Absolute Power Gym — Local services in New York

This is a third revised review, due to the many improvements that have been added. Absolute Power Fitness is conveniently located, near the Grand Street L station, a few stops from Union Square. It fills a void for gyms in the NYC metro area, for the value it offers at an affordable price.

You won’t find spotlights or floral bouquets, but it’s not a dungeon cave, either. After searching and searching, I finally found what I was looking for: a serious, no-frills but fully equipped, moderately priced gym. In fact, I've been reunited with members I previously knew from Richies, and even from a Gold’s gym that closed years ago. We've all ended up here.

Serious bodybuilders work out here, but there's a harmonious blend of diverse ages and body types in a supportive atmosphere. Some of the little things I appreciate, because they do make a difference: a cold water fountain on the same level as the main gym, both cold and hot water in the bathroom, and ceiling fans that keep the air moving year-round, even with the air-conditioning.

I’ve been here for over a year, and I only recently saw one out-of-order sign on a machine. That sign showed the specific date when an ordered part was scheduled to arrive. I’ve never seen that kind of accountability in any other gym.

The cheerful, energetic maintenance workers are a great team, zooming around, cleaning, putting back weights/equipment. They're the best I've ever seen. The front desk staff are courteous, intelligent, and competent, with customer service skills mastered down to a science. How often do you find that in a gym? If you check the reviews of other gyms, as I have, the answer is somewhere between rarely and never.

There is now a new upstairs area, with extra cardio machines, and a very nice smaller gym. I am told it's supplied with everything a trainer would need for working with clients who desire a more private setting.

On the main level downstairs, we now have added cable stations, new flat and incline benches, a new Nautilus Smith, a Glute Drive, flat, decline/incline barbell benches, and more. They’re all rock solid, comfortable, and easy to adjust. Now I can finally make an exact adjustment of a decline barbell press to my height, with no jiggle or give, which really helps my form. Several stations have new covers and cushions. On top of that, there are two stretching areas, one of which is its own separate room, supplied with mats, BOSU balls, kettlebells, rowing machines, bands, etc.

At APF, you’re never pressured to work with a trainer. However, you will probably want to work with them, sooner or later. After a free hour-long introductory assessment, you're entitled to three more sessions at half-price.

The members are exceptionally polite and generous toward each other, in wiping off benches, sharing equipment, trading tips, or just having a good time. I am making new friends on a continual basis, so from a social standpoint, I always look forward to coming here.

All of the above is no doubt thanks to the cheerful and energetic efforts of the manager, Miguel, who runs his business hands-on with obvious pride and care.

Cool graffiti artwork lines the walls and columns, including inspirational quotes from philosophers and athletes, including this quote from Eleanor Roosevelt: "You must do the things you think you cannot do." Well, at APF, you have the setup, the support, and the atmosphere that will help you to go beyond what you thought...

Long story short, we joined absolute power fitness on March 1st and on March 30th we were forced to cancel our membership by the owner because my husband reminded the front desk Andy that he had to correct people who’s not wearing their masks.

My husband and I was looking for a intimate, no frill, weightlifting gym around Williamsburg, and absolute power fitness caught our attention. After reading all good reviews on google and Yelp, We reached out to the owner on Instagram and asked for a trial. The owner agreed with us that he can reduce the initiation maintenance fee from $79 to &49 for each person, and waive 2 trail day-pass fees for us which is $15 per person per pass towards our membership fees. We joined on March 1st after purchasing 2 day-pass trails. The owner took off $30 on the membership fee for the day passes but didn’t take another $30 off per person for the maintenance fee. We were ok with that since the membership fee is quite reasonable ($39 per month for yearly commitments). And considering the current pandemic situation we are dedicated to help local small business. We find it much more convincing to support a private business than big chains.

The gym itself is decent. It has everything we need for weightlifting. It never get too crowded, and we can see all employees are trying their best to help keeping the gym sanitized. There was a day or two when the toilet pipe went down and we couldn’t use the bathroom. Other than that we enjoyed the time spending there and start to feel like home there. We scheduled a complimentary consultant with their lead personal trainer Luis, and we are planing to train with him once coming back from our vacation.

However on March 30th we came across a guy working out next to us in the gym with his mask on his chin and not covering his nose or mouth. We witnessed him finishing his workout and went to the front desk, talked with the receptionist Andy and left. The entire time with his mask lowered to his chin. Without seeing any gesture from Andy to correct this behavior, my husband went ahead and talked to Andy about it. Andy explained that he did not see anyone not wearing a mask at all, which shocked us. My husband got a bit frustrated by Andy’s response but he did not say anything bad. He only suggested him to do a better job next time. Then we left the gym and didn’t think too much of it. The same night after 9pm the owner called my husband and started yelling at him and questioning him why he assaulted Andy. The owner made it clear that if we see something, come to talk to him, and nobody else but him can tell his employees what to do. And then he told us we can leave the gym if we are not happy there, and he will refund us the membership fee accordingly.

This was the most hilarious experience my husband and I had ever encountered. Bottomline, we would expect that any business owner would take his customer’s safety and experience as the most important thing. A responsible manager should investigate the situation, comfort his employees and apologize to his clients for any misunderstandings. What happened to us made us feel that we’d rather deal with big chain companies who have a clear policy than small private businesses that their owners can prefer clients or employees emotionally and irrationally. We got a refund of $39 each person for the maintenance fee, which is fair. Overall, it’s a quite interesting experience and definitely...

If NYC gyms were a reflection of the city’s grit and determination, Absolute Power would be the love child of a procedural drama and a David Fincher film. Tucked away in a basement, this place is dark, gritty, and unapologetically adorned with graffiti. It’s the kind of atmosphere that might inspire you to bench-press your way through a heist scene—but only if you’re not in a wheelchair because, unfortunately, accessibility isn’t part of the design.

When I look for a gym, I want to feel inspired, not like I’ve stumbled into my grandfather’s attic. The equipment here could be straight out of a history museum, relics that have seen better days. Think vintage in a bad way—rusty dumbbells, clunky machines, and a general sense that the gear hasn’t had a proper update since the last century. And speaking of updates, how about one for the owner, Miguel, on customer service? His brash Brooklyn charm might be endearing at the deli, but when it comes to handling complaints about cleanliness, dismissing customers’ concerns isn’t the vibe. Just clean the place, Miguel—do better.

The experience doesn’t improve in the locker rooms either. There’s a sign by the bathroom door asking you to open it slowly to avoid hitting someone’s face. This is not a cute quirk; it’s a liability waiting to happen. We shouldn’t have to fear an accidental assault just by using the facilities.

Then there’s the noise. It’s not the music that’s overwhelming, but the clanging of those old-school iron weights crashing to the floor. My husband, who’s got sensitive ears, was immediately put off. And if you’re a noise-sensitive person like him, this place will have you reaching for the earplugs.

So, who is this gym for? Maybe the only reason you’d find yourself here is proximity—if it’s right next door, it’s convenient. But in a city with so many options, why settle for convenience when you could have cleanliness, care, and equipment that doesn’t feel like it belongs in a relic hunt?

Supporting local businesses is important, but let’s not do it blindly. We deserve better, and if we’re shelling out our hard-earned cash, we...