Chalk Gyms — Local services in New York

I was a member at Chalk FOR 2 YEARS and also at Retrofitness and Equinox in Williamsburg at the same time because I love different classes. Just moved to Miami but had to evacuate because of Hurricane Irma. I had cancelled my membership 10 days before so I came back to explain my situation and ask if I could do a yoga class. Sunday night IS LOW TRAFFIC at that gym. Really needed a workout so bad after days on the road from Miami to Nyc. I would never have expected them to treat me the way they did. Jack the front desk guy gave me an attitude and told me if I wanted to participate to yoga I had to pay a 2 day pass: 68$ (my 2 years membership was 80 a month !) I couldn't believe it. He was very rude when I asked to see a manager he said I had to leave. Wouldn't let me talk and assaulted me (I have a video) by standing in front of me and walking towards me to scare me. After the incident I got a mail from the owner who said since I wasn't a member anymore I shouldn't even have entered the gym...!? UNBELIEVABLE All these guys care about is your money 💰 I put this comment on Google it was removed I am posting it again. I'm just sharing what happened. As a matter of fact EQUINOX and RETROFITNESS told me they were pleased to welcome me. So if you are new in the neighborhood and hesitate between these gyms to get a membership.... here is my story. Might be useful. I'm really shocked the way Chalk treated me...

Overall been a member for close to 2 years and have to say Chalk is just ok. Before I go on about the downfalls of the gym, I want to say 5 stars when it comes to how clean the place is as well as how great the front staff are - specially Ryan. Ok- first and foremost I am all for spending the money but the Fee they charge is high for the experience you get. The equipment is easily from the 90s or max early 2000s and the owner has no interest in upgrading or getting new equipment. The owner is all about keeping his cost down, you can tell that because the guy has the thermostat on at 74 degrees and most of the time it is 76 or so in the upstairs area during the summer. On 90 degree plus days, Ive seen the temp measure 80 degrees plus- which frankly is not safe. Crunch for 20 dollars has the a/c flowing and blowing. The other thing is really some of the equipment has seen better days specially the main jungle gym which looks like its about to fall apart or is rarely maintained. The yoga mats are not looking hot too. I would really recommend a new chest fly machine and universal back machine with multiple grips. If you are looking for easy gym solely due to location, sure go for it thats why I did but I think the reality is its outdated and expensive for what it really is, and theres no plan for the owner to put a cent into...

I've been a member at Chalk Gym on and off over the last year, and while there are some great aspects, there are definitely areas that could use improvement.

On the positive side, I took a yoga class and thought it was excellent—well-instructed and a great addition to their offerings. The overall atmosphere has a good energy, and I appreciate having access to a sauna, though the cramped locker room setup makes it more stressful than relaxing for me.

That said, for the cost of the membership, I do feel like the value doesn’t fully match up. Some of the equipment, especially the cardio machines, are dated or in need of repair. The treadmills get the job done, but they’re definitely showing their age. I also wish there were a few more cardio bike machines to provide more options. A particular issue I’ve noticed is with the weights on the pull-up bars—they tend to get stuck together, likely due to moisture in the air, making them difficult to use. Small maintenance issues like this add up over time and make the experience feel less premium than the price suggests.

Overall, Chalk has potential and some great perks, but for the price, I’d love to see better upkeep of equipment, more cardio options, and a more spacious locker...