Edward-Elmhurst Health Fitness and LA Fitness are both planning to close their facilities within the next month. Edward-Elmhurst Health Fitness in Naperville, Illinois will close its doors on March 31st, while LA Fitness will close its locations in Schaumburg and Vernon Hills, Illinois by April 15th. The closures are said to be due to financial reasons, as both gyms have struggled to attract enough members to remain profitable.
Edward-Elmhurst Health Fitness, which is owned by the Edward-Elmhurst Health system, has been operating for over 20 years and has over 8,000 members. The gym’s management says they are working with other health clubs in the area to help members transition to new facilities.
LA Fitness, which is a national chain with over 700 locations, has been struggling with declining membership and revenue in recent years, as more people have turned to online fitness classes and home workouts during the pandemic. The company says it is closing underperforming locations to focus on its more profitable gyms.
The closures of these two gyms are a sign of the ongoing challenges facing the fitness industry during the pandemic, as many people are still hesitant to go to public places and are opting for at-home workouts instead. It remains to be seen how the industry will adapt and evolve in the coming years.