PORTLAND, Maine — Update March 20, 2023:
Portland's Workout Anytime franchise owner confirmed to NEWS CENTER Maine on Monday it is taking over all memberships for World Gym. World Gym told patrons and news reporters last week it would be relocating but did not specify where they were moving to.
Katherine Holt, manager for World Gym, confirmed Monday that memberships will be handled by Workout Anytime effective immediately.
The franchise owner for Workout Anytime said Monday it is working with a billing company to level out membership fees to reflect the cheaper rates of Workout Anytime.
Workout Anytime has two locations in Portland:
- 511 Congress St Ste 12, Portland, ME 04101
- 1100 Brighton Ave Suite 12, Portland, ME 04102
The owner of World Gym could not be contacted for comment.
Workout Anytime representatives said if you don't want your membership transferred, you can cancel your membership by emailing Portland.Downtown@workoutanytime.com
Original story from March 16, 2023:
Moving trucks and upset customers could be seen outside Portland's World Gym on Marginal Way Thursday morning.
A sign outside the store said the gym is relocating, and customers told NEWS CENTER Maine they received no advanced warning of the move.
"It just went from bad to worse," Peter McDonald said, who is a gym goer. "It wouldn't have taken them a whole lot to keep people in the loop."
McDonald said the gym hadn't been good at communicating closures before when it came to malfunctioned gym equipment.
Another customer, Alex Gonicker, said he had a gym membership at World Gym for years, took a hiatus, and recently rejoined.
"To be honest, I don't give a crap about the inner workings of the business. I just want to go to the gym," Gonicker said. "I don't know what the hell is going on here. I'm just glad I'm not the dude that owns this."
NEWS CENTER Maine reached out to the owner multiple times and did not receive a response.
The manager of the gym, Katherine Holt, did not respond to requests for comment until late Thursday afternoon.
She said the gym relocation came unexpectedly.
"As soon as final confirmation has been made on location and date, we will inform all members. No members will be charged in this time frame," Holt said in a text message.
Holt did not answer which street or neighborhood the new location will be in.
"It's been dishonest," Dan Murphy said, who said he's been going to the gym for 23 years.
Other customers told NEWS CENTER Maine they just renewed a year membership weeks ago. Customers also complained of faulty gym equipment and poor communication in the past.
"Just the lack of communication and the lack of credibility in the sign," Murphy said.