Members of the Canadian Fitness and Squash Club are being left out in the cold after the gym closed its doors on Feb. 3.
The fitness club sent an email to its members on Feb. 2, informing them that the club would be shutting down at 6 p.m. the following day. People who paid for their memberships in advance would not be reimbursed any of the money.
“A few of you have asked if the club will be providing refunds,” wrote the owners, Richard and Tim, in an email to the membership base. Neither included a last name. “If we were able to do so, we certainly would. Unfortunately, this is not the case and we cannot.”
Repeated attempts to get in touch with the owners have gone unanswered.
John Hopkins, who has been a member since the club first opened in 1992, said the closure came as a shock to everybody.
“They’re upset and pissed off that they lost their money. There's not much they can do,” said Hopkins, who attended the gym with his wife. “To find out it was closing all of a sudden was a real shock.”
He added he and his wife were lucky – as long-time members they paid by the month.
He said he heard of one woman who signed up for a yearly membership on Jan. 31, just three days before the fitness and squash club shut down.
“She went on vacation, came back, and it was closed,” said Hopkins. “So she’s out a whole year’s membership.”
Linda Leinan, who’s been a member of the club since 1996, paid for a yearly membership of just over $800 last September for herself and her husband.
“Those who paid by the year have been told that they're not able to reimburse (us),” said Leinan. “Basically they said, ‘We would if we could, but sorry.’
“I do feel very badly for the owners because they probably have done badly financially, but I feel sorry for us too.”
Richard and Tim bought the fitness and squash club in 2009 from the previous owners to keep it from closing down, said Hopkins.
“These people, Richard and Tim, took it over because they actually went to the gym,” said Hopkins. “At one point they were putting their own money into the building. They lasted until a week ago and that was it.”
The owners refurbished the space last summer with new paint, refinished the squash courts and put in a hallway to connect the weight room, said Hopkins. During that time the club was closed for a two-week period and a number of people went elsewhere.
“I think that’s what hurt them,” said Hopkins. “They tried to get members back … but I don't think it worked.
“It’s too bad, it was a nice club.”
jessica.cunha@metroland.com