Wednesday, December 14, 2005

Anybody Want To Buy A Healthclub?





Yesterday, after twenty-five years in business, my healthclub hung up its jockstrap. They're closing at the end of December. The thirty-first is their last day. ACK. Every one is stunned. Sure, we'll miss all the equipment and the classes, but my social life was there too. Now I'll only have the grocery store. And Walgreen's.

Last January, I took some pictures of the main floor, from my seat in the restaurant on the upper level of the club. No special reason, I just felt like it. I didn't shoot pictures of the tennis courts, racketball courts, kids' room, swimming pool, sauna, steam rooms, hot tubs, volleyball court, aerobic studio, weight room, Pilates studio, basketball court where the Bulls used to practice, and the Spa where I had a staff of massage therapists, nail, hair and facial people at my beck and call. I didn't get this beautiful standing around, you know.

I'm going to miss the industrial strength showers and the big screen tv in the lounge. I'm going to miss baked sweet potatoes and veggie omelettes. I'm going to miss seeing the latest breast implants walking around the locker room, since I'm comparison shopping these days. I'm even going to miss the guys who don't wipe the sweat off the machine after they're done. Haaa.

Until a few months ago there was also a clothing boutique where I used to buy most of my slacks and tops, also bathing suits, cross trainers, sports bras, scrunchies, knee highs, Thor-Los, and even a couple of things with sequins. 

With my one stop shopping, working out, and beautifying place out of business, that means I'm actually going to have to shower, dress and eat at home after the first of the year. I better check to see if I have any towels.

Our membership will be good at one of three other clubs, which I may or may not consider. Since I'm such a junkie, I already have a membership to another club. In fact, my town could be Jock City, USA. For a place that only has around 30,000 people, there's another healthclub, a YMCA, two tennis clubs, and a huge multi-purpose club within two miles of me. Not to mention all the private country clubs and park district swim, skating, and golf centers. No wonder I have so many sports related injuries.  

You know I've always wanted to own my own club. Or at least to do the marketing. The one here that's for sale is about 100,000 square feet. A few million ought to buy it.

I wonder if they'll take a check?

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

ACK!  You have a Walgreens?  ~Sie http://persnicketypfft.blogspot.com/

Anonymous said...

I know that you can whip up
a sweet potato
& an omelette
with one hand tied behind your back :)

Anonymous said...

Perchance was it Lakeshore Healthclub?..........my son worked there back in the mid-90's. Look at it this way, your chances of getting food poisoning should go down if you start cooking for yourself. Then again, I don't know you cooking skills. Anne

Anonymous said...

Nope.  Lakeshore is in the city.  This club is in the suburbs.  Mrs. L

Anonymous said...

That happens down here all the time, you get used to a business - come to depend on the fact that it is there - poof - one day it's gone.  I'm surprised the owners didn't want to sell it....twenty-five years recognition is worth a bit, besides all the equipment.  Is the land more valuable than the facility?  Sandi http://journals.aol.com/sdoscher458/LifeIsFullOfSurprises

Anonymous said...

No one's interested in buying.  Mrs. L

Anonymous said...

Mrs L I'm sure they will take your cheque...what they will do with it is another thing lol....Ally

Anonymous said...

It looks like a good place to have a strip club. Too much light, maybe. The floor is way too clean...

Anonymous said...

wow you must have a butt you can bounce a quarter off of!
Marti

Anonymous said...

My gym closed down as well, but it was abruptly and the owners took all of the equipment out.  Talk about being stunned...

Amber