L.A. Fitness to close Bally gyms in Aloha and downtown Portland

L.A. Fitness to close Bally gyms in Aloha and downtown PortlandL.A. Fitness said Monday it will close the former Bally Total Fitness gyms on Southwest Yamhill Street in downtown Portland and in Aloha by month’s end.

Rumors about the closures have swirled in the Portland gym since L.A. Fitness bought local Bally late last year and soon after closed four suburban locations. Dozens of former Bally members have complained about changes to their contracts and limitations on memberships that once allowed access to all Bally gyms.

A Yamhill employee said its members would be moved to the L.A. Fitness in The Pearl District, while an Aloha employee said members would go either to Beaverton or Hillsboro.

Calls to the L.A. Fitness corporate office were not returned, however, employees at the closing gyms said members affected by the move can cancel memberships and receive refunds. However, that conflicts with what members said they were told after the closures late last year.

“Members are being packed into clubs like sardines in a can,” said Kevin Renner, who told The Desk in an email that he realized that he signed a contract with Bally just as the company was negotiating its sale to L.A. Fitness.

“On Monday through Wednesday nights, you cannot park at the Beaverton club, period. Cars circle the lot waiting for others to leave. Equipment is overused and breaking down.”