“Dear PoPville,
Time to think about rejoining the gym post vaccine, specifically WSC. Wondered if people had updates on good / bad experiences. I know WSC often gets bad rap, but always worked well for me pre covid.”
Ed. Note: We recently spoke about other post covid gym options here.
photo by DCbmyers
“Dear PoPville,
The pandemic has been hard on all of us and our bodies. I want to work out again, but I am so out of shape after being locked inside for a year and a half. Are there any DC gyms or work out classes that are aimed at helping people get back into it after being vaccinated?”
“Dear PoPville,
I’m wondering if any fellow ex-WSC members are being bombarded with multiple weekly voicemail messages trying to “win back their loyalty”. I’ve asked the Columbia Heights WSC folks to remove my information from their system three times already, but the calls have still been relentless. They’re clearly automated and come from different numbers each time with no discernable pattern, so blocking hasn’t helped. Any tips would be greatly appreciated!”
And earlier this week from the DC Office of the Attorney General:
“Attorney General Karl A. Racine announced the parent company of Washington Sports Club will be required to pay a $100,000 fine to the District to resolve allegations that the company failed to adhere to the District’s COVID-19 health and safety orders, misinformed its patrons, and put the heath of District residents at risk. (more…)
Photo by Geoff Livingston
“Dear PoPville,
Now that things are getting warmer, any suggestions for trainers and gyms who are leading COVID-friendly outdoor classes? Looking to shed some winter pandemic pounds and curious for good ideas.”
From The Office of the Attorney General:
“Today, Attorney General Karl A. Racine filed a lawsuit against the parent company of Washington Sports Club for failing to comply with the District’s health and safety orders related to COVID-19. In the complaint, the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) alleges that the Dupont Circle location of the Washington Sports Club failed to enforce the District’s mask mandate, set and enforce appropriate social distancing guidelines, and properly disinfect equipment. Through the lawsuit, OAG is seeking civil penalties and a court order requiring the gym to comply with applicable safety regulations. (more…)
1508 14th Street, NW above Chipotle
Thanks to Edward and Jackie for passing on the sad news: “Logan Circle (and all other locations) are closing. Awesome studio & staff. They just couldn’t make it through the pandemic.
Zengo Cycle Logan Circle will be missed!!”
Full announcement from Zengo Cycle: (more…)
Photo by Diane Krauthamer
From the Office of the Attorney General for the District of Columbia:
“Attorney General Karl A. Racine today announced that Urban Athletic Club, a District gym chain, will be required to pay a penalty of $10,000 to resolve allegations it had misled consumers and failed to comply with emergency COVID-19 health and safety requirements. In a December 2020 lawsuit, the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) alleged that Urban Athletic Club violated the District’s COVID-19 public health emergency orders and consumer protection laws by allowing customers to exercise at its Shaw location without masks, adequate distancing, or proper equipment sanitization. After OAG filed suit, the company entered into an interim agreement requiring it to begin enforcing the COVID-19 orders at its clubs. As part of the settlement, Urban Athletic Club must pay $10,000 to the District and continue complying with COVID-19 safety requirements and District law over the next year. (more…)
1625 P Street, NW
“Dear PoPville,
We live about a block from Stead Park. There’s always a lot of activity going on there, especially as fitness classes have moved outside. We’ve never been bothered by the noise, but recently there have been almost nightly dance fitness classes. The music is extremely loud. Like so loud it it feels like we are blasting music in our house- and it’s almost every night. Plus, we are almost a block from the park on a high floor- we can’t be the only people affected by this. We’ve tried to find the name of the class so we can reach out and request that they follow the local noise ordinances, but haven’t been able to find anything. Can you help?“
“Dear PoPville,
I used to be a member at Washington Sports Club and canceled my membership when they reopened in June. I just got a voicemail from the manager at the Columbia Heights location and it said they are under new ownership and have revamped their cancelation policies and have special alumni rates. Anyone know about the new ownership?”
Ed. Note: In September we posted that the “Parent Company of Washington Sports Clubs Files for Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code”.
Photo by Bekah Richards
From the DC Office of the Attorney General:
“Attorney General Karl A. Racine today announced that Urban Athletic Club, a District gym chain, has agreed to comply with emergency COVID-19 health and safety requirements. The interim agreement comes after the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) filed suit against the chain for noncompliance at its Shaw location, following an OAG investigation. In its lawsuit, OAG alleged that Urban Athletic endangered District residents by allowing customers to exercise at its Shaw location without masks, adequate distancing, or proper equipment sanitization. After OAG filed suit, the company immediately entered into an interim agreement requiring compliance with Mayor Muriel Bowser’s COVID-19 public health emergency orders, pending trial or other final resolution of the case.”
From
From Urban Athletic Club:
“Since opening over seven years ago, Urban Athletic Club has repeatedly promoted health and fitness as the foundation to a long and prosperous life. We have offered free community classes and free trials, we have made countless donations of time and money to local charities, and we have grown from one location to four due to our commitment to our members.
Like the Attorney General, we believe the health and safety of our community is of paramount importance and have voluntarily affirmed to the Attorney General that we intend to comply with the Mayor’s coronavirus orders, as has always been our intent.
-Graham King
Founder”
More from the office of the DC Attorney General: (more…)