WAYLAND — Boston Sports Clubs’ last MetroWest location closed last weekend.
The 110 Andrew Ave. location of the full-service neighborhood gym closed last Saturday, according to a sign on the door. Exercise equipment was seen being moved out of the building on Monday.
Members needing assistance were directed to contact the Boston Sports Clubs near Boston’s Government Center. Boston Sports Clubs are owned by New York Sports Clubs.
In an interview with the Daily News, Kari Saitowitz, chief marketing and creative officer for New York Sports Clubs, said the Wayland closure was hard, but it aligns with the company’s goals.
“It’s unfortunate anytime we close a location,” Saitowitz said. “We’ve loved serving our community. It’s always unfortunate when we close but it strengthens the business overall.”
Some Wayland staff members, including the general manager, were reassigned to other locations. While not all staff could be retained, Saitowitz said a majority were.
Club members offered chance to join nearby club with free time
“The members are notified with a month’s notice and in Massachusetts, memberships are month-to-month,” she said, adding that members were given the option to join another nearby club with some time for free due to the “challenge” of commuting to a new location.
Boston Sports Clubs was within the Wayland Town Center shopping center, which opened about 2012. The center has a number of restaurants, shops and medical centers, and is anchored by Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center.
The Wayland closure comes months after the Town of Westborough bought a former Boston Sports Club at 1500 Union St. to construct a community center. Town Meeting authorized borrowing of $8.8 million to make the purchase.
Founded in 1973, New York Sports Clubs began as a squash facility before expanding into full gyms. The chain expanded to six clubs in Greater Boston by the 1990s. It had several throughout Massachusetts before most outside Boston closed starting about four years ago.
Boston Sports Clubs filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2020. Gyms in Bradford, Canton, Lexington, Lynnfield, Medford and Newton all closed as a result of the financial troubles. Other locations, in Metheun, Peabody and Salisbury, were acquired by Choice Fitness and were renamed “Choice Fitness Elite” due to having more amenities.
Boston Sports Clubs that remain open include the gym near Government Center (1 Bullfinch Pace), as well as others in Downtown Crossing (10 Franklin St.), Boylston Street (505 Boylston St.) and in Somerville’s Davis Square (1 Davis Square).