I dropped by the new Gold’s Gym the other day on Mayo Road in Edgewater after months of driving by, wondering what it looks like on the inside. Well, it looks like a gym. Nothing too special, although it is much nicer than the location on West Street. The place isn’t even finished yet. They have quite a long way to go in terms of putting on the finishing touches, and, oh right, building a lap pool!
Gyms are fine and all, but pricing/membership is always a point of controversy. This place will supposedly become an $8M facility by the time it is done, but it seems they are charging way more for it. There is no way to purchase a month to month membership…they really want you committing, not to your body, but to their wallet. How else can you repay construction loans in a time where everyone is losing their shirts on lending? The membership prices will continue to go up, supposedly, because everything now is a “special”. Special because half the gym is not even open yet, or is it that they want to pull as much cash in as possible? Oh and get this, when the pool does become available, you will have to pay extra to use it (pool membership), AND, you will not be able to go just for the pool (cannot just pay for a pool membership)…very sneaky. You think they would make it all one way or the other. I wonder how they will enforce that?
The sad thing is, for Edgewater civilians at least, this seems to be the only destination for hardcore pumping of ze iron, or am I wrong? Have we missed another oasis of mind and body building? Or do we have to drive over to Annapolis proper to get things done another way?
If any of you were holding out for the pool, I recommend using the Anne Arundel swimming pool on Riva Road. That place is enormous, clean, and the lap lanes are the perfect size. Mornings are usually packed to get that pre rush-hour swim, but there is no way you can argue with the price. The charge on a quarterly basis and it makes any gym in the area seem ridiculously expensive.
So bottom line, is this place worth it?
South River Fitness (http://www.southriverfitness.net/) is also in Edgewater.
I haven’t been in that one yet, but I drive by it sometimes and it looks so crappy. Anyone a member that can say otherwise?
Gold’s Gym in Edgewater is only $25/month right now due to not having everything completed, this is half the price of next cheapest and quite cheaper than others. While it isn’t complete, there is plenty to get a “hard core” work out and usually with less wait than the other gyms. Does it have it’s faults yes, as do every other gym I’ve been a member to, which includes South River Fitness which is a nice family oriented locale.
Most know the county can be problematic with building issues, but I do wish Golds would INFORM the members regarding the status, versus letting the members fester amongst themselves about possible issues!
Hello, I’m a member at South River Fitness and I think that it’s great. I have heard about people that now go to my gym who were past members of Gold’s Gym in Edgewater. I have some friends now that go to Gold’s Gym and are binded into a contract that can’t seem to get out of for a ridiculous cancellation fee cost. The Gold’s Gym on West Street is owned by the same owner at Gold’s in Edgewater. Let’s see they have been promising a pool for years now, when Arby’s beside it was being build they lied and made believe it was the pool in process. One of the employees told me he purposely went out and rented a bobcat machine and sat it to make members think it was starting to be built. My friend asked if they had tanning beds, they said no, but they were getting them soon, letting her sign up on that promise not kept, as well as them changing rules and regulations. Seems like they will say anything that people are asking or want in a gym, just to get them to sign up. May I add that they don’t even own the property that they are on. It’s for sale?! Google it….I just hate to see these people get lied to.
-Tim Wells.
It is disappointing that it isn’t finished yet. It would be nice if they wouldn’t turn the ac off at night. But for $25.00 per month, how can you go wrong? If you want month to month go to Evolutions in Annapolis.
https://aacoprod.aacounty.org/PACInternetInquiry/servlet/PACInternetInquiryServlet
This is a link to the approval for the pool from the county that the gym says the county will not give. Wonder what they are doing with everyones money since the plastic pool mocking us is the only thing in the supposed swimming area!
Yes, all the delays have been incredibly frustrating. However, to me the convenience and availability of classes and machines make it a deal at $30 a month. Now. It wasn’t a deal until earlier this year, so I probably wasted my $$ for the first year.
Also, regarding the pool - I was told last week that indeed the county did finally grant them a permit. The guy behind the desk said he thought the pool would go in quickly (by February 2009 even!!). but i’m not sure I believe it, and I told him so!
Oh, when will they finally give away the (now 2+ year old) SUV lease that was supposedly a grand opening raffle prize???
Note to those like myself who signed up a long time ago and whose 1 or 2 year memberships will soon be up for renewal. Make sure you renew or cancel well in advance of one month or they will automatically renew you for the same amount of time under the same terms.