Phorm Fitness — Local services in Long Branch

For a gym that positions itself as a premium option, Gold’s Gym in Long Branch leaves much to be desired—especially when you consider the steep membership fees. While the location is undeniably convenient and the facility is generally well-maintained (staff is amazing), there are glaring issues that make you question whether the price tag is justified.

First and foremost: the operating hours are unacceptable. In an era where 24-hour gyms are the norm, closing at 10 PM is laughable—especially for a brand that charges premium rates. If you’re going to demand top dollar, at least provide the basic convenience of late-night or round-the-clock access.

Now, onto the neglected maintenance: Broken machines sit unrepaired for weeks, if not longer. If you’re paying for access to equipment, it should actually be functional. Faded weight labels make tracking progress needlessly frustrating. A simple repaint would solve this—why hasn’t it been done? The air conditioning is practically nonexistent in warmer months. If the goal is to make workouts unbearable, mission accomplished.

Then there’s the layout and atmosphere: The StairMaster placement at the entrance is awkward at best, uncomfortable at worst. It’s 2025—gyms should prioritize member comfort, not outdated floor plans. Teenagers loitering, shouting disrespectful comments? This isn’t a food court. Staff should enforce basic gym etiquette.

And let’s not forget the small but telling oversights: Empty soap dispensers, missing towels—these aren’t luxuries, they’re basics. If you pride yourself on cleanliness, actually maintain it.

Now, with the rebrand to Phorm Fitness and the supposed addition of a cold room, one has to wonder: Will this be a genuine upgrade, or just another excuse to hike prices without fixing existing problems?If history is any indication, I’m not optimistic.

Final Verdict: A decent gym with frustrating flaws. For the price, you deserve better—whether it’s later hours, working equipment, or just basic respect for your membership. Fix these issues before...

Gold’s Gym has been my go-to for the past three years since moving to Long Branch. It’s convenient, has all the machines I need to get a solid workout in, and it’s generally very clean (shoutout to the one employee who really keeps the place in shape).

That said, considering the monthly cost, I think a few small but important details could use some attention: Broken machines – Some equipment stays out of order for weeks at a time. I get that repairs might be complicated, but it’s frustrating when the same machines are broken for so long. Faded weight labels – Some machines have weights that are hard to read because the numbers are faded. It’s a small fix, but it matters when you’re trying to track progress or just know what you’re lifting. Air conditioning – With the warmer weather, it’s getting really hot inside. I know we’re all there to sweat, but if I’m dripping before I even get through my warm-up, that’s a problem. Stair master placement – While this doesn’t affect me directly, I’ve heard from a lot of women that they feel uncomfortable with the stair masters being right at the front entrance. I get that space is limited, but it’s worth rethinking—especially since not everyone knows how to behave respectfully. Inappropriate behavior from teens – Occasionally, there are kids at the gym yelling out derogatory remarks. Not sure how much control the gym has over that, but it’s something to be aware of. Stock the essentials – Please keep the soap dispensers and yellow towels stocked! The gym is clean, but these little things go a long way in keeping it that way.

Overall, this might sound like a rant, but I really do like this gym. It gets crowded during peak hours, and the weight area is a bit tight, but it’s got the right equipment, it’s clean, and it’s super convenient. A few small changes could make it...

Had a bad experience with an employee most recently. I called before going just to ask about a 10 day membership I purchased last year. I was told I used 5 days and I have 5 days remaining. When I showed up the following morning at 7:30am I was barred from doing my workout because my 10 pass expired, fine. I tried to get some clarification surrounded the conflicting information I received on two separate days but the gentleman was unwilling to try and resolve the issue and kept saying o have to pay to use the gym and he’s very busy. So I asked for his name, he refused to give me his name and went on to say I can call back to speak to his manager on Monday. Fast forward, today I spoke to his ‘so-called manager’ Manuel, and he wasn’t even willing to listen to the issue I had and kept saying, Sir, I am busy but that’s the policy and I’m willing to give you a day to use the gym at some other time.. This made me very upset because I have several gym membership so I can always go and do my workouts somewhere else. I just wanted someone to explain why I never got a receipt when I purchased the package, why I wasn’t giving a document outlining the guidelines of the 10 day pass and why they met me waste my time to drive all the way there and was barred from working out. Bottom line is that some of the employees there really need training and how to resolve issues with their clients. The ones I interacted with this past weekend were horrible and I wouldn’t sadly I would never go back there or recommend it to anyone. Very sad for such an establishment with such...