Gym facility and equipment are surprisingly good for the price. This was a Gold' s Gym originally until Retro took over in late 2012. I will admit that I didn't care for the gym in the beginning...it took some time to get used to the new place after being at Gold's for so long. Since then, I have changed my views and have come to like the gym quite a bit. They have done a very good job with the facility and have added some nice improvements.
Very spacious inside with a good all around selection of machines and free weights, and the equipment is arranged sensibly for the most part. They do a good job maintaining the machines when things break. They added a separate cushioned workout area with astroturf for free weights and other activities which was a nice addition.
It can get very crowded weekday evenings after 6 pm or so. I prefer coming in the mornings and afternoons and weekends are good too. Over the summer months it was often too oppressively hot to workout. I spent more time toweling off sweat than anything else. The average member here is not a wrestler trying to make weight. The mens locker room and especially the shower stalls often have a funky smell.
I caught a horrible bout of athletes foot here. Despite the demerits, this is still a good gym. Its the best Retro I've been to so far. Tried the Manville gym and didn't like it at all. They need to work on keeping the showers more sanitary and keeping the gym at a reasonable temp. in the hot weather.
7/5/2017 This is a follow up to the original review. This continues to be a good gym overall especially for the cost. They seem to be doing a better job with keeping the Men's locker room cleaner. A few problems still remain...it is almost always inexcusably hot and uncomfortable at night since the warmer weather began. No air flow except for the ceiling fans, and they're not enough unless you want to stand under one all night. Guys, how about a little A/C?? I always prefer going in the mornings...much more comfortable no matter what the outside temp. and far less crowded. I've upgraded their rating to four stars because its a good gym and I enjoy going there.
7/24/2017 Just want to thank the management for acknowledging my reviews. This is a very good gym with a well thought out floor plan. I've noticed over time that there has been very little or no turnover among the staff, which tells me that they must enjoy working there.
8/30/2018 This is my latest and probably last follow up to my previous reviews on Retro in Green Brook. I felt that they deserved additional recognition for continuing to be a leading gym in the area, and for addressing certain issues that have been a concern. The free weight plates that had been an eyesore with deteriorating rubber coatings have been replaced with new ones...a vast improvement.
I really can't add much to the other positives I outlined in my previous reports. I have been to other Retro gyms, but none have been as comfortable to me as this one. Retro gyms seem to be everywhere now, but they are not all the same. Some gyms just have the right feel and atmosphere, and to me, this gym has that. This is a great place to work out with an excellent staff on hand. I haven't used their personal trainers, but they all seem to be...
   Read moreI've been a Retro member since 2017 and have been coming to this location since 2020. For my needs, this gym meets most expectations, is a quality experience, and the price can't be beat. Excellent variety of equipment, a good number of cages, racks, and benches keep wait times low, if at all, and the staff is always friendly. I've been to physically bigger Retros that have managed to fit less into their gym - they done a nice job making the most out of the space afforded to them.
I like to avoid going at peak hours if I can help it, but when I have been there at those hours everyone seems to have an idea to keep the action moving and be respectful of each others time. Also if you hate the retro branded hexagonal plates as much as I do, this location does not have them! A huge bonus!
The equipment is certainly used, but on the whole well maintained and rarely out of order. If it is, the equipment is ready to use quickly. Having been to other gyms that have had an out of order sign hanging for months, this is appreciated and should not...
   Read moreInteresting how this company works. Time to group together.
If you read the bottom of the email about the transfer it says if you did not request a transfer then your membership will automatically be canceled. So first they send an email saying that theyâre going to cancel everyoneâs membership that was from Piscataway and then they sent an email an hour later saying that they transferred my membership, but I never requested a transfer and when I called to inquire about it the staff member said she doesnât know the ins and outs of whatâs going on, but that theyâre transferring everyone From Piscataway to Greenbrook which is against everything they have in their email and in their fine print.
The girl that answered the phone asked for my name, so if I find out that they transferred my membership without my authorization thinking that my inquiry and telling them that Iâm not driving to Greenbrook because thatâs further away from where I actually live (40 minutes), there is going to be...
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