The Hoboken Cafe 

Does anyone have any opinions on Empire fitness? I wanna join them as the weather is getting bad and can't workout outside too often anymore. Thanks!

I go to Empire and the question of if it's right for you depends upon what your looking for. It has a good mix of weight training and cardio machines, but it doesn't have any arobic classes or anything like that and it's not posh like Club H, but it's cheaper. They do have some good personal trainers. You should probably take a look at the different gyms and see what suits you.

My opinion of the management there changed for the worse when they unjustly fired my trainer after I had bought a large personal training package. However I still pay the same yearly fee as when I started going there so I'm not terribly motivated to go to another gym.

-Mike

newtohoboken said on

>Does anyone have any opinions on Empire fitness? I wanna join them as the weather is getting bad and can't workout outside too often anymore. Thanks!

well, I've heard about their "small print" in contracts that misleads people... How about their treadmills and weights equipment... Are they packed all of the day? How accomdating and friendly are the staff?

I'm looking into something that is 1. cheap 2. has enough number of working treadmills/elliptical 3. some exercising weight equipment for the legs/arms/chest. 4. Ready for a shorter term contract as I like running outside during the summers...

Empire deffinately will fulfill the first three requirements you have for a gym, but the forth is questionable. As mike's former trainer, I did work there for some time and they do not have true short term contracts, as I recall. You pay month to month , but you are locked into a 12 month contract. To terminate the contract there is a cancelation fee unless you move more than 25 miles from the gym. They may have changed, but ask questions. The management has been a little shady in the past, from retractive changes in pay to employees, to "lost mail" when members have sent in a request for cancelation. In Empire's defense most gyms have the same contract policies and their's is a far cry from the 3 year contract that bally's has. New York Sports Club has a true month to month, but as I know you pay a slightly higher initiation for that privilage. I do work for NYSC currently and have worked at many of the gyms in the area, if you need any further details feel free to contact me at brentcpt@yahoo or call me at 201-206-9665.
Hope that helped,
Brent Brookbush NASM, NSCA, IFPA CPT & ACSM H/FI

I'm not sure about how crowded they are in the day as I go after work and so never have a problem getting on the machines. The staff are pretty nice. As for the money, you would have to see for yourself if it suits you. The one thing I really do like is that I pay for the year and my cost is the same as when I started.

-Mike

newtohoboken said on

>well, I've heard about their "small print" in contracts that misleads people... How about their treadmills and weights equipment... Are they packed all of the day? How accomdating and friendly are the staff?
>
>I'm looking into something that is 1. cheap 2. has enough number of working treadmills/elliptical 3. some exercising weight equipment for the legs/arms/chest. 4. Ready for a shorter term contract as I like running outside during the summers...

Empire Fitness Clubs has over 80 pieces of cardio equipment, of which 25 are treadmills. There is also a wide selection of plate-loaded or circuit equipment from manufacturers such as Icarian, Hammer Strength, Flex, Cybex. Personal trainers are all nationally certified and insured, there is a trainer available for nearly every need- pre/post natal fitness, post rehab recovery, weight loss, muscular gain, etc.

While there was some controversy with previous management, the current management and front desk staff has been very customer oriented, and some of the members who previously left for other gyms have returned. Again, as with any other gym, it would be best to visit Empire and see for yourself if the gym suits your needs.