'Elite' Gym Opens In Former David Barton Gym Space

EAST VILLAGE, NY — A new branch of the New York Sports Club chain opened this week in the space previously occupied by the high-end David Barton Gym before it abruptly shuttered last year.

The new gym at 4 Astor Place is the very first "elite" club from the national chain, featuring a design and a clubby vibe like its predecessor. The fancy workout studio has lots of bells and whistles, including towel warmers, a giant disco ball and, soon, cryotherapy treatments. An NYSC membership to the Astor Place club will cost you more than at other locations, with monthly dues starting at $110.

"David Barton Gym was an iconic neighborhood destination for almost a decade, known for its unique blend of fitness, nightlife and culture," said Patrick Wells, the CEO of NYSC's parent company, in a statement. "We're honored to carry on that commitment to the neighborhood community and are focused on maintaining a chic, inviting atmosphere that is a destination for far more than just a workout."

The upscale David Barton gyms were famous for their glitzy and noisy workout spaces before they filed for bankruptcy last year. The shuttered gyms' parent company is currently being sued by New York attorney general Eric Schneiderman after the four outposts in New York City closed without any advance notice and allegedly failed to refund customers for purchases they had already made. Many of the gym's 5,000 members in the New York City area were scammed out of hundreds or thousands or dollars made in advance for membership fees and training sessions, according to prosecutors.

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Lead image via Ciara McCarthy/Patch.