Open Gyms Like Crunch Fitness Seeing Gains In Membership As Atlantans Ditch Closed Ones

Crunch is reporting a 50 percent increase versus this same period last year as 'new joiners switch over from other gyms that have remained closed over the past week.'

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While many gyms have opted to stay closed amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Crunch Fitness reopened its five Atlanta-area locations last week.

The decision is proving to be fruitful.

Crunch is seeing a spike in memberships that the fitness chain attributes to supply and demand.

Locally, the gym is reporting “high daily sales volume that exceeds the norm for this time of year by 50 percent,” a spokesperson in an email Tuesday told What Now Atlanta.

The company has seen “new joiners switch over from other gyms that have remained closed over the past week.”

Some of those memberships might be rollover from LA Fitness.

The national chain announced it would reopen its Georgia locations on May 1 but then had a change of heart after backlash from vocal members

Gyms were one of the first “non-essential” businesses allowed to reopen April 24 as ordered by Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp.

Here are some of the measures Crunch has put in place to combat the spread of the novel coronavirus in its facilities:

  • Enhanced cleaning guidelines based on CDC recommendations
  • New front desk touchless digital sign-in system
  • New signage around the gym to clearly explain social distancing policies
  • Gym layout changes (i.e. treadmills 6 feet apart)
  • Personal protective equipment for staff including masks, gloves, and twice-daily temperature checks
  • More cleaning stations and increased number of spray bottles for sanitization

Crunch will soon operate six local gyms when it opens an outpost in Buford, at 3740 Buford Dr.


[Editor’s note: The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic is rapidly evolving as is its effect on Atlanta, and the City’s businesses and its residents. Click here for What Now Atlanta’s ongoing coverage of the crisis. For guidance and updates on the pandemic, please visit the C.D.C. website.]

Caleb J. Spivak

Caleb J. Spivak

Caleb J. Spivak

Caleb J. Spivak

6 Responses

  1. I’d rather die from being out of shape before going to a cesspool that is the only gym open in town.

    Gotta respect the business side of it though! I bet they’re rolling in the dough. Especially if their memberships are contracts and not month to month. Even the people not going are paying them.

  2. The whole coronavirus situation is exaggerated. Unless you’re 60 or older or have a chronic health condition, this disease isn’t any worse than the flu. If I get it, I’ll gladly stay home, but I doubt I’ll even get it because of my diet and exercise habits

    1. You are completely wrong. Turn off the FOX Noise. Many young people with no underlying conditions are dying from this or are getting extremely sick. This virus is much deadlier than the flu. Man FOX Noise has destroyed this country

  3. I canceled my membership at Workout Anytime because they were the very last gym in our area to close (only after the state ordered everyone to shut down) and were happy to reopen the first day they were legally allowed to. Even in the best of times, people were terrible about cleaning up after themselves. I certainly wouldn’t trust randos in the gym to wipe everything down during a global pandemic. When it’s safer to head back to a gym, I’ll look at places that took COVID-19 more seriously.

  4. YMCA reopening and requiring anyone in the facility to wear a mask.
    https://www.ajc.com/news/local/ymca-metro-atlanta-sets-reopening-dates-for-local-branches/hy11q56S95n2RUMFAHvwcM/

    Wearing a mask does not protect the wearer unless it is a properly fitted N95 but does help protect anyone in proximity if the wearer may spread the virus by exhaling droplets. Just a wild guess anyone exercising exhales through the nose & mouth.

    Apparently Crunch is not requiring customers to wear masks to max out potential revenue.

    Enter Crunch at your own risk

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