Logan Square.
They've been talking up that Logan Square branch for a year now, but there's been no activity towards renovating the space. There aren't even any building permits in the window. I was also at the Wicker Park gym last night, and nothing seemed odd to me. How am I going to get my fill of buff sweaty men now?
and (most importantly) I already paid my dues for this month
Wow, first person singular on Chicagoist! Oh, happy day!
Whoops!
Because, as Spook and everyone else can attest, Logan Square is untouched compared with 10 years ago unlike Wicker Park, etc. Last I was up there, no yuppie hipsters walking around Lula or Small Bar or the Auditorium. No siree.
Oh man, if the Edgewater one is closed too I'll be really pissed. I *finally* find an affordable gym in Chicago that's about 20 feet from my apartment...
Guest #12, there's been no answer at the Edgewater location either.
And Guest #11, Logan Square is much nicer now than it was 10 years ago, and it's way nicer than when I was living in Humboldt Park 13 years ago, but let's talk about gyms here, and avoid the usual hipster debate twaddle.
Thanks.
Hmmmm. what is afoot. I was just there yesterday...pretty sneaky...me thinks something criminal is involved here...at least closely all branches in one day and taking all members September payments...ANYBODY HAVE ANY LUCK GETTING IN TOUCH WITH ANY OF THE BRANCHES?? sort of pissed
They are all closed. I live across from Edgewater, and then drove to Andersonville. Both closed.
If anyone knows David Wilshire, the owner, this is not shocking at all. believe me. Can anyone pass over some medication for the man?
well, you can't trust anybody that owns a gym....
Guest #16, I've never met Wilshire in the flesh, but have corresponded with him in the past and he has never been anything but professional and gracious when I have questions and concerns about his gym.
That's why it's troubling that there is no reply to my current queries.
#3 Oh god....you again?
I read your post and knew it was you right away.What exactly is the "liquor park" element?
You also mention building a barrier around Logan Square..yeah,that's a great idea.Anymore suggestions on how to keep people more interesting than you out of LS for us?
I'm sure we'd all love to hear more.
I had some dealings with the management at Cheetah a while back and they seemed pretty shady. This is unsurprising.
apparently there has been rampant credit card theft commited by their employees!!
this just in, important notice on the website
This is guest #2 again. CONTACT YOUR BANKS. If Cheetah Gym took your money and then closed, you should be able to get it back. At a minimum, you will be able to stop any further automatic withdrawls.
I just checked the website and it looks like Cheetah Gym has permanently been shutdown due to theft.
http://www.cheetahgym.com/
I'm a member at the Andersonville locale, and the counter girl was there this AM (at 5:30) on the phone with someone. She came around and told everyone they would not be open today due to some "issues." She didn't elaborate, and gave us Wilshire's email address. I emailed and, like everyone else, haven't heard anything. The fact that it seems even staff don't know what's up is shady! It could be that he sold the business and that someone else is gonna be running it from now on.
This is from their website:
Dear Members:
Cheetah Gym has been closed due to employee theft and graft. The degree of corruption was enormous. I was left in a position where I could trust no-one or anything. Most of the problems were at the Bucktown facility. Edgewater, I believe, was relatively free of graft. The scams ran the gamut but it looks like I was the sole victim of theft. However, I urge you to get fraud protection as a precaution.
I do not mean to implicate the entire staff. There were many good and honest people that worked at Cheetah.
Some will herald this news as good while others will be sad. Others will be very angry. I tried my hardest to save it and take back control but it was clear I would not be allowed that opportunity. I was forced to employ people I thought should be fired and that placed me in a Catch 22. The final straw came yesterday when the RGM left payroll incomplete and I was left to try and finish it as best I could. Many new employees could not be paid because I was not given their information. The RGM should have been the first to be fired. When she quit we were left with many shifts not covered and no-one to cover them. I had hoped to be able to run them long enough to reinstate the infrastructure. But the task was too great.
You will have to do what you need to do to assert your individual interests. I hope to prosecute the guilty people or at least sue them. But I am likely in the same boat the rest of my staff is in. I am unemployed.
It was an honor to serve you.
David Wilshire
http://www.cheetahgym.com/
figures
Cheetah Gym took payments for September on 8/28 according to my bank. People shoul dcontact their banks and try and get the money returned since Cheetah will not be providing services for September.
Hummmmmm, the top dog blame the workers below. Lets see, where have I heard that before?
Yikes, what a mess! We all know what a (sometimes strangely) important part of our routine the gym is.
For what it's worth to all you cheetah folks in andersonville (and/or broadway locations)... I just wanted to put in my two cents about an alternative option.
There is a great little gym just down the street on Clark (south of Foster) called Know No Limits. I have been working out there off and on for a while and they have no initiation fee or contract, have great classes (I take spin classes there) and you can also do day passes or ten packs.
It's a pretty great place and has been there for years. So definitely worth checking out.
Sorry bucktown folks - I dont know a good option down by you :(
Tankboy, you went for the gentrification joke? That would have been Urbis Orbis. UO was gentrified out the hood, old boy. You also spelled Orbis wrong. There is no H.
I just checked the site and the letter has been taken down! Now there is just a website unavailable image. I called my CC Company to dispute the charge for Sept's fee...but I have several unused personal training sessions that I've sure I'll have to go to small claims court to get resolution for.
FYI, there is a lovely gym at Granville and Winthrop. Also as someone stated above, Know No Limits is women owned and rocks.
I have been told by (former) Cheetah employees that some users had their memberships canceled when they broke up with the training manager! Then the owner (future inmate) apologized and reinstated his membership. And yes, how odd that his letter blames everyone else for his troubles. Who was the RGM?
All I can say is that my experience with David Wilshire is that he's not only misogynist but a little unstable. I'd be worried.
Does anyone have suggestion on how to get my money back since I paid in full back in May?
I know it'll be too much hassle to try to get back my dues this month but hopefully I won't have an issue getting the automated billing to stop. My big fear is the same as everyone else's: Where will I find a good gym?!?!
Robert Green's DIY
I just went to the Bucktown location, unaware of all this. I was greeted by ladies from Crunch and Equinox offering free 1-day passes.
Ugh, I hope they don't try to charge people for more than they already have.
Can anyone recommend a good gym around Bucktown? :)
#37 Check out the West Loop Athletic Club, it's on Randolph right at Ogden. It's the old Hoops gym. I've had nothing but great experiences there!
I just joined David Barton gym, its totall out of the way but its a nice gym. They are waiving the $250 initiation fee for Cheetah members. Its $95 a month
Screw Cheetah! Maybe i'll just join all of the health clubs that have been suggested so far. Can you say ultra-ripped?
Having a gym right around the corner is useless and so last century, I'd much rather walk a mile or have to drive to the nearest quality gym.
For anyone interested in joining a class action lawsuit:
A forum has been created to better communicate and inform (ex)Cheetah Gym members about the gym closing, reimbursements, class action lawsuit possibilities and general discussion about the gym and its owner, David Wilshire. The forum is located here: Cheetah Gym Class Action Forum
I'm upset because I had a few items that I kept in my locker. Nothing of huge value, but still!
Thanks for the David Barton Gym suggestion. I didn't even know where it was. It was so worth the 7 minute drive from Bucktown. This actually turned out to be a blessing in disguise. They are waiving the enrollment fee for all Cheetah members, and the place is incredible!
#11, Just wait. Just wait. The Yuppies are indeed coming to your hood.
Doesn't anyone else find this just a bit illogical? How could you be robbed blind by employees, to the point where you suddenly have to close your doors, and not see it coming? Seems to me someone in his (Wilshire's) postion should be filing for protection under the bankruptcy laws. His specfic mention of insurance also makes me suspicious.
I have been a member for about ten months. My fee is billed to my credit card. I called today and stopped the auto charge and disputed the September charge. I told them what happened and they pro-rated the September charge crediting my card for most of it.
You should never let any service provider have automated access to your bank account. You are much better protected by having it billed to a credit card.
The gyms will not be reopening. Other clubs have already started raiding the employee list. And believe me, the employees won't go back. The checks which David handed out last night bounced today (employees had a three hour window to pick them up yesterday).
I heard it is reopening for sure in a couple of days! I just want to workout!!!
You have your head up your muscle butt, #48
There is a sign on the Andersonville gym. It says it will reopen on Sunday under new mangement...we'll see.