Workouts stop at Gym in Paradise
Mark Dallas had a good plan a year ago; Buy Gym in Paradise and move to St. John to run it.
Only part of the plan worked out, and now economic realities have shut the doors at the Marketplace gym.
“The original plan was to move to our fine island and be the hands-on owners, but my personal situation changed and that became impossible,” Mark tells us. “I’ve ended up putting a lot of my money into the business in the last year to try to keep it open, but I don’t have the resources to do that anymore.”
Mark says the place needs another 100 regular members to be viable for him, but without that kind of growth, it will have to go to somebody else who can be on island to run it and offset payroll costs as a result.
“I hope to find a new owner as soon as possible and get the gym back up and running and I apologize to all the paying members for having to close,” Mark says.
We’re told automatic charges for monthly dues have been suspended, with credits likely for any charges recently made once the gym reopens.
March 5th, 2009 06:23
Well that blows! After 14 years here I joined in Jan. and was just starting to get all buff and sh*t! Bummer. Guess it’s back to climbing coconut trees and chasing goats.
March 5th, 2009 07:44
So sorry that Mark’s dream has ended! I hope he’ll bounce back soon!
March 5th, 2009 09:46
This gym was too small to make me ever want to join. Equipmemt was old, too. Sorry, but I have to be honest. I hope someone opens a bigger one somehwere on island- even in a wharehouse- who needs a/c anyway.
March 5th, 2009 16:50
Westin has clean, decent gym but not great- and expensive with Older machines. GIP machines etc. very,very old- potentially causing injury. Caneel gym is lousy. StJ needs a decent place to pump iron. I 2nd Freddina- 1 would like a large open-air gym on Centerline near industrial area. Bench press with the ocean breeze.
March 9th, 2009 12:04
Looking for a silver lining here.
How about – now when I’m vacationing on island at least I won’t have to feel guilty about not heading down to the gym (because that always weighs so heavily on my mind when I’m pounding painkillers and scarfing down bleu cheese burgers!).
Too bad it didn’t work out for Mark…
March 9th, 2009 22:04
…”credits likely…” You have to be kidding. The guy needs to refund the money he took for memberships and then closed the gym. Most of the people who got screwed were local residents who are working hard and struggling. Come on Mark, you need to do the right thing.
March 14th, 2009 18:53
As an interested buyer… besides updating equipment what else do you all want in a gym? Spinning classes?, Group exercise classes, yoga?, personal trainers?, nutrionists?, Sports specific training? How about kid fitness? All responses would be greatly appreciated…thanks!
March 15th, 2009 19:44
Mark,
sorry to hear that you are closing the business.
I may be interested in taking it over. Can you please tell me your proposed terms of the sale ? Price, monthly costs and timeframe ?
Thank you
March 16th, 2009 12:48
Paige, go to Frank Barnako’s St. John website to see over 15 comments on this topic. There is a lot of passionate discussion. Cuban