Midtown Athletic Club?

[JN]

So, this is probably old news to most of you, because like me, you probably pass the new sign every day ...

But what the heck is this with the new "Midtown Athletic Club"? The old "Athletic Club at Weston" name wasn't accurate enough?

Are we now considering that part of town "midtown"? What's downtown: the Town Center that's two blocks away? Would Savana be considered "uptown"? Or would Bonaventure?

So, does anyone who's a member know the scoop behind the name change? Did the owners change, and that's the name of chain that bought them? Or is this really an attempt to define a "midtown Weston" (excuse me while I stifle my snicker ...)?

[Yogamom]

The Atletic Club at Weston was bought by TCA, Tennis Corporation of America. They are renaming all their clubs Midtown Athletic Club hence the new name.

Supposedly they are also doing renovations.

[Mrs. Hein]

The parking lot is absolutely jammed full every morning. I used to be a member there, and there used to be plenty of parking towards (then) Arvida. Now it's packed back to front, side to side. Are they ALL in the club? Or is some of that parking from the city hall construction? If it's all club, it must be crammed full of people now.

[JN]

Originally Posted by Yogamom

The Atletic Club at Weston was bought by TCA, Tennis Corporation of America. They are renaming all their clubs Midtown Athletic Club hence the new name.

Was that recently? I thought TCA was the outfit that originally purchased the club from Arvida, during the latter's exit from Weston? Excuse my ignorance, I haven't been in there in quite some time.

Originally Posted by Yogamom

Supposedly they are also doing renovations.

Does that include the often-promised restaurant they keep wanting to put in?

[Ditto]

Originally Posted by JN

Does that include the often-promised restaurant they keep wanting to put in?

They had a restaurant several years ago and it went out of business.

[Yogamom]

Originally Posted by JN

Was that recently? I thought TCA was the outfit that originally purchased the club from Arvida, during the latter's exit from Weston? Excuse my ignorance, I haven't been in there in quite some time.Does that include the often-promised restaurant they keep wanting to put in?

It's the same outfit; they're changing the names of their clubs.

I don't know about a restaurant, I do know they are fixing the ladies locker room which leaks like a sieve when it rains.

Mrs. Hein,
The parking lot is full of police cars parked on the swales. I don't know if it is any more or less crowdwd since the construction began on City Hall.

[Steve]

There was an article about this in the community section of this moning's Sun - Sentinel.

It is part of a 6 million dollar upgrade that will include a restauarnt and bar.

[Yogamom]

$6 million health club face-lift set


Restaurant, bar coming in Weston

By Nick Sortal
South Florida Sun-Sentinel
Posted December 29 2006


Weston's first health club has changed its name and will undergo a $6 million upgrade in 2007.

The Athletic Club at Weston was renamed Midtown Athletic Club earlier this month to coincide with the name change to "Midtown" at 11 other clubs nationwide, company officials said. And this spring, there are plans to expand the locker room, spa and salon, add a restaurant and bar, and generally upgrade the 18-year-old club building at 2300 Royal Palm Blvd.

Weston developer Arvida-JMB Partners built the club on a 27-acre lakefront site in 1988, eight years before Weston was incorporated. In 2001, Arvida sold it to Chicago-based Tennis Corporation of America, the current owner.

During the 1990s, the club was the site for July 4 celebrations, 5K runs and community meetings. People also met for a quick bite at its adjacent restaurant, Cocomo's, which closed in 1996 and was converted by Arvida into a community center for classes, including theater, dance, baton and martial arts. Then the community center closed, and TCA bought it from Arvida and expanded the health club.

"I can't begin to tell you how many people have come up to me and said they moved to Weston because of this health club," general manager Steve Strumpf said. "It's about more than just getting on a piece of equipment, working out and leaving."

Fran Gilman joined the club when it first opened and works out seven days a week. She has lived in the Country Isles neighborhood since 1987, she said, and either swims, plays tennis or works with a personal trainer at the club.

"What appealed to us was the sense of community here," she said. "Our kids grew up coming here and we've just made so many friends."

The two-story center has a spa, 25 tennis courts and personal trainers, as well as an outdoor pool and beach area. Monthly rates are $114 for individuals and $228 for families. There also are initiation fees of at least $500, although Strumpf said there will be a New Year's "sale."

The club is "like a second home" to Georgette Castro, who has been a member since 2000. She likes the dancing, cycling and weights classes, as well as the social events such as wine tastings and cooking classes. But Castro, originally from Venezuela, said the club could use a restaurant.

"In Caracas, a gym like this has a restaurant, or a place to have a drink," she said.

Strumpf said he has applied for a permit, including a liquor license, with the city.

Steven Schwartz, president of the Midtown chain's parent company, TCA Holdings, said the restaurant would be called the M Café, offering "a fusion of European and Latin tastes."

"Think South-Beach-meets-health-club," he said. "The point really is that we stay a social center, not just a racket club or a health club."

Nick Sortal can be reached at nsortal@sun-sentinel.com or 954-385-7906.

[JN]

Originally Posted by Yogamom

"I can't begin to tell you how many people have come up to me and said they moved to Weston because of this health club," general manager Steve Strumpf said.

Wow. If true, talk about a skewed worldview ...

[Michael Klein]

I was going to say that also. Who the hecks moves to a new city because of the health club ? NO ONE. Get a grip Mr. Strumpf.

Mike

[JN]

Originally Posted by Michael Klein

Get a grip Mr. Strumpf.

Actually, I believe Mr. Strumpf. I do think there are people who have expressed that opinion to him, and may in fact believe it. How many Weston Special People do we know, who hurridly dump their kids at school so they can get to their beloved spinning classes post-haste?

It was the shallow worldview of those people about which I was rolling my eyes. Like this:

[Ditto]

Originally Posted by Michael Klein

I was going to say that also. Who the hecks moves to a new city because of the health club ? NO ONE. Get a grip Mr. Strumpf.

Mike

Maybe if he did something about security, the hundreds of people that quit would want to come back. He won't even open his blinds to see what is going on in the parking lot. People are afraid to use the locker rooms and are tired of getting their cars broken into.

[OMGitsme]

What they need to do is get the "special" people to stop waiting in the fire lane in the afternoons for their precious ones, while everyone else has to drive around them and avoid hitting the kids that run from between the cars.

[Steve]

Originally Posted by Ditto

Maybe if he did something about security, the hundreds of people that quit would want to come back. He won't even open his blinds to see what is going on in the parking lot. People are afraid to use the locker rooms and are tired of getting their cars broken into.

My wife and I went on a tour there about a year ago and were concidering joining. The biggest reason we didn't was all the thefts that were going on.

[FSUmom]

Originally Posted by Steve

My wife and I went on a tour there about a year ago and were concidering joining. The biggest reason we didn't was all the thefts that were going on.

We have belonged to the Athletic Club for years and never lost a thing. Oh wait.....we have never taken anything of any value TO the club, or left anything of any value in our car in plain view.
Duh............