Residents React to Closure of Spunk Fitness

The in the Odenton Shopping center surprised many local residents, who received no warning that the gym would be shutting its doors.

Residents weighed in using the comments section of Odenton Patch, on Facebook and in correspondence directly with Patch editors.

“Very disappointing and rather low class way to shut down,” said reader Skip Ester on Facebook.

According to Spunk managers and the gym’s landlord, the fitness center was not able to attract enough members to stay afloat, despite some aggressive marketing efforts. Spunk had about 1,200 members, while other gyms in the company had more than 10,000.

“Jeez I was just about to go buy a family membership,” reader Koray Ataman said on Facebook. “The staff was exceedingly friendly and the facilities, while not exactly luxurious, where far and above what you'd expect for the price. Shame.”

Spunk Fitness, which was known for its $9.99 monthly memberships, took over the space once occupied by Premier Health and Fitness last year.  Several former Premier members said they did not join Spunk because it had fewer amenities, such as on-site child care. Others said they grew attached to personal trainers who worked at Premier, or were not enamored with Spunk’s group fitness classes, which were not included in the membership fee.

“I'm not horribly surprised,” Odenton resident Amy Stavely said in the comments on Patch. “This is a family area and Spunk didn't offer childcare services. What incentive do families have to choose Spunk when , LA Fitness and Golds Gym all offer childcare? I live right around the corner but not even the $10/mo membership fee is worth the lack of childcare!”

The closure of Spunk Fitness in the Odenton Shopping Center, which was already dealing with the Landlords said they are marketing the spaces, and residents had their thoughts on what should fill them. Several readers suggested a new grocery store, with Trader Joe’s on the top of many lists. Other readers offered their thoughts on the shopping center in general.

“We need nice stores such as grocery stores and nice shops such as a bakery shop,” Gerri Cappuccio said. “Odenton shopping center looks awful. It is a one-stop where people keep going.”