WATCH: To the shock of many members and staff, a popular local gym with locations across Vancouver Island shut its doors overnight. V.I. Fitness is now in bankruptcy proceedings. Bailiffs are clearing out all the equipment from the company’s locations.
A surprise for people going for their morning workout Wednesday with the closure of a Vancouver Island fitness chain.
VI Fitness, that operated at numerous locations around Greater Victoria, Nanaimo, Campbell River and Courtenay, sent an email Tuesday night to customers saying the company has filed for bankruptcy.
Movers already removing equipment from @Vifitnessbowen as people arrive to find out gyms across #Vancouver Island are bankrupt @CHEK_News pic.twitter.com/6B1YqhlMTl
— Skye Ryan (@SkyeRyanCHEK) May 2, 2018
All locations are permanently closed, effective immediately.
At the VI Fitness centre at University Heights Mall in Saanich, trainers and customers arrived to find a sign on the doors from mall staff saying the fitness facility is closed until further notice.
VI Fitness at University Heights Mall in Saanich, one of several locations of the fitness company on Vancouver Island permanently closed. VI Fitness told customers in an email it has filed for bankruptcy.
Trainers who were present said they were waiting for a bailiff to arrive to let them into VI Fitness to gather personal belongings.
In its letter to customers, VI Fitness said despite its best efforts, its “business model is no longer sustainable due to an increasingly competitive landscape. We can no longer afford to keep the business operating at a loss.”
VI Fitness has entered into bankruptcy and will be closing all locations effective immediately. We sincerely regret the impact on our employees, members, and partners. Appreciate everyone’s support and for making us a part of your community over the years. https://t.co/ifRDZnQuTN
— V.I. Fitness Centres (@VIFCentres) May 2, 2018
An email went out in the middle of the night to more than 110 staff members, numerous contract employees, and all its members.
According to documents filed in B.C. Supreme Court, the fitness centres are the centre of a lawsuit. Family members who owned the company were suing and counter-suing each other.
They filed for bankruptcy May 1. Consumer Protection BC says the only option for members is to cancel their memberships.
The company began operating health and fitness service in 1993 and said it is the biggest fitness chain on the Island.
VI Fitness told customers in an email that it filed for bankruptcy Tuesday, with all locations on Vancouver Island permanently closed.
Andy Neal
