Roof Partially Collapses on old Bally's Fitness Building

Part of the roof in the back of the former Bally's Fitness Club fell off the building Monday, causing the structure to be deemed unsafe by township officials.

The stone-facaded building on upper Main St. has been vacant for at least 10 years, said Woodbridge Police Lieut. George Conklin.

Observers from the nearby high rise, the Mack Cali building, called the partial collapse in to authorities, Conklin said.

The collapse was reported at 1:55 pm, and the Woodbridge Fire Dept. and the township building inspector went to the scene.

A bright orange "Unsafe Structure Notice" was slapped on the front doors of the building, declaring "this structure is declared unsafe for human occupancy." The notice was dated April 11, the same day the partial roofline collapse was called in to authorities.

The health club has changed hands several times. It initially was known as a European Health Club, then it was taken over by the Jack LaLanne franchise. It became a Bally's health club in its last incarnation. 

Longtime Woodbridge residents will remember when the building was first erected, and had an Atlas-type golden statue at the front of the building, holding an enormous globe. The structure has fallen on hard times since. 

The popularity of the nearby Club at Woodbridge and of the health accoutrements at the put the seal of doom on any other fitness establishment making the site a success.

Much of the design work has been hacked off the building, and the parking lot is overgrown with weeds. The rear of the site has become a dumping ground for old tires.

Despite efforts to get the structure rented, there haven't been any takers for at least a decade. Silbert Realty, according to a sign on the property, handles the site's sale and leasing arrangments.

Silbert management could not be reached for comment.