American Fitness Express — Local services in Columbia

Edited to add after owner's reply:

I worked here for over a year until about 5 years ago. The owner, Kelvin, would yell at people, including me, in front of the other customers. The other reviewer below named Bud who gave this place a 5-star review is a nice fellow (I knew him when I went here) and I'm sure he wasn't trying to mislead anybody, but what he said about Kelvin being mean only to people who are disrespectful is just inaccurate.

Kelvin the owner would say the rudest things about people whether to their face or behind their back, and once, just as an example, he even mocked the way a nice gentleman would work out on the cable machines; Kelvin exaggeratedly mimed his movements to me, pointed his thumb back at him, rolled his eyes, and called him a "sweat machine" -- the poor guy was hardly even out of earshot. And as a running joke, during staff meetings, my coworkers and I would refer to his signs posted all over the gym as "the mean signs," because they have an aggressive and unwelcoming tone. You can see them for yourself; they are still currently posted there, in multiple places.

The reason I quit this job is because I wasn't being paid overtime despite working over 40 hours a week during the height of the pandemic, which is an illegal wage practice. If you have an employee who is being paid hourly in a non-exempt work environment, you must pay them overtime for working more than 40 hours a week -- it's the law. So, not sure what there is for me to apologize for and "own up to" about -- if anything, I was willing to forgive him and come back after 5 years as a customer, just glad that I wouldn't have to see him as often this time. However...

When I came back recently and purchased a membership (it's the closest gym to where I live, unfortunately), owner Kelvin strolled in from across the street during the middle of my workout and told me I had to leave because I stormed out on him 5 years ago... for not getting paid my dues... illegally. He said all this with a smile, clearly enjoying it.

I should've given this place a 1-star review years ago. The owner is a...

For the price, you get one dusty overcrowded room with a lack in varity of machines and equipment to use. The area was cut even smaller recently without a reduction in price. The stated towel service is rarely adequate. Many customers refuse to rerack and put away equipment resulting in a very disorganized area. Unfortunately there isn't much competition in the area and management seems to not feel the push to clean or organize the gym into a more useable space. 2022 Update: I went back to check out the gym. They have been no real update in what they gym offers. I got the opportunity to speak to the owner on the phone and he was rude and then hung up on me. I later heard from a gym member that is not unusual behavior. I recommend that you be wary of this company. (The owners response is...

Been here for 4 years, this place has gone down the drain since the management switch ~10 months ago. Every billing cycle is a fight with the owner over hidden charges. There is no drinking water in this gym, the tap water tastes horrendous, and the slimy new owner charges $3 for water bottles from a vending machine. Useful equipment is continually sold off for a quick buck, and it became harder and harder to do the workout that I wanted to do until I finally canceled my membership after 4 years. I wanted to like this gym, it's so close to my house, but after a certain point it's worth the extra 5 minute drive...