David Barton Gym Closes All 5 NYC Locations Without Warning

WEST VILLAGE, NY – The David Barton gym franchise, known for its nightclub atmosphere and glam branding — "Look better naked," its slogan promised — has closed all its locations in NYC, Boston, Miami, Chicago, and Washington, D.C., according to a statement from Club Ventures, which owns and operates the facilities.

"The company deeply regrets this final action," the statement reads, "but due to severe competitive pressures, particularly in New York, it has become impossible for these locations to continue."

The NYC locations include Kips Bay (50 W. 23 St.), West Village (152 Christopher St.), East Village/NoHo (4 Astor Place), Chelsea (40 W. 20 St) and Upper East Side (30 E. 85 St).

The mass shuttering of David Barton gyms came seemingly without warning. As recently as one week ago, the company was offering two-week memberships on its Instagram.

Members were shocked when they showed up to the gym Wednesday morning to be greeted with closed doors and a sign that read: "This DavidBartonGym has ceased operations due to competitive market conditions."

RIP @DavidBartonGym which closed suddenly late Tuesday night. NYC should put rainbow flags at half mast. #gym #LGBT https://t.co/jYVmlCuQP8 pic.twitter.com/fpJtIZ7t7q — Stephen Bassman (@StephenBassman) December 22, 2016

One member wrote in Glamour that she "was literally there" the day before, "happily lifting weights in a creepy church basement and bopping along to pop music."

Others are wondering how to get their money back.

.@DavidBartonGym I pre-paid 1 year at Astor Place #DavidBartonGym #NYC in Sept. When will you let members know how to get our $ back? — Stephen Bassman (@StephenBassman) December 22, 2016

Club Ventures did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

According to the gym's statement, its facilities in L.A., Las Vegas and Honolulu are owned by a separate legal entity, Meridian Sports Club, LLC, and will remain open because they are located "in markets that are more favorable to the company’s business model."

The chain opened its first location at 15th Street and Sixth Avenue in 1992. It became famous for popularizing the party-workout vibe, which may have helped like-minded studios — Soul Cycle, Flywheel, Y7 — become so popular they pushed their antecedent right out of business.

Barton's celebrity clientele included, over the years, Anderson Cooper, Adam Sandler and Gwen Stefani.

David Barton himself, the company's founder and "muscular namesake," as he was once described by New York Magazine, left the company in 2013.