Equinox Closes its Doors

After being a popular fitness location in Highland Park for 15 years, Equinox Highland Park was forced to permanently close during the summer due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The decision came as a shock, Equinox employees said, because it comes at a time when many other gyms and fitness centers are working on a phased return plan.

The staff of Equinox was notified of the shutdown through a Zoom meeting, Equinox employees said.

“We hadn't really seen it coming. … I was pretty shocked, and of course upset,” said Courtney Brin, the former membership advisor for Equinox Highland Park.

One of the major deciding factors that led to Equinox’s closure was the clientele, former Equinox trainer Nathan McGuire said.

“At Highland Park, we had an older clientele so their risk factor was higher than most of the general population,” McGuire said.

Now, with gyms and fitness centers reopening, safety measures are becoming a crucial factor in keeping health and fitness businesses accessible for all clients, Brin said.

Brin, who still works within the Equinox company, listed some of the new procedures being implemented at other locations.

“There's all sorts of cleaning procedures and multiple cleanings throughout the day that the staff does just a tremendous job of keeping it clean,” she said.

Those working out must wear a mask as soon as they enter the club, and staff will take their temperatures, Brin said. Reservations are also required to make sure that there are fewer people in the workout areas.

Brin also noted the most prominent priorities of the health and fitness industry: “The general idea is still safety first, cleanliness first,” she said.

Even though the gyms are putting in the effort to make workout areas safe and clean, there is still a struggle for clients to have the motivation to work out during the COVID-19 era, McGuire said.

McGuire said he and other trainers are around for those who want to get back in shape.

”There are a lot of people around America who probably are not in as good a shape as they were six months ago, but we're still currently able to just hide at home, and hide on our desktops, and there is no real sense of needing to go back to normalcy,” McGuire said.

Equinox was a staple of the Highland Park community, former members say.

Former members of the gym described Equinox as a “local club.”

“I think it was just a very boutique club rather than a busy one. It was an upscale local club,” said Elliot Rothschild, a member of 13 years.

Equinox was a big club but took pride in having an intimate feel, like being in a tight-knit family, Brin said.

“I have so many memories and wonderful friendships with the staff and wonderful friendships with people in the community.,”Brin said. “I can't really go anywhere in the community without bumping into somebody from Equinox and it's just this general feeling of wanting to hug the person and still keeping our distance.”

While reflecting on the Equinox experience, McGuire spoke about the passion within the personal training team.

“I really hope that at the end of the day, they realized that the personal trainers really did care about their clients,” he said. “The trainers there were some of the most educated and knowledgeable people I've ever worked with. Especially when it comes to addressing a specific need for any client.”

Rothschild said he hopes to return to working out again, but isn’t sure where now that his favorite fitness center has closed, saying: “I don’t know where I’m going to go for a club.”