Getbig.com: American Bodybuilding, Fitness and Figure
Getbig Main Boards => Gossip & Opinions => Topic started by: Figo on September 26, 2006, 09:23:55 AM
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Whats the story there, did he pull a fly-by-night, and run with the dosh?
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So the story goes........
Supposedly, they were taking people's money the day before they shut down........
Nice huh?
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Is there anything to it besides anecdotal evidence? Always 2 sides to a story...
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That sort of stuff happens all the time in the gym biz
you should read my book sometime :)
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What book is that?
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YEP! I used to work out there. They were taking memberships until the day before it shut down. Unbelievable.
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I remember hearing that he opened another gym and was honouring the old memberships. Any more info on that? Wasn't the same area, maybe not even the same town.
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Slick Vic just plain rocks.
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YEP! I used to work out there. They were taking memberships until the day before it shut down. Unbelievable.
What was name of the place, where was it?
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What was name of the place, where was it?
IT WAS CALLED VICTORS GYM AND WAS LOCATED IN THE INWOOD SECTION OF MANHATTAN. THE BUM NOT ONLY TOOK MEMBERSHIPS UNTIL THE DAY BEFORE...HE TOOK MEMBERSHIPS THE VERY DAY OF THE CLOSING.!!!
I KNEW THIS GUY FROM A GYM HE WORKED OUT AT FOR YEARS. THE GYM WAS IN UNION SQUARE (MANHATTAN) AND WAS A GREAT HARDCORE 24 HOUR GYM NAMED JOHNNY LATS GYM. ONCE VIC GOT A LITLE SUCCESS UNDER HIS BELT HE OPENED UP HIS GYM WHICH WASN'T BIG, BUT HAD SOME GREAT EQUIPMENT INSIDE AND AFTER A COUPLE OF YEARS HE SUDDENLY CLOSED IT. HINDSIGHT WOULD HAVE ALERTED PEOPLE TO WHAT WAS GOING ON...HE CHANGED THE HOURS OF THE GYM ALL OF A SUDDEN (SHORTENED HOURS), GREATLY REDUCED MEMBERSHIP AND HAD ALL KINDS OF SPECIALS, TOWARD THE END THE GYM HAD THIS PANICKED ATMOSPHERE INSIDE OF "WE HAVE TO HURRY UP AND CLOSE THE GYM AT THE END OF EVERY DAY" LIKE THERE WAS A MOB HIT AFTER HIM OR SOMETHING. THEN ONE NIGHT SOME GUYS CAME IN AND WERE LITERALLY RUSHING MEMBERS OUT OF THE GYM BEFORE ITS CLOSING TIME. THE NEXT DAY THE GYM WAS CLOSED WITH NO EXPLANATION. VIC SAID ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO NO ONE UNTIL THIS DAY...THANKS VIC IF YOU ARE READING THIS...NICE TO KNOW HOW YOU ROBBED YOUR MEMBERS.
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Maybe he was in partnership with the Dominican mob.
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Dominican mob. LOL. Yeah right! i grew up with dominicans. they could never have a mob.
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IT WAS CALLED VICTORS GYM AND WAS LOCATED IN THE INWOOD SECTION OF MANHATTAN. THE BUM NOT ONLY TOOK MEMBERSHIPS UNTIL THE DAY BEFORE...HE TOOK MEMBERSHIPS THE VERY DAY OF THE CLOSING.!!!
I KNEW THIS GUY FROM A GYM HE WORKED OUT AT FOR YEARS. THE GYM WAS IN UNION SQUARE (MANHATTAN) AND WAS A GREAT HARDCORE 24 HOUR GYM NAMED JOHNNY LATS GYM. ONCE VIC GOT A LITLE SUCCESS UNDER HIS BELT HE OPENED UP HIS GYM WHICH WASN'T BIG, BUT HAD SOME GREAT EQUIPMENT INSIDE AND AFTER A COUPLE OF YEARS HE SUDDENLY CLOSED IT. HINDSIGHT WOULD HAVE ALERTED PEOPLE TO WHAT WAS GOING ON...HE CHANGED THE HOURS OF THE GYM ALL OF A SUDDEN (SHORTENED HOURS), GREATLY REDUCED MEMBERSHIP AND HAD ALL KINDS OF SPECIALS, TOWARD THE END THE GYM HAD THIS PANICKED ATMOSPHERE INSIDE OF "WE HAVE TO HURRY UP AND CLOSE THE GYM AT THE END OF EVERY DAY" LIKE THERE WAS A MOB HIT AFTER HIM OR SOMETHING. THEN ONE NIGHT SOME GUYS CAME IN AND WERE LITERALLY RUSHING MEMBERS OUT OF THE GYM BEFORE ITS CLOSING TIME. THE NEXT DAY THE GYM WAS CLOSED WITH NO EXPLANATION. VIC SAID ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO NO ONE UNTIL THIS DAY...THANKS VIC IF YOU ARE READING THIS...NICE TO KNOW HOW YOU ROBBED YOUR MEMBERS.
Sounds like he wasn't paying his rent and the owner finally had enough of the excuses...
Victor should have been smarter and opened and smaller weights/cardio (no classes) gym with some quality refurbished equipment.
His total turnover wouldn't have been as high but I bet he could have stayed afloat longer with the lower costs...
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What can you expect when you open a gym in the hood? He probably had poor advertisement too.
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What can you expect when you open a gym in the hood? He probably had poor advertisement too.
Gyms in poor areas can make money I've seen it happen.
The thing is the people in these areas are very price sensitive so you can't charge them much.
Good thing is they don't seem to mind having to use second hand equipment or if the gym is in an average building. What can they expect considering what they are paying?
Vic's gym was very nice from the photos I saw. Brand new FLEX equipment and some Hammer as well which he probably leased. He had classes too which are a big cash drain and generally not that popular except in areas full of affluent women (those bitches love that shit).
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IT WAS CALLED VICTORS GYM AND WAS LOCATED IN THE INWOOD SECTION OF MANHATTAN. THE BUM NOT ONLY TOOK MEMBERSHIPS UNTIL THE DAY BEFORE...HE TOOK MEMBERSHIPS THE VERY DAY OF THE CLOSING.!!!
I KNEW THIS GUY FROM A GYM HE WORKED OUT AT FOR YEARS. THE GYM WAS IN UNION SQUARE (MANHATTAN) AND WAS A GREAT HARDCORE 24 HOUR GYM NAMED JOHNNY LATS GYM. ONCE VIC GOT A LITLE SUCCESS UNDER HIS BELT HE OPENED UP HIS GYM WHICH WASN'T BIG, BUT HAD SOME GREAT EQUIPMENT INSIDE AND AFTER A COUPLE OF YEARS HE SUDDENLY CLOSED IT. HINDSIGHT WOULD HAVE ALERTED PEOPLE TO WHAT WAS GOING ON...HE CHANGED THE HOURS OF THE GYM ALL OF A SUDDEN (SHORTENED HOURS), GREATLY REDUCED MEMBERSHIP AND HAD ALL KINDS OF SPECIALS, TOWARD THE END THE GYM HAD THIS PANICKED ATMOSPHERE INSIDE OF "WE HAVE TO HURRY UP AND CLOSE THE GYM AT THE END OF EVERY DAY" LIKE THERE WAS A MOB HIT AFTER HIM OR SOMETHING. THEN ONE NIGHT SOME GUYS CAME IN AND WERE LITERALLY RUSHING MEMBERS OUT OF THE GYM BEFORE ITS CLOSING TIME. THE NEXT DAY THE GYM WAS CLOSED WITH NO EXPLANATION. VIC SAID ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO NO ONE UNTIL THIS DAY...THANKS VIC IF YOU ARE READING THIS...NICE TO KNOW HOW YOU ROBBED YOUR MEMBERS.
How Fawked up is that!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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What can you expect when you open a gym in the hood? He probably had poor advertisement too.
THE GYM HAD A FULL MEMBERSHIP AND WAS WELL KNOWN. WHATEVER THIS "HOOD" CRAP YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT DOESN'T EVEN MATTER. HE OBVIOUSLY WANTED TO TAKE THE MONEY AND RUN FOR SOME CLANDESTINE REASON. IN ANY CASE IT IS COWARDICE TO DO SUCH A THING...ESPECIALLY BEING A VERY VISIBLE PERSON. MANY GYMS IN NEW YORK HAVE CLOSED UP, BUT NOT ONE OF THE GYMS WERE OWNED BY A PROFESSIONAL BODYBUILDER STILL DOING SHOWS NO LESS. CRIKEY
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it was in manhattan too, should of made great money in the city, being a pros gym also....
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i thought his only gym was in washington heights
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it was in manhattan too, should of made great money in the city, being a pros gym also....
people don't really care about who owns it much.
convenience and price are the 2 big factors for most average people...
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If this is all true... dude is a thieving rat. If it's not true... dude is a terrible businessman.
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If this is all true... dude is a thieving rat. If it's not true... dude is a terrible businessman.
I think he went out of business...
I bet the money from the final few months of specials was going towards his creditors to keep the doors open...
Not a fair or honest thing to do but people buying a 2 year membership at a gym for $300 need to realize that that kind of deal IS too good to be true...
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I have watched the same business practice at many gyms that have went bankrupt.....Get all the money you can right before you shutdown, so you are sitting pretty.....Not a very uncommon thing....Scandalous yes.....
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I have watched the same business practice at many gyms that have went bankrupt.....Get all the money you can right before you shutdown, so you are sitting pretty.....Not a very uncommon thing....Scandalous yes.....
and lets face it who is gonna walk up to big vic and ask for their money back in the street without a serious weapon?
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i dont know how he could open another gym. everyone knows what happened with the other one
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Vic has said something about it. Basically it involved blaming his partner and a rent hike (from memory, so facts may not be fully correct).
I don't recall him being all that sorry about the fact he ripped a lot of people off though.
As with many things time has healed that though and most people don't remember it. Only those who were ripped off or have a better than average memory for occurances on this board.
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Yeah-thats why he wont ever be Mr.O- hes a crook :-\ he spent all the $ on steroids,growth hormone and marijauna :-[
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Yep. That's why I'd be shocked if they ever let "Vic the Convict" become Mr. O.
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I think based on body he is a very good candidate to be Mr Olympia.
I think this politics shit is lame and whatever I personally feel about a competitor this crap of having to consider what type of ambassador they would be like is stupid.
I know bodybuilding is not a sport but you can be the scum of the earth in any sport and still be champion, its purely about being the best at whatever is measured.
Thats how it should be
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I think based on body he is a very good candidate to be Mr Olympia.
I think this politics shit is lame and whatever I personally feel about a competitor this crap of having to consider what type of ambassador they would be like is stupid.
I know bodybuilding is not a sport but you can be the scum of the earth in any sport and still be champion, its purely about being the best at whatever is measured.
Thats how it should be
THATS HOW IT SHOULD BE BUT UNFORTUNATELY THATS NOT HOW IT WORKS IN THIS SPORT.
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I remember his partner it was a hot white chick with a ghetto ass. everything was tight like a fitness girl but the ass had plenty of fat on it. not enough to look bad though. she was fine.
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Maybe he was in partnership with the Dominican mob.
Most Dominicans can't locate a bath tub let alone organize a fucking mob.
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Yep. That's why I'd be shocked if they ever let "Vic the Convict" become Mr. O.
Well be prepared to get shocked--2007 Mr. Olympia
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Well be prepared to get shocked--2007 Mr. Olympia
Believe it when I see it. ;)
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Admirable physique with undoubtable genetic potential, but the synthol thing gotta stop, thats one way out of the loop, unless you're Flex Wheeler.
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I remember his partner it was a hot white chick with a ghetto ass. everything was tight like a fitness girl but the ass had plenty of fat on it. not enough to look bad though. she was fine.
His so called partner was an old Jewish woman!!!...WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT???
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Vic has said something about it. Basically it involved blaming his partner and a rent hike (from memory, so facts may not be fully correct).
I don't recall him being all that sorry about the fact he ripped a lot of people off though.
As with many things time has healed that though and most people don't remember it. Only those who were ripped off or have a better than average memory for occurances on this board.
VICTOR SAID ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO ANYONE ABOUT CLOSING THE GYM!!!!!
HE WAS IN A PARTNERSHIP WITH THIS OLDER WOMAN (I FORGOT HER NAME NOW) DURING THE TIME I WAS A MEMBER OF HIS GYM. SINCE THIS WAS THE CASE AND HIS NAME WAS THE NAME OF THE GYM...HE HAD FULL RESPONSIBILITY TO INFORM THE MEMBERS OF ANY FINANCIAL PROBLEMS (AND SUPPOSED RENT HIKES...WHAT A CROCK) AND POSSIBLE CLOSURE...HE SAID NOTHING. TO CONTINUE THE BUSINESS OF COLLECTING MEMBERSHIPS AND THEN OFFERING OUTRAGEOUSLY LOW MEMBERSHIPS FOR THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS BEFORE CLOSING SHOWS THAT HE WAS INTENT UPON RIPPING OFF THE MEMBERS. WHEN I JOINED THE MEMBERSHIP WAS 350 FOR THE YEAR (STILL A BARGAIN), THEN I RENEWED DURING A "SPECIAL" WHERE THERE WAS A FIRST ONE HUNDRED MEMBERS GET 1 YEAR FOR $100. i THOUGHT i WAS GETTING THE DEAL OF THE CENTURY. WELL TWO WEEKS AFTER PAYING THE GYM WAS CLOSED...AND I AND DOZENS OF MEMBERS STOOD OUTSIDE WONDERING WHY THE GYM WAS CLOSED WITH NO NOTICE, NO INFORMATION ABOUT REFUNDS, OR DEALS TO CONTINUE MEMBERSHIPS AT OTHER GYMS...NADA...ZIP.
THE ISSUE WASN'T THE MONEY, BUT THE MOTIVATION BEHIND WHAT HE DID... AS WELL AS THE FACT THAT HE IS THIS PROFFESIONAL BODYBUILDER. ONCE AGAIN...MANY GYMS HAVE CLOSED IN NEW YORK, BUT NEVER HAS ONE BEEN CLOSED BY A PROFESSIONAL BODYBUILDER IN THIS MANNER....WHERE GYMS HAVE CLOSED THERE HAS ALWAYS BEEN A TRASNFERRENCE OF MEMBERSHIPS TO OTHER NEARBY GYMS SO MEMEBRS CAN CONTINUE WORKING OUT. SMALLER PRIVATE GYMS HAVE BEEN KNOWN TO CLOSE SHOP WITHOUT NOTICE, BUT AGAIN IN THOSE CASES THE GYM WAS NOT OWNED BY A PRO BODYBUILDER.
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i guess he had multiple partners..one of his partners was an ex girlfriend who was far from old...i believe her name was abby
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I believe Vics ex was jewish........
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Any word on this john romano?
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Any word on this john romano?
Enlighten us, John.
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No surprise when this happens with any NY gym, ESPECIALLY a gym in the Bronx. Obviously he has no conscience, again your typical NY mentality.
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This is exactly why you should pay for gym memberships (and everything else) on credit cards. You are protected. Additionally, I don't join gyms that won't accept monthly payments - even established gyms can close suddenly.
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You guys should have just gone in there, and walked out with the 200 pounders!
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I think he went out of business...
Not a fair or honest thing to do but people buying a 2 year membership at a gym for $300 need to realize that that kind of deal IS too good to be true...
I'll sell a 2 year membership for $300 and promise to not shut down shop..
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I'll sell a 2 year membership for $300 and promise to not shut down shop..
You can promise all you like doesn't meant it can't/won't happen brother!
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This is exactly why you should pay for gym memberships (and everything else) on credit cards. You are protected. Additionally, I don't join gyms that won't accept monthly payments - even established gyms can close suddenly.
that happened here where i live. Lots of unhappy people.
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yea what was the name of that white woman with the ghetto ass that used to work there? she was the partner i believe
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You can promise all you like doesn't meant it can't/won't happen brother!
If I shut down before your membership ends, I'll give you a set of 10 pound dumbbells and a carbo force..
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If I shut down before your membership ends, I'll give you a set of 10 pound dumbbells and a carbo force..
The carbo force has to be fruit punch and you got a deal.
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If I shut down before your membership ends, I'll give you a set of 10 pound dumbbells and a carbo force..
Man you are way too generous to be a gym owner!