Members of the iconic David Barton Gym — which opened in 1992 and was the first gym to ever offer a nightclub-like experience — received an email late last night informing them that all facilities in New York were shutting its doors.
Manhattan’s huge three-level Astor Place facility currently has a typed-out note taped to the glass-paneled entrance: “This David Barton Gym has ceased operations due to competitive market conditions,” the sign reads.
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It later mentions that facilities in New York, Miami, Chicago, and Boston were all closed, effective immediately.”
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“We greatly appreciate your past patronage and deeply regret we can no longer continue to serve you.”
According to the Daily Mail, most staffers were just as surprised as members: They were given no warning that their locations were closing due to bankruptcy.
Reportedly, only locations in Honolulu, Los Angeles, and Las Vegas are remaining open.
Talking to New York magazine, David Barton himself once said, “I wanted to start a gym where cool people would go.”
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The first class they offered featured drag legend Joey Arias leading an abs workout dressed in a 1930s one-piece swimsuit.
Barton stepped away from operations in 2013, stating that “companies do fine without their founders all the time.”
Overnight, the David Barton Gym website was redesigned, with only four open locations now featured on the homepage.
The email sent to members states:
The difficult decision to close was necessitated by changing forces in the fitness industry, including the rise of boutique studios and tremendous competitive pricing pressures in the market.
‘The company could no longer sustain its operations given the current competitive environment.”
Jack Meoff
That’s a very special look the guy in the pic is sporting. I am assuming he is Barton circa 1992.
Baba Booey Fafa Fooey
I’m at TMPL so…
Chris
The place was overpriced. Not that surprising.
Kangol
I bet they were overleveraged. There’s going to be a lot more of this over the next few years, as was the case in 2007-9. I feel bad for the customers; my NY gym also went belly up without warning earlier this gym. Speaking of David Barton Gym, I always remember how years ago, when you’d pass by their 6th Avenue at 15th/16th Sts. downstairs location, there was usually at least one beautiful, buff guy doing ostentatious stretches or posing in the large plate-glass windowed facade.
jamesbradford
Good riddance. The only thing that jawn was good for was pounding the throat of rando bears and chasers in the steam room.
mc4bbs
@jamesbradford: Mmmmmm… Steam-room antics!
JoeyRamone
@Chris: Nice try, Queen. (What is QTY without a bitter bottom spouting off vile.) Actually, one of the cheapest better gyms in the city. I was a member. Private equity owned: wave the future, get used to it. Trumpland.
scotshot
@JoeyRamone:
Get used to gyms going out of business? Standard operating procedure.
Like Trumpland: minimal investment, suck every cent out of the “business” before you drive off in the new Bentley.
Nice going Joey, if you think you’re a bitch get your facts straight first. Fail.
scotshot
@Jack Meoff: That’s been his look since that era, Google his images for full effect.
Geeker
I don’t care.
Kangol
BTW, Barton does have a gym open in NYC, but it’s not under his name. It has giant video screens, drag queens, mood music, everything you’d want in a nightclub. But it’s a gym, called TMPL (Temple), in Hell’s Kitchen.
icntblvit
@Jack Meoff: i think he has the same hair dresser (wigmaker) as Mickey Rourke.
Pete
I went to the one on 23rd St. for the first time when I was visiting New York back in winter of 2005-6 (my junior year). I was blown away by how hot all the guys were! I had some school/career chit-chat with one guy who asked me if I wanted to go out for coffee. Once we hit the street he asked if he could first scoot by his place to drop off his gym bag. We never made it to Big Cup, lol! After that, went to DBG every time I was in NY and never left alone. Better than a club! First place I ever did it in the shower. Happy memories!
Giuseppe
Times change, when it was just the one on 15/6th, it was fun and cool, he expanded and it lost it’s allure. And then it just got weird.
luvit00
I miss the Barnes and Noble that used to be at the Astor Place location
Kangol
@luvit00: Have you see Astor Place lately? It’s been gentrified into soullessness. There are even signs telling people not to skateboard there.
mz.sam
Too bad…no problem here in Los Angeles. There are two locations flourishing with members, but terribly ultra-hetero…Sad!