City Fitness — Attraction in Philadelphia

The staff is great, Joe is a top tier Manager, he is friendly, understanding, and knows how a gym should be, ever since he took over the club, nothing but good changes has come about including the new layout of the equipment.

The gym is ALWAYS spotlessly clean!

My complaints are:

The lack of calf press machine, the pin loaded leg press machine isn't designed for effective full range of motion in the calves, and the platform on the leg press has ruined acouple pairs of shoes since there is no rounded edge like calf press machine has.

The lack of smith machine, another basic gym staple, it is necessary for gym goers of all levels, from either aiding in learning proper form and technique, working around pre existing injuries, or just effectively burning out at the end of your workouts.

The lack of stretch chair, this piece of equipment is so helpful especially for those who aren't too well rounded in stretching before, during, and after workouts to maximize their range of motion and execution in workouts but also for prevention of injuries.

Also, yesterday I noticed the cable machines were being moved at a weird angle not facing mirrors, and there is a tredmill in front of the second cable machine blocking one's view, mirrors in front of cable machines are vital to keep an eye on your overall form and execution of exercises, with cables being free form it is easier for anyone from a new comer to a seasoned athlete to get injuried if their movement is not monitored correctly.

As a trainer, natural bodybuilder, and former gym manager all of 22 years, these are all gym essentials for everyone's fair shot and success in the gym, the chances are higher for non experienced gym goers to quit and get discouraged from going to the gym and being active if they get injured.

I hope these recommendations are HIGHLY considered in gym effectiveness and an addition to...

I never thought I’d say this about a business but I feel traumatized by my experience. They repeatedly debited exorbitant amounts of money from my account with no receipt or explanation of the charges and no correlation to the plan I requested. I asked for a basic membership advertised as $39 “bi-monthly” (why not just say $78 a month?) but was enrolled in a premium membership that “never expires” and a training program totaling $560 per month. It took many requests to finally get a copy of the contract a month later. It had no description of what the membership includes and no mention of a training program. My requests to clarify what I had actually been signed up for were met with conflicting, vague responses. The day I enrolled, they started charging my card randomly for varying amounts and despite admitting their error, have yet to refund me. I was billed $460 in four transactions in a single month. Every attempt to cancel and get a refund was met with deflection. I was told the person who signed me up no longer works there. I was passed between five “managers” who claimed to have no authority to issue refunds but refused to provide a contact for someone who does. The hidden fees are absurd (no disclosure of an $18 charge just to sign up). Staff are friendly until you enroll. Then you may as well not exist.

UPDATE 10/3/2025: The Owner’s response is not accurate. Despite numerous requests for an immediate cancelation and refund, I was informed that it will not be canceled until November. This prompted me to contact my bank to make sure City Fitness does not continue billing me without authorization. I have so far only been refunded $200 of the $460 and only because my bank intervened. I am still trying to get back the remainder. I have no document confirming my membership is canceled now and the issue is...

Review Updated: I’ve canceled my CF membership as despite managements comment on my review, this gyms priority will always be marketing & new sign ups over the experience of existing members. I’ve joined Fitness Works for only $500 a year (which includes pool access), which is about half the annual cost of CF.

Original Review:

I’ve been going to this location since the summer of 2022 when they opened, and loved in for a couple of years. this was a great gym when there was adequate floor space.

There is less and less space to do basic floor workouts with free weights, kettle bells, to stretch or do yoga etc - particularly in front of a mirror.

Currently there isn’t anywhere to do these workouts in front of a mirror (unless you go in the few 2-3 hour windows in the middle of the day without classes - not an option with a day job) and the one space they have upstairs that is “open” for floor workouts can fit about 6-7 people. It fills up while machines and workout benches go unattended.

As more members join, and they add more classes to the schedule, and they add more machines to the floor to attract new members, there is less space for me and people who need the space more than the machines.

I have talked to staff/management about this a few times, it only gets worse. They want to prioritize weight lifting bros who need their cool super special machines in order to sign up for a new membership over basic & low maintenance needs of...