Kathy’s Health Club Closes Suddenly in San Ramon

For the past 16 years, Itta Snyder has visited San Ramon women’s fitness center  regularly to work out and socialize.

But when Snyder arrived there on Valentine's Day, an unpleasant surprise greeted her – the club was closed.

“I found out by walking up to the club and seeing a dark building and sign on the door stating that they were out of business, declaring bankruptcy and were so sorry for the inconvenience,” she said. “It is very sad as it is the only full women’s gym in the area.”

Snyder said she renewed a one-year membership at Kathy’s Health Club for $444 just weeks before it closed. Since contact information for owner Kathy Barney was not listed on the notification sign, requesting a refund is out of the question, Snyder said. The club’s phone is out of service and its website is down.

Not only will Snyder miss the money she invested in the club, she’ll miss the friendships she made there. She said she and several other former members plan to meet this weekend to talk and “get some closure.”

“One group of us met each Saturday at 8 a.m. for dance class, some for 18 years, with the same teacher,” she said.

Snyder's less than thrilled about shopping for a new gym. The closure of Kathy’s Health Club leaves one female-only gym in San Ramon –  on San Ramon Valley Boulevard.

“Now I have to find a new gym, and it will have to be co-ed,” she said.  

Barney could not be reached for comment. She had run a second location of Kathy’s Health Club in Pleasanton, which closed and reopened as a Gold’s Gym in November.

Pleasanton club members were notified of that closure in a letter that stated their memberships could be used at the San Ramon location and offered free months and discounts.