Health club abruptly closes, clients shocked

health club abruptly closes, clients shocked.

HILLSBORO, Ore. — Members of a health club in Hillsboro showed up to workout Monday, only to find chains on the doors and a closed sign in the window.

The owners of Allstate Financial Group, which operates Hawthorn Sport and Spa, are bankrupt.

Chad Brown has been a member of the health club for ten years. He expected better.

“For them not to give you a number to contact, all you get is a full voicemail box, is frustrating,” he said.

The voicemail does not let callers leave a message, either.

Other members told KGW the doors were locked up right after they were charged membership dues for March. “So I asked them if I could get my money back and they said, ‘We’re working on that,'” said Pat Culligan.

Answers were hard to come by at Hawthorn sport and Spa. But the message was clear. The health club is closed.

Hawthorn is marketed as one in a group of three health clubs. Bethany Sport and Spa and Riverplace Sport and Spa are the others. Bethany is offering transfer for Hawthorn members, free of charge. Owner John Michael said members can also cancel and their billing will be stopped.

Some members, like Gary Lusk, are considering that option. “Hopefully if this doesn’t get resolved, we’ll have the time to either drop our membership or transfer,” he said.

An email did go out over the weekend, warning members that Hawthorn Sport and Spa would close. Some got it, others didn’t. So, as answers trickle in, members said they’re watching their accounts to make sure no more money is withdrawn. And Lusk remains hopeful that Hawthorn will eventually open its doors again.

Legal experts told KGW the best advice is to dispute the auto payments at your bank and tell them to stop paying immediately until you get some answers.