Fitness USA closes Dearborn club; members can go to Taylor location

Members express sadness about gym club's closing

DEARBORN, Mich. – After 42 years, Fitness USA regretfully announced it will be closing its club on Michigan Avenue in Dearborn.

A letter was posted on the front door, giving some members their first inkling their gym would be shutting its doors for good.

"I don't like it. I think it's wrong. I wish it would stay open and I'm very upset about it," said Deborah Collins.

The club will be open through Oct. 11, but after that day, it will be gone for good. The company says financial losses have made it impossible to keep the Dearborn club open. Members will be able to use the Fitness USA club in Taylor (across from the Southland Mall) which is about 8 miles away.

"It's about the same distance for me. Some people it might inconvenience, but not me," said Rosalyne Davis, after she found out the Dearborn club would close its doors.

Fitness USA says it will work with individual members who might have a problem with the Taylor location. Fifteen employees will lose their jobs. That's part of the emotional toll for employees and members. They might not be close friends, but they were used to seeing the same friendly faces.

"I've got a lot of friends here," said Collins.

"There's one little worker in there, I really am going to miss her. I don't know her name, but really will miss her." said Davis.

Members of the club should review their membership agreements very carefully to see if they have any protection or recourse because of the closing. If you have any questions, you should contact the club. Here's a link to the Fitness USA website to find the best contact information.

Fitness USA also has a club in Lansing. The company says the Taylor and Lansing clubs will stay open.


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