Don't worry, it's not bad news. The Gold's Gym downtown has moved into... yeah, you guessed it, the Jacksonville Landing! Smaller sq but from what I understand; moved into the space previously occupied by Mongo's. Going there soon, let you know, for those keeping score at home.
Good luck to them in the Landing's Death Valley.
That side of the Landing is depressing.
It should provide for nice views)- It seems like it could be a good fit for THEM, but it's not what I envisioned filling up spots @ the Landing.
Dang it. I like the Forsyth St location.
Just ran by there, it's going to be great when it is ready. Considerably smaller but the Forsyth location was huge. There are spin cycles on the deck out front which will make the landing feel more alive during classes. True that is a dead side of the landing but I believe this will breathe some fresh air...
Other then the spaces facing the central courtyard, both riverfront ends of the Landing are pretty dead. At least this side will have some life with the new mexican restaurant and Gold's Gym moving in.
Seems like a very akward location for a gym.
Lifestyle Family Fitness opened a location in Old Hyde Park Village in Tampa about 4 years ago...this has provided a constant stream of people to the shopping center, thereby helping keep some of the retail spaces alive.
That said, it seems like The Landing should have given them one of the internal spaces instead of prime riverfront space (unless the second floor spaces aren't as desirable)!
It just seems really odd to me. I use the Gold's at least three times a week. It's going to seem weird going to the Landing to go to the Gym. The location on Forsyth added some street activity along that stretch of road and now it will return to dead space after 5pm. I see this as a step backward for Downtown. Prime riverfront views within the Landing can't lure one large, well-known national chain to locate there all because of a supposed lack of parking.....when is this insanity ever going to end!
Odd, very odd.
I wonder what is going to happen with the Forsyth Street space. Speaking of the Landing, what's going on with Fuddruckers? Has construction finally started?
As a current member of Golds Gym I was pretty ticked off at them giving their paying members ZERO notice of the change. The space is probably 1/10 the size of the old location. I never had a problem parking less than a block from the Forsyth location. I think getting to and parking at this new location may be a challenge. I am going to give them a chance to set up, but I may move back to the Riverside Y...........
There was no notice given to members, last night there were a slew of Downtown Golds members at the Beach Blvd location.
Bad service. Would anybody be surprised if they didn't last at the Landing? And what happens to their old space? More empty space downtown.
and I am sure that someone on this site will say this is also the mayor's fault ;)
I agree to the comments that they should have given members a heads up about the move, that was odd. I think the gym there may brighten up that side of the landing and will hopefully bring a steady stream of regulars, if parking holds up.... the big IF. Should that be the case, another business could probably benefit from a stream of regulars, like a small convenience store. I would also like to know how many times Hooter's gets the ole "which way to the gym" routine as well...
Quote from: tufsu1 on January 27, 2009, 08:31:13 AM
and I am sure that someone on this site will say this is also the mayor's fault ;)
No, this is not DIRECTLY the mayor's fault. Here is how I would say it (since you brought it up).
When Delaney Left, everyone had an oar, and it was paddling fairly well. Then Peyton came in, and gradually, the oars came out of the water. However, because of momentum, the boat kept going. Then the Super Bowl came, and provided a gust of wind. The problem now is that eventually the momentum runs out, unless there are enough paddles in the water.
So, Gold's Gym most likely invested with the thought of the downtown that we could have had had we kept the paddles in the water. That didn't happen, and now we have this.
Wait a second, didnt I read in the Regency threads that good use for old dying malls is to convert to lifestyle centers with post office, docters office, ect? Why not a gym? Seems like a great move for both partys to me.
Probably cheaper for the gym and fills space in the mall. Practical, and it must be nice on a treadmill overlooking the St. Johns.
They should of told their members earlier, though.
I went there today. It is like a sardine box. They went from 20,000sq ft to 5,000 sq ft. Yes it is still a work in progress, so I will wait and see what happens
Damn. I really liked the space on Forsyth. All of the open area we had was really nice. Plus, it's going to suck fighting the crowds for parking to workout.
I dont like it.
Agreed. One of the things I liked about the Forsyth Gold's was the open feeling, especially compared to the Yates YMCA. That feeling is completely gone at the new location. The space feels extremely cramped, and many pieces of equipment have been removed due to space limitations. Two of the three pullup stations are gone. At least three of the dumbell benches are gone. They also removed the only squat rack, but I was told they may bring it back if enough people ask. I'm not sure if they intend to keep the spin bikes on the balcony once the group exercise room is finished, but I can't imagine an outdoor spin class would be much fun in July. I was also told the locker rooms would be ready by Thursday or Friday. Changing next to the urinals was not enjoyable.
Talking to other users of the gym, I estimate the downtown Gold's will lose at least a quarter of its membership as a result this move. Maybe some will continue to use the Baymeadows or Beach Blvd. locations, but many will switch to the Y or Bailey's Powerhouse. The thing that disappoints me the most was the push by Gold's management to get members to renew their membership contracts for an entire year during the past couple of months. If management knew about this move well in advance, I consider such sales tactics to be highly deceptive.
Jeez people. I don't see what the big deal is.
I was not a member but visted several times. A gym that open is a luxury and not common. It was never full when I went, so losing some equipment and space won't have the same impact as if it was full most of the time. The Landing is still the closest gym to Downtown, in a more scenic location, and offer the convience of a variety of lunch options. The Riverside Y is larger and gets very crowded.....we don't want anymore there. Keep away!
No more squat rack??? come on! I am defiantely going to complain about that.
Have any of you ever had to wait to use any of the equipment there? The situation may not be ideal but it was probably a survival move on the part of Gold's. I realize the new place is much smaller but if there were enough members to begin with they probably would not have had to move. I also loved the old location, but you all have to agree it was always empty.
It's too bad they couldn't have dropped the downstairs in that location and brought what was downstairs upstairs. The majority of the 1st floor was wasted space. The second floor would have been a good size.
I was there today, I usually go in the off hours 1pm to 2pm. I found the fact that they only have one crappy pull up bar and 2 benches for free weights unacceptable. Those exercise bikes are going to turn to rust in a matter of days sitting outside on that balcony. Who the hell is going to work out on that balcony the in the summer anyway????? Sure it's January it it feels great outside now but it will be summer here in a matter on months........... I doubt they will last a year at the Landing.
As far as other gyms downtown. There is a YMCA in the basement of the Bank of America Tower and another one a short drive over in Riverside............
Oh I love the comment about grabbing a bite for lunch after your workout at the Landing..........the food there is TOTAL crap. That's like taking one step forward with your workout and 2 steps backward with your lunch at the Landing;-)
The Forsyth location was nice, and I agree with many The Landing is a strange place for a gym. There seems to be little win in getting downtown revitalized. Just when you think there is some progress albeit little progress, the rug us jerked from underneath.
QuoteUntil this week, the only riverfront Gold’s Gym in the company’s chain of 650 was in Cairo, Egypt.
Jacksonville now makes two.
On Monday, Jay Kaplan opened his 7,000-square-foot gym at The Jacksonville Landing, taking up the space that formerly occupied Mongo’s Flat Hot Grill restaurant. Kaplan closed his facility at 100 N. Laura St. to make the move into the Landing.
http://jacksonville.com/business/2009-01-28/story/golds_gym_opens_facility_in_the_landing (http://jacksonville.com/business/2009-01-28/story/golds_gym_opens_facility_in_the_landing)
I spoke to both the owners last night. They are seriously committed to Downtown and moved to the Landing as a last resort effort to keep Gold's Downtown open. They have the rights to acquire the downstais space is the demand warrants it. Also, parking is free for the first two hours in the Landing parking lot. I will be there tonight.
Quote from: tpot on January 28, 2009, 05:25:47 PM
Oh I love the comment about grabbing a bite for lunch after your workout at the Landing..........the food there is TOTAL crap. That's like taking one step forward with your workout and 2 steps backward with your lunch at the Landing;-)
At this point, I think the entire Landing is crap.
you gotta try somthing new!
Quote from: copperfiend on January 29, 2009, 09:26:01 AM
Quote from: tpot on January 28, 2009, 05:25:47 PM
Oh I love the comment about grabbing a bite for lunch after your workout at the Landing..........the food there is TOTAL crap. That's like taking one step forward with your workout and 2 steps backward with your lunch at the Landing;-)
At this point, I think the entire Landing is crap.
Its attitudes like this that doom the Landing.
many people don't even go there based on what they've heard or what they remember from years past....the fact is there are a few decent places...and maybe one more soon when the mexican place opens.
Agreed tufsu... Twisted Martini has a great happy hour... Mavericks is packed on the weekends. During the summer the courtyard is filled with people listening to free concerts and enjoying the views and people watching...
One who says... "The landing is crap" really doesnt know what they are saying.
I'm sorry...........I love downtown and promote it, but the landing is crap, plain and simple....The buliding is so dated it's ridiculous. I have tried every restaurant at the Landing more than once. I can't name one that I would take an out of town guest to. It's too bad. The location and view is fantastic............;-(
mmmkay... I didn't know we were judging it by restaurant alone. Those hundreds of people who cannot find parking on summer weekends, fireworks, xmas tree lighting, etc must enjoy "crap". Have you been down there on a Friday/ Saturday night?
Quote from: fsujax on January 26, 2009, 04:07:33 PM
It just seems really odd to me. I use the Gold's at least three times a week. It's going to seem weird going to the Landing to go to the Gym. The location on Forsyth added some street activity along that stretch of road and now it will return to dead space after 5pm. I see this as a step backward for Downtown. Prime riverfront views within the Landing can't lure one large, well-known national chain to locate there all because of a supposed lack of parking.....when is this insanity ever going to end!
All the events that happen at the landing and people will be walking by a gym...the public can not spend money there...Gyms are membership based.
the gym is on the second floor...no one is walking by it...that said, there are plenty of empty spaces for retail to move into....so giving this space to a gym is no big deal
Kind of funny when your taking a spinning class and the sea breeze wafts the scent of food over you.
I have nothing personally invested in this (I neither had nor will have a membership to this gym anytime in the near future).
That said, spinning overlooking the st johns river under a starry night seems like it would be pretty cool the first few times.
I wonder what all the permanent residents of downtown that have memberships to Gold's think now.. Seems like an awfully long walk.
Haven't they papered the windows and put the "Construction Sounds" CD on a boombox repeat over at the Fuddruckers site?
Quote from: tufsu1 on January 29, 2009, 03:13:02 PM
Quote from: copperfiend on January 29, 2009, 09:26:01 AM
Quote from: tpot on January 28, 2009, 05:25:47 PM
Oh I love the comment about grabbing a bite for lunch after your workout at the Landing..........the food there is TOTAL crap. That's like taking one step forward with your workout and 2 steps backward with your lunch at the Landing;-)
At this point, I think the entire Landing is crap.
Its attitudes like this that doom the Landing.
many people don't even go there based on what they've heard or what they remember from years past....the fact is there are a few decent places...and maybe one more soon when the mexican place opens.
I'm sorry but there isn't much there. With the exception of Hooter's and the food court, every restaurant space is a revolving door. There is no retail worth going there for. The Landing is what it is right now. It is a place to grab lunch during the week and gathering point for events like Fla/Ga weekend and New Years Eve. The Landing needs to give me a reason to feel differently. Somebody mentioned taking out of towners there. In it's current state, I would rather take an out of town guest to the Atlantic Beach town center than the Landing.
let me suggest a few more reasons to go to the Landing
1. The food/views at American cafe are pretty god....as long as you have plenty of time (service isn't good)
2. Live music in the courtyards....a great place to people watch
3. Twisted Martini....am upscale bar early, a cool nightclub late....and $3 happy hour includes Crown!
I usually go there before Jaguar preseason games and the courtyard music is pretty decent.
Anyone been to the gym location lately? I am thinking about getting a membership, since it is only $17.50 a month.
whoa...only $17.50 a month?
does that have you pay an enrollment fee??? I've been there for years and pay $31 a month....maybe i should leave and come back under the new rate...
im going there, its included in my lease, same as downtown jag. im goin off hours im ok, went tuesday- no waterr. hey fsu whats the story on free parking, i got tagged $2 for parking 1 hour +
in the landing parking lot!
$59.99 membership fee and then $17.50 per month on a 1 year agreement. You can get the $17.50 deal for up to 36 months and then I guess it just goes to the current price if you want to continue. At least that is how I understood it from the guy I talked to on the phone
Here is the real skinny on the gym....$59 enrollment, $17.50/mo for 1 year. After year, rate stays the same and goes to month-to-month. The 36 months is in regards to the length of an original contract. The state only allows 36 months on any gym contract. Then you have to fill out a new one. Rate stays the same.
Parking is free. Gold's has a validated ticket they give you when you leave the gym. Leave your original ticket in your car. There is a two hour limit for FREE parking. You pay the rate after that.
Seriously, it isn't very complicated. Cheap and free parking with a killer view.