Which gyms are the most popular and well known in the North Dallas area? (Houston: attorneys, employment)

[Mr. Chad]

Hello everyone?

I was wondering which gyms were the most popular and well known the the North Dallas area?
On my visit I saw many 24 hour fitness, and Lifetime gyms. Do any of you have any experiences with the Equinox gyms?

[TurtleCreek80]

There are tons of 24-hr and Lifetimes, as you noted.

Equinox moved into Dallas about 5 years ago and has only a select few locations in the Uptown / Park Cities area. (I can only think of 2). I haven't been in the Dallas locations but I was a member in NYC and Equinox is very nice. Nice facilities, good personal trainers, great classes. I know quite a few people who belong in Dallas and all are Multi-year members so must be ok! It's a good bit more expensive than 24-Hr and Lifetime.

The Cooper Clinic in North Dallas (Forrest & Preston-ish, just south of 635) is fantastic and another pricier choice that's worth it.

Depending on where one lives, several of the YMCA's have great gym facilities and also swimming.

There are also a few independent health clubs downtown that have great facilities and are used by many who work downtown (attorneys, etc). Some firms get pretty good discounts at these places.

[ritholtz]

LA fitness , 24hr fitness in that order. Costco sells 2 year 24hr fitness membership for $350 (It works out $13.50 per month plus tax instead of $30 per month plus tax).

[Mr. Chad]

Originally Posted by ritholtz

LA fitness , 24hr fitness in that order. Costco sells 2 year 24hr fitness membership for $350 (It works out $13.50 per month plus tax instead of $30 per month plus tax).

I didn't know that about Costco....$350 sounds like a wonderful deal for 2 years...

Here in NYC the high end gyms run close to $1000+ per year in membership fees

[Mr. Chad]

Originally Posted by TurtleCreek80

There are tons of 24-hr and Lifetimes, as you noted.

Equinox moved into Dallas about 5 years ago and has only a select few locations in the Uptown / Park Cities area. (I can only think of 2). I haven't been in the Dallas locations but I was a member in NYC and Equinox is very nice. Nice facilities, good personal trainers, great classes. I know quite a few people who belong in Dallas and all are Multi-year members so must be ok! It's a good bit more expensive than 24-Hr and Lifetime.

The Cooper Clinic in North Dallas (Forrest & Preston-ish, just south of 635) is fantastic and another pricier choice that's worth it.

Depending on where one lives, several of the YMCA's have great gym facilities and also swimming.

There are also a few independent health clubs downtown that have great facilities and are used by many who work downtown (attorneys, etc). Some firms get pretty good discounts at these places.

I think Equinox has only 2 locations in the DFW area. My wife is a personal trainer and has applied for a position with Equinox in NYC, made it to the second interview with the gym manager but never got a call back, even though they had 6-7 openings and they were looking to bring aspiring trainers on board and help them get certified. I couldn't understand why, even though she had close to 10 years of experience personal training abroad, but it must have been her English speaking proficiency wasn't up to their expectations. But anyhow, since then she has gotten much better in her English speaking proficiency and landed a part time position at a private gym on Wall Street in Manhattan. Our plan is for her to get certified and get at least one year of actual employment experience at an NYC gym before we relocate to the DFW area. Hopefully by then her chances of landing a position will be much better. In the meantime she has clients on the side who she trains, so that way she can make some extra money on the side and help out with our household expenses.

Equinox, generally speaking, all though a very good gym with great facilities, trainers etc. has the reputation up here for being a snobby gym (snobby members + staff). With membership dues costing close to $1000/year, it generally attracts people who are more affluent.

Either way, thanks for the tips, once we relocate I have more or less of an idea which gyms my wife should shoot to find work with.

[TrueDat]

Don't forget Larry North Fitness, a local chain with gyms in North Dallas, Fort Worth, and Houston.

Larry North - Fitness, Personal Training, Health Clubs, Nutrition, Weight Loss

[DFWgal]

Originally Posted by ritholtz

LA fitness , 24hr fitness in that order. Costco sells 2 year 24hr fitness membership for $350 (It works out $13.50 per month plus tax instead of $30 per month plus tax).

Is there a contract when you buy this prepaid membership? I did not like 24 hr fitness because they were too pushy about signing contracts.

[Mr. Chad]

Originally Posted by DFWgal

Is there a contract when you buy this prepaid membership? I did not like 24 hr fitness because they were too pushy about signing contracts.

This is a good question. I say from experience always read the fine print in the contract and always ask about the cancellation policy. When I needed to cancel my membership at my local gym they made the experience hell for me, and gave me the run around.

[TX75007]

Originally Posted by Mr. Chad

I couldn't understand why, even though she had close to 10 years of experience personal training abroad, but it must have been her English speaking proficiency wasn't up to their expectations. .

Because gym management is not out to get in the non-white non-native market segment. A non-native speaker can bring in a segment that is nearly totally underserved.

[Mr. Chad]

Originally Posted by TX75007

Because gym management is not out to get in the non-white non-native market segment. A non-native speaker can bring in a segment that is nearly totally underserved.

I see your point. If we're talking about the highest of high-end chain gyms, just come to think of it the staff at this particular Equinox gym was pretty diverse in culture and race, but the vast majority of the membership in this particular neighborhood are 1) Hipsters 2) gay/lesbian 3) Caucasian. I don't know if this matters but that day that my wife interviewed, there were 5 male candidates and 2 females, one being my wife. The other female was Caucasian and looked pretty hipsterish....so my wildest assumption is they must have hired her instead. Anyways, no biggie, my wife has found her way and hopefully will achieve the same amount of success and attain the same amount of clientele that she once had when she lived overseas.