L.A. Fitness On Route 59 Sued For Not Paying Rent

JOLIET, IL — The L.A. Fitness at 1745 Route 59 is being sued because the Irvine, Calif., company has failed to pay its monthly rent for the past four months, according to a new Will County lawsuit.

L.A. Fitness, like other Illinois gyms and health clubs, has been forced to stay closed the past three months amid concerns about the new coronavirus outbreak in Illinois. Although the property has a Plainfield mailing address, it's actually in the city of Joliet.

According to the lawsuit, LA Fitness entered into a lease agreement for the property near the intersection of Theodore Street and Route 59 on Dec. 28, 2006. The lease was amended on March 16, court documents state.

L.A. Fitness promised to pay its minimum monthly rent on the first day of every month without deductions, set-offs or counterclaims, the lawsuit states. The plaintiff's lawyers contend that L.A. Fitness has breached the terms of its lease by failing to pay its minimum monthly rent and additional rent payments for the period of Feb. 11, 2020 through May 19.

According to court documents, L.A. Fitness is expected to pay $810,000 annually in minimum rent to the commercial real estate company that owns the city of Joliet property. The lawsuit indicates that the landlord of the Bronk Town Center is Ardmin Properties Management Group on South Lemont Road in Woodridge.

The lawsuit asks a Will County judge to issue a judgment against L.A. Fitness in the amount of $200,204 plus all sums of minimum rent and additional rent accruing after May 19. The lawsuit also seeks payment for all reasonable attorneys fees and costs. The lawsuit was filed by Naperville lawyer Kenneth Donkel of Keough & Moody, P.C.