Golds gym will die soon.......

[onlyme]

There was a gym here The Gym and it was easily the best gym in Hawaii bar none.  the owner was an ass but the gym was awesome.  I think one of the mags voted it one of the top ten gyms to get a serious workout in the world.  They sold out to Gold's.  And I dont'; think 24 has ever been out of the red.  They put several million dollars into each club.

[americanbulldog]

There was a gym here The Gym and it was easily the best gym in Hawaii bar none.  the owner was an ass but the gym was awesome.  I think one of the mags voted it one of the top ten gyms to get a serious workout in the world.  They sold out to Gold's.  And I dont'; think 24 has ever been out of the red.  They put several million dollars into each club.

Best when it was on Keawe.  Bathrooms located outside of the gym itself, big bays for Semi trucks, open air, with just a hint of AC.  More powerlifter/strongman than bodybuilders, little to no aerobics.  Man I miss that place.  Sapp became tolerable when I became his boss. 

[onlyme]

Best when it was on Keawe.  Bathrooms located outside of the gym itself, big bays for Semi trucks, open air, with just a hint of AC.  More powerlifter/strongman than bodybuilders, little to no aerobics.  Man I miss that place.  Sapp became tolerable when I became his boss. 

Man I remember when he put in the A/C.  I told him why.  The big front door was always open and the sky lights overhead were always open.  You couldn't even feel the A/C.  And the restrooms were the best outside.  Love the loading dock front entrance.  It was great there,  But I actually think it won the award when it moved to South St.

[americanbulldog]

Man I remember when he put in the A/C.  I told him why.  The big front door was always open and the sky lights overhead were always open.  You couldn't even feel the A/C.  And the restrooms were the best outside.  Love the loading dock front entrance.  It was great there,  But I actually think it won the award when it moved to South St.

Great to see Dorian in the tank tops that Maris gave him in those "infamous" B & Ws. 

[MCWAY]

I don't understand how anyone on this board could train at a Ballys, unless they have changed in recent years. I haven't set foot in one in a long time, but the one I have been to only had dumbells going up to 80 pounds if I remember correctly. Their gyms were like a social club for out of shape people who didn't really train with any intensity.

It's simple: You ignore those people and do what you need to do. Plus, of all the Bally clubs where I've trained (in Florida), only one has not had 100-lb dumbbells and that one went up to 95s. The one where I've trained for the past 18 months has 105s (but, again, it's those rubber-coated Ivanko dumbbells).

[migizi]

I just noticed today all the photos of Dorian and Arnold have been pulled down...that's in DC at Federal Center SW...although the Db's do go to 150 which is decent.

[wes mantooth]

instead of chaulk, go to a sports store and buy a rosin bag. its what pitchers use to dry their hands.....works the same as chaulk without the mess. looks like a little bean bag....

[gordiano]

mine doesn't allow it but i use it anyway right in front of all the staff and no one has ever said anything to me.

Yeah, they are so fucking dumb.


Now they have this rule where you can't use a cell phone in the gym (fine by me). Of course, like EVERYOTHER rule, no one respects it, just as no one inforces it.

[ramazon]

Gold's has changed tremendously when Pete and the gang owned it.  They kept their franchising fee down so they wouldn't put such a burden on the franchisee.  No percentage and a very low monthly ad fee.  The new owners immediately started charging a higher franchise fee and even implemented a percentage for the Licensee's and vendors.  Now the newest owners (TRT Holdings) who don't know shit about this industry raised the fees and have started taking a percentage of gross receipts from the franchisee.  In addition, they are very unprofessional in the Franchise Division and most of the empployees at corporate actually work from their home and only go to the office to pick up mail and meetings.  They have ruined epitome of what a club should be.  They have ruined what Joe started and ended with Pete.  24 is buying up clubs just like they did here.  We went from having 7 or so Gold's here to now just one statewide. 

...yes, and Spectrum Club just bought 2 Gold's in Santa Barbara.  Correct me if I'm wrong, please, Only, but I believe both Gold's and World Gym failed in their repeated efforts to franchise.  They're liscensee ops: they sell the right to use their names for, say, 10-20 k per year.  Nothing's standardized.  Thus, each gym varies, oft RIDICULOUSLY.  Anyone know who controls HRT Holdings?  Is he an
oilman in Texas and a buddy of Bush?

[phreak]

bullshit, hardcore scmardcore, anyplace that has weights and bars and db's is "hardcore" enough, just get in there and train hard.

Some truth from my fellow fatty.

[jwb]

golds is owned by TRT holdings.

the guy running the golds division is David Schnabel who has a graduate degree from harvard business school.

the whole thing is run out of dallas.

52 golds gyms are owned by TRT holdings (as of early 2007). the rest are franchises.

7% of golds members are 55 plus age group. they want to get that to 25%.

[ramazon]

golds is owned by TRT holdings.

the guy running the golds division is David Schnabel who has a graduate degree from harvard business school.

the whole thing is run out of dallas.

52 golds gyms are owned by TRT holdings (as of early 2007). the rest are franchises.

7% of golds members are 55 plus age group. they want to get that to 25%.

ThattaMAN, JWB!  Super-sonic with statistics although
I'm not sure that Gold's has ANY franchise ops.  Heck, I hear they can't even get all of their gyms committed to selling their t-shirts because the owners prefer to bootleg 'em for less.  Dallas, eh? That's FAR from Venice.  Have you heard the name Robert Rawlings in TRT?  Do you know which chain of hotels is owned by TRT?  Is David Schnaebel responsible for the elimination of VIP memberships for high-profile people at Gold's?  You can't take something away--esp. from high-profile people--without negative consequences.  Meanwhile, Spectrum Club is offering their mature members doctor-supervised hormone replacement therapy.  How BRILLIANT is THAT?

[jwb]

ThattaMAN, JWB!  Super-sonic with statistics although
I'm not sure that Gold's has ANY franchise ops.  Heck, I hear they can't even get all of their gyms committed to selling their t-shirts because the owners prefer to bootleg 'em for less.  Dallas, eh? That's FAR from Venice.  Have you heard the name Robert Rawlings in TRT?  Do you know which chain of hotels is owned by TRT?  Is David Schnaebel responsible for the elimination of VIP memberships for high-profile people at Gold's?  You can't take something away--esp. from high-profile people--without negative consequences.  Meanwhile, Spectrum Club is offering their mature members doctor-supervised hormone replacement therapy.  How BRILLIANT is THAT?

just quoting this stuff out of Club Business International the IHRSA magazine.

TRT owns Omni hotels.

thrust of the article is that they want more older people to join golds gyms and will change to do that.

baby boomers will control everything in 10 years... i'm trying to set up two businesses right now to cater to that market

[onlyme]

It amazes me how a company like TRT who has no real history in the gym business goes off and buys Gold's Gym.  So many people who may have money and are successful business people buy a gym and it goes out of business in no time.  Owning and operating gym in totally different than most business's.  TRT has already proven they know nothing about this industry.  They took the #1 most recoginized name in the industry with 40 years of history and ruined it.  The retail sales are so down its unreal.  At their tops Gold's Gym had apparel in more 13,000 retail outlets worldwide.  Pete has told me numerous times how he regrets selling Gold's, but it will all work out.

They have raised the franchise fees and even taking a monthly percentage on gross sales.  They also started charging vendors a percentage.  They are greedy and it will ruin them.  The only good thing they have done is buy out some franchisees and made the clubs corporate.  This will strengthen their option when they decide to sell.  Pete had one corp gym and at its peak had 661 franchises.  But having so many corp gyms also put you in a bind if and when they close for whatever reasons.  That cuts into the corp assets.  When you have franchises if one closes the corp loses nothing in fact makes more money by adding another franchise in the area that went under.  Whatever case the new owners are screwing things up.  By owning the Omni hotel chain why don't put Gold's inside of them.  They own 34 hotels.

[HardCat]

For me i still have fond memories of Gold's. I know this generation of business people and potential members have vastly different perspectives.

The sheer devotion, and home of bodybuilding in so many ways ,can't be taken from us.

I still wear Gold's t-shirts and i will always love Gold's. For me it will always be one of the greatest insprations that fueled my love of bodybuilding. I am never going to become sour on it, ever.

[Deadpool]

my Gold's Gym is run by a very unprofessional owner, whom I am taking to small claims court (I'm filing Monday afternoon)

The World's Gym I joined is AWESOME...neck machine, squat racks, 2 heavy bags and a speed bag.  Lots of heavy weights, only some cardio (just enough)

[G o a t b o y]

my Gold's Gym is run by a very unprofessional owner, whom I am taking to small claims court (I'm filing Monday afternoon)

It's not his fault you're still a fatass, Medford.  Fat loss does require actual diet and exercise, not just paying for a gym membership!

[Deadpool]

it's his fault I paid him cash then he deducted it out of my checking account twice 

[War-Horse]

I guess its a matter of time.   Golds is being marketed to the boomer crowd, but onlyme is right, this will probably fail as the bigger gyms already have a hold on this market...( 24hr and bally's etc)     And keith stated the owners have their advertising paid for versus Golds, this will force owners to drop like flies after money keeps dropping.

Maybe worlds will step up to the plate for tha hardcore lifters, but its doubtful because we're not a huge moneybase like the general public...its all about the benjamins baby.

[187knny]

Who wants to work out with a bunch of old farts?  They complain too much and stink like prunes and oatmeal.

[ramazon]

It amazes me how a company like TRT who has no real history in the gym business goes off and buys Gold's Gym.  So many people who may have money and are successful business people buy a gym and it goes out of business in no time.  Owning and operating gym in totally different than most business's.  TRT has already proven they know nothing about this industry.  They took the #1 most recoginized name in the industry with 40 years of history and ruined it.  The retail sales are so down its unreal.  At their tops Gold's Gym had apparel in more 13,000 retail outlets worldwide.  Pete has told me numerous times how he regrets selling Gold's, but it will all work out.

They have raised the franchise fees and even taking a monthly percentage on gross sales.  They also started charging vendors a percentage.  They are greedy and it will ruin them.  The only good thing they have done is buy out some franchisees and made the clubs corporate.  This will strengthen their option when they decide to sell.  Pete had one corp gym and at its peak had 661 franchises.  But having so many corp gyms also put you in a bind if and when they close for whatever reasons.  That cuts into the corp assets.  When you have franchises if one closes the corp loses nothing in fact makes more money by adding another franchise in the area that went under.  Whatever case the new owners are screwing things up.  By owning the Omni hotel chain why don't put Gold's inside of them.  They own 34 hotels.

In Gold's we trust...er, trustED.  I heard that TRT had intended to open "Gold's Express" in their hotels.  Oh, but what a relief to hear that boomers are prized in the physical culture, Keith.  In talking with Gary Strydom yesterday, who
at 47 is prepping for the Europa, he was bum-rushed with compliments re looking so terrific "for 47".  Rather than lie about his age, he's delightedly taking a leadership position in a new emerging market.  Hats off.  And thanks for keeping
me in the gym biz loop.  Aren't we learning a LOT from eachother!  

[Deadpool]

Die Gold's gym, DIE

[onlyme]

In Gold's we trust...er, trustED.  I heard that TRT had intended to open "Gold's Express" in their hotels.  Oh, but what a relief to hear that boomers are prized in the physical culture, Keith.  In talking with Gary Strydom yesterday, who
at 47 is prepping for the Europa, he was bum-rushed with compliments re looking so terrific "for 47".  Rather than lie about his age, he's delightedly taking a leadership position in a new emerging market.  Hats off.  And thanks for keeping
me in the gym biz loop.  Aren't we learning a LOT from eachother!   

Well I am sure you know about whats happening nowadays down there.  You are way more in the loop than I am anymore.  Its funny cause everytime I see your name I think of Don.  My old friend Tony Halme had a girlfriend who worked at Crazywear back in the 80's.  I can't remember her name.  She was from Finland too.

[Vince B]

All businesses go through cycles and you have to change to survive. The first Golds was way too small and wouldn't be viable today. The second Golds in Santa Monica was also too small. Gyms evolve and what has happened over the last 30 years is that gyms now have more equipment than ever. You need cardio machines and gym machines and both add up to a lot of money. When you have these machines and then add an area to do floor exercises, stretching and free weights you end up with a large facility. The hours that gyms are open also make running them expensive.

All gym owners are trying to make a profit and stay in business. They all are converging on a similar idea of what a good gym is. There are a few clubs that specialize for women and maybe a few that are exclusive, but the majority are catering to everyone. With the competition in America it is a wonder that any club can stay open with the low fees that are charged. When you keep the fees low you have to get more members. More members require more space and that is what is killing gyms. They have evolved to be too damn big to open and operate. Gyms are a high investment, low return business. No one has the formula to make big chains profitable and Golds is no exception.

Didn't Bev and Steve have a Golds franchise? Well, I looked at what they charge and there is no way the return is worth the expense they charge. That chain cannot survive the way the franchise is being operated. What exactly do you get at Golds that is unique and better than you can get elsewhere? We have a better club than the Golds Gym in Sydney.

If you want to work long and hard and not make much money then open a gym or buy a franchise.

[jwb]

All businesses go through cycles and you have to change to survive. The first Golds was way too small and wouldn't be viable today. The second Golds in Santa Monica was also too small. Gyms evolve and what has happened over the last 30 years is that gyms now have more equipment than ever. You need cardio machines and gym machines and both add up to a lot of money. When you have these machines and then add an area to do floor exercises, stretching and free weights you end up with a large facility. The hours that gyms are open also make running them expensive.

All gym owners are trying to make a profit and stay in business. They all are converging on a similar idea of what a good gym is. There are a few clubs that specialize for women and maybe a few that are exclusive, but the majority are catering to everyone. With the competition in America it is a wonder that any club can stay open with the low fees that are charged. When you keep the fees low you have to get more members. More members require more space and that is what is killing gyms. They have evolved to be too damn big to open and operate. Gyms are a high investment, low return business. No one has the formula to make big chains profitable and Golds is no exception.

Didn't Bev and Steve have a Golds franchise? Well, I looked at what they charge and there is no way the return is worth the expense they charge. That chain cannot survive the way the franchise is being operated. What exactly do you get at Golds that is unique and better than you can get elsewhere? We have a better club than the Golds Gym in Sydney.

If you want to work long and hard and not make much money then open a gym or buy a franchise.

golds in sydney is pretty good vince... very very gay but still a well equiped gym