Gold's Gym to operate Briargate location as company-owned location
Gold’s Gym International, franchise owner for the worldwide chain of 600 health clubs, will announce today that it has leased the gym in the Briargate area previously operated by one of its franchise holders and will operate it as a company-owned facility.
The Venice, Calif., company has been operating the gym at 7655 N. Union Blvd. since reopening it Nov. 11, two days after the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office locked the doors as part of a court order stemming from $1.02 million in unpaid rent, late charges and interest owed by the franchise holder. The parent company brought in its staff to reopen and manage the gym until it could arrange a permanent solution for the nearly 49,000-square-foot facility, which includes a gym, pool and classrooms.
Gold’s said it will honor existing membership rates from the previous franchise holder and has begun restaffing the facility. A press release from the company said it “hopes to bring back as many employees from the former ownership group as possible.” The release indicated that some services may be temporarily suspended as the company hires staff, but added that Gold’s expects to have the gym in full operation “very soon.”
Gold’s Gym International President Jim Snow said the company “has aggressive growth plans for the (Colorado Springs) market and this acquisition only represents the first step. We will be looking to expand rapidly in the future.”
The previous franchise holder for the location, Fitness Consortium LLC, of Bellevue, Wash., still operates a Gold’s Gym at 5859 Palmer Park Blvd., which was not affected by the court order.
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