I cancelled my Membership

anonymous

I Cancelled my membership to Crunch fitness, formally Park slope sport club on Flatbush Avenue in protest over their intention to push out two small businesses (Christies Patty and Plaza Discount) to make way for Crunch expansion. The landlord either increased the rent or refused to renew their lease because Crunch will pay a high rent. How does the management of Crunch reconcile their decision to push two small businesses out of business when their members are people who believe in small business?

armchair_warrior

time will tell if they made a smart business choice.

anonymous

Subject: Re: I cancelled my Membership

Anonymous wrote: ow does the management of Crunch reconcile their decision to push two small businesses out of business when their members are people who believe in small business?

Are you sure their members believe in small businesses? Starbucks, Barnes & Noble, and the Sprint store always look pretty crowded to me.
But good foryou for making a statement, although I believe that ship has sailed.

idlewild

I don't think their members give a crap. I don't think anyone does either save some old timers who have gone to Christies or the other store. Business' coming and going is a fact of life in the City. You get used to it.

linusvanpelt

Their members believe insmall businesses? I think "Crunch fitness, formally Park slope sport club..." says it all.

I'll miss Christie's, tho -- hope they can relocate.

escap

Subject: Re: I cancelled my Membership

Anonymous wrote: I Cancelled my membership to Crunch fitness, formally Park slope sport club on Flatbush Avenue in protest over their intention to push out two small businesses (Christies Patty and Plaza Discount) to make way for Crunch expansion. The landlord either increased the rent or refused to renew their lease because Crunch will pay a high rent. How does the management of Crunch reconcile their decision to push two small businesses out of business when their members are people who believe in small business?

Is it something about the water in PS/PH/FG that makes everyone think like this? How was I raised in this area without being afflicted by this mentality? Before protesting does it ever even occur to anyone to think about if a protest makes sense? :? :? (Sigh...)

At the very least--even though this wouldn't make sense either--shouldn't you be blaming the landlord? Since when is outbidding someone a crime? I guess Sotheby's should be shut down then too?

whyfi

linusvanpelt wrote: I'll miss Christie's, tho -- hope they can relocate.

They're moving across Flatbush to the PH side.

isa

Subject: Re: I cancelled my Membership

Anonymous wrote: I Cancelled my membership to Crunch fitness, formally Park slope sport club on Flatbush Avenue in protest over their intention to push out two small businesses (Christies Patty and Plaza Discount) to make way for Crunch expansion.

Good on you!

8thandprez

I thought the Jamaican patty place was moving... doesn't sound so bad to me.

I think it's getting a bit ridiculous when everyone starts getting up in arms about a gym expansion.

anonymous

Subject: Re: I cancelled my Membership

escap wrote: [quote=Anonymous]I Cancelled my membership to Crunch fitness, formally Park slope sport club on Flatbush Avenue in protest over their intention to push out two small businesses (Christies Patty and Plaza Discount) to make way for Crunch expansion. The landlord either increased the rent or refused to renew their lease because Crunch will pay a high rent. How does the management of Crunch reconcile their decision to push two small businesses out of business when their members are people who believe in small business?

Is it something about the water in PS/PH/FG that makes everyone think like this? How was I raised in this area without being afflicted by this mentality? Before protesting does it ever even occur to anyone to think about if a protest makes sense? :? :? (Sigh...)

At the very least--even though this wouldn't make sense either--shouldn't you be blaming the landlord? Since when is outbidding someone a crime? I guess Sotheby's should be shut down then too?

Maybe you have no aspiration of owning a business or maybe you don't know anyone who owns a small business, in this case I understand your lack of apathy. I believe the majority of business in the United States consists of small businesses - your next door neighbors. Take a look around you.

What outbiding are you referring to? Crunch came in with the goal of taking over that strip of real estate along Flatbush Avenue at the expense of businesses who are serving their community. Christie is a striving small business and should not be asked to leave for Crunch.

anonymous

8thandPrez wrote: I thought the Jamaican patty place was moving... doesn't sound so bad to me.

I think it's getting a bit ridiculous when everyone starts getting up in arms about a gym expansion.

Expansion is good for any business but not at the expense of your neighbor....

Christie is forced to relocate to an obscure space with less visibility across the street. I predict this will be their demise.

anonymous

Subject: Re: I cancelled my Membership

Anonymous wrote: [quote=escap][quote=Anonymous]I Cancelled my membership to Crunch fitness, formally Park slope sport club on Flatbush Avenue in protest over their intention to push out two small businesses (Christies Patty and Plaza Discount) to make way for Crunch expansion. The landlord either increased the rent or refused to renew their lease because Crunch will pay a high rent. How does the management of Crunch reconcile their decision to push two small businesses out of business when their members are people who believe in small business?

Is it something about the water in PS/PH/FG that makes everyone think like this? How was I raised in this area without being afflicted by this mentality? Before protesting does it ever even occur to anyone to think about if a protest makes sense? :? :? (Sigh...)

At the very least--even though this wouldn't make sense either--shouldn't you be blaming the landlord? Since when is outbidding someone a crime? I guess Sotheby's should be shut down then too?

Maybe you have no aspiration of owning a business or maybe you don't know anyone who owns a small business, in this case I understand your apathy. I believe the majority of business in the United States consists of small businesses - your next door neighbors. Take a look around you.

What outbiding are you referring to? Crunch came in with the goal of taking over that strip of real estate along Flatbush Avenue at the expense of businesses who are serving their community. Christie is a striving small business and should not be asked to leave for Crunch.

carnivore

Anonymous wrote: Christie is forced to relocate to an obscure space with less visibility across the street. I predict this will be their demise.

No doubt their mediocre patties may also play a role. :P

heit

Subject: from the post title

I thought this was going to be about their ridiculously stupid decision to make people sign up for class IN PERSON an hour beforehand

such pandering to privilege...

escap

Subject: Re: I cancelled my Membership

Anonymous wrote: Maybe you have no aspiration of owning a business or maybe you don't know anyone who owns a small business, in this case I understand your lack of apathy. I believe the majority of business in the United States consists of small businesses - your next door neighbors. Take a look around you.

What outbiding are you referring to? Crunch came in with the goal of taking over that strip of real estate along Flatbush Avenue at the expense of businesses who are serving their community. Christie is a striving small business and should not be asked to leave for Crunch.

First of all, I believe you mean lack of sympathy, not apathy. Also, I have absolutely nothing against small business owners or large ones. Did it ever occur to you that a small business owner might offer higher rents to a landlord than another small business owner, or a residential tenant, for that matter? Crunch offered to pay higher rents than another tenant did, and the landlord accepted the offer. It is simply preposterous to suggest that any of this is immoral whatsoever, as much as your sense of compassion for the little guy might pull you in that direction. Have you ever compared prices in your life and gone with the cheaper option? Have you ever rented or bought at a price higher than someone else is willing to pay? Ever occur to you that if you pay $1500/month for an apt that a poorer person is being priced out, or the same argument if you buy a place? Did you ever buy anything that you could have bought at a local small business? Need I go on? Neither Crunch nor its landlord have done anything remotely wrong and for you to demonize them is irrational and hypocritical. :evil:

bkchris

I was going to lack apathy, but I couldn't be bothered

steve

Carnivore wrote: [quote=Anonymous]Christie is forced to relocate to an obscure space with less visibility across the street. I predict this will be their demise.

No doubt their mediocre patties may also play a role. :P

Mediocre, patties? Are you high? Where is there a better patty to be had?

I don't have much sympathy for Chrysties though. The people who work there are jerky.

carnivore

steve wrote: Mediocre, patties? Are you high? Where is there a better patty to be had?

Almost anyplace that sells patties (not counting pizzarias).

anonymous

Such As? I think most places by them generic, but I could be wrong on this?

Carnivore wrote: [quote=steve]Mediocre, patties? Are you high? Where is there a better patty to be had?

Almost anyplace that sells patties (not counting pizzarias).

carnivore

One local example that comes to mind is 3D's on Washington and St Johns.

whyfi

Carnivore wrote: One local example that comes to mind is 3D's on Washington and St Johns.

I'm going to go have one there... hopefully today... tomorrow, latest. You guys keep plugging this place, and the only one that I've had there was bad enough to make me not go back...

pulsivism

Yes. I agree. Seriously, what would we do without "PLAZA DISCOUNT." Where else could I get all sorts of useless crap and clutter to fill my apartment up with? I hope they move somewhere close by. You never know when I will need a new flimsy wooden stool.

Maybe with the CRUNCH expansion I'll be able to get a treadmill at a reasonable hour..... Maybe.

friendlypitbull

Anonymous wrote:

Expansion is good for any business but not at the expense of your neighbor....

What does that even mean? -

The existing tenants had a lease, their lease expired, either they didnt want to pay the rent that Crunch did or the LL for whatever buisness decision didnt want to renew. Are you advocating rent control for commercial tenants now?

Please explain how you as the hypothetical owner of Crunch Fitness would handle this situation (the expiration of leases for 2 adjoining stores, your need to expand, and the landlord) in a manner that would satisfy your 'ethics'.

BTW - what is a "small buisness" anyway Crunch has 21 Gyms (w/more than half in NY) - it is less than 20 years old and it started in NY. - Golds Gym by comparison has 550 Gyms.

escap

friendlypitbull wrote: Are you advocating rent control for commercial tenants now?

PLEASE don't give them any ideas. :? :?

j0518

remember that Crunch did not take over the PSSC. Sports and Fitness Ventures (the company behind PSSC) merged with Crunch, kept the Crunch name, but mostly kept the SFV management, albeit with unfortunately a new "Crunch" outlook on things.

let me put it to you this way, "no judgements" really means "no standards."

Christie's, in the long run, will be better off in their new space across the street. the neighborhood will follow them wherever they go. i couldn't care less about the dollar store.

i have my extreme issues with the changes that have occurred with the gym, and have posted here about them. this isn't one of issues i have with them, though. with the crap they've brought into that club since the changeover, they better be bringing something remotely good in return.

anonymous

Subject: Re: I cancelled my Membership

Anonymous wrote: I Cancelled my membership to Crunch fitness, formally Park slope sport club on Flatbush Avenue in protest over their intention to push out two small businesses (Christies Patty and Plaza Discount) to make way for Crunch expansion. The landlord either increased the rent or refused to renew their lease because Crunch will pay a high rent. How does the management of Crunch reconcile their decision to push two small businesses out of business when their members are people who believe in small business?

Good for you. There are still some people that care about the small businesses in the area. You should be proud of yourself.

Someone else said this in another health club site about Crunch being corporate and non-responsive to people.

anonymous

Subject: Re: I cancelled my Membership

Anonymous wrote: I Cancelled my membership to Crunch fitness, formally Park slope sport club on Flatbush Avenue in protest over their intention to push out two small businesses (Christies Patty and Plaza Discount) to make way for Crunch expansion. The landlord either increased the rent or refused to renew their lease because Crunch will pay a high rent. How does the management of Crunch reconcile their decision to push two small businesses out of business when their members are people who believe in small business?

Go Crunch! Combat the fat, Crunch! Expand and wipe out all deep-fried beef patties places. Replace artery-clogging food bars with treadmills and weights. Go Crunch! Wipe out junk food on Flatbush and whip us into shape.

Plaza discount? The last time I went in there it smelled like sweaty jock straps in a locker room, so it seems appropriate that it might soon be a locker room.

ana.log

Subject: Re: I cancelled my Membership

Anonymous wrote: I Cancelled my membership to Crunch fitness, formally Park slope sport club on Flatbush Avenue in protest over their intention to push out two small businesses (Christies Patty and Plaza Discount) to make way for Crunch expansion. The landlord either increased the rent or refused to renew their lease because Crunch will pay a high rent. How does the management of Crunch reconcile their decision to push two small businesses out of business when their members are people who believe in small business?

i doubt the management of crunch would have even considered taking over that space if they didn't think they could expand it. as it exists now, it is in desparate need of additional space and better/bigger locker rooms and bathrooms.

raw

pulsivism wrote: Seriously, what would we do without "PLAZA DISCOUNT." Where else could I get all sorts of useless crap and clutter to fill my apartment up with? I hope they move somewhere close by. You never know when I will need a new flimsy wooden stool.

Maybe with the CRUNCH expansion I'll be able to get a treadmill at a reasonable hour..... Maybe.

After reading countless accounts of the lack of fitness centers in urban areas with African-American and “black” communities that are infested with Mc Donald’s and other diabetic-promoting fast-food joints, I welcome Crunch and any other fitness centers to all Brooklyn neighborhoods. Any gym that provides all of its members with clean spaces, effective equipment and classes, professional staff, practical schedules, and affordable membership is a good addition to any neighborhood.

Of course the next time I need to buy Bed, Bath, and Beyond’s overstock of solidified sawdust dining sets from the dollar mart -- "Plaza Mart," whatever the hell it's called -- I’ll be screwed. You never know...my toned butt may need a flimsy stool someday.

finn

Y'all are so weird, there's like only two posts about patties.

More patties, less morality.

escap

Finn wrote: Y'all are so weird

People use the term "y'all" in Park Slope now? Wow, the neighborhood has changed.