World Gym in Desert Hot Springs won’t reopen

On the Facebook Page for World Gym in Desert Hot Springs a heartbreaking post from owner Andrew Levine tells the story.

It reads in part, the gym “can’t afford to reopen” and he’s filing for bankruptcy 

The health club on Palm Drive has already been locked up since mid-March because of the pandemic.

It’s filled with equipment that no one is using. 

“It’s sad we already have a lack of business in Desert Hot Springs.  So losing a fellow small business owner in town is heart breaking,” said Eric Pontius, owner of Playoff Sports Lounge across the street from the health club.

Some club members used to come to the lounge after working out.

“Rising tide raises all ships and so having a thriving business next door to me was a positive.  Now hopefully it won’t be a vacant building for very long,” said Pontius.

The bankruptcy is reflective of what is happening across the health club in industry.  24 Hour Fitness filed for bankruptcy earlier this week. 

World Gym’s closure is already having an impact at the only remaining major health club in the city.

Five Star Gym reopened Monday after closing because of the pandemic, and a trainer there says 17 of their newest members have come from World Gym.

The trainer paid compliments to how Andrew Levine ran World Gym.

“He knew what he was doing.  He did a good job.  He knew how to make the members happy but he also knew how to run a successful business,” said Dustin Davies. 

World Gym owner Andrew Levine was not available for comment.

World Gym in Palm Desert and World Gym in Palm Springs are separately owned and operated.  

Representatives at those gyms tell News Channel 3 there are no plans to close those health clubs.