Needham Work Out World Closes

With the holidays just around the corner, local residents will have to find a new place to work off and keep off those extra pounds after (formerly Gold’s Gym) in Needham officially closed this week.

One gym member said she wasn't formally notified of the closure but found out when she dropped by the gym at 150 A St. on Thursday afternoon.

“I had worked out that morning [Thursday, Nov. 3] and by the afternoon it was closed,” said Gloria Smith, who works in the corporate park not far from the gym. “We actually had rumors that morning that they were coming in for the equipment, so we kind of knew it was coming."

Previously Gold's Gym, the fitness center was purchased by the Work Out World compnay about a year ago. Work Out World has more than 20 locations around New England, including several former Gold's Gyms, according to the company Web site, www.wownewengland.com.

On Friday, a sign on the door declared that the Needham business had closed and directed members to other locations that would honor their memberships, advising them to call a number for ABC Financial's member services division for more information.

Ray Marsh, the gym’s group fitness director, was at the location on Friday afternoon but said he could not comment on the closure.

He directed Patch to call a customer service number, where a message was left.

Smith said she guessed the gym would be closing when she started noticing the facility’s maintenance and cleanliness declining.

“The equipment was not maintained. They even pulled out the vending machines,” she said. “You could just tell. When you’re not vacuuming, you’re not cleaning the bathroom or emptying the trash… The only reason I stayed was because the instructors were so great."

Smith said she had already canceled her membership and signed up for a new membership at Boston Sports Club in Newton.

“I called immediately and they were very receptive,” she said of ABC, which manages Work Out World’s memberships.

A sign on the door of the facility notes that “All memberships are valid at West Roxbury” and that three Needham classes have been moved to the West Roxbury location: BODYPUMP with Kali on Fridays at 6:00 a.m., Circuit Systems with Lisa on Fridays at 8:30 a.m. and Step with Ann M. on Wednesdays at 10:30 a.m.

Dave Sheehan, an employee at the West Roxbury Work Out World, confirmed that all memberships would be honored at the West Roxbury—or any—Work Out World location.

He did not know why the Needham gym was closing but said his location was just about five minutes away.

For information about the West Roxbury gym, call 617-327-4653. For member services information, call 888-827-9262 (have your phone number or nine-digit member number ready).

A complete list of Work Out World locations can be found on the company’s Web site, www.wownewengland.com.