Good Sweat
Blink Fitness: A sneak peek at Equinox’s new budget-friendly gym
A Blink employee cleans up the Front Porch for the big opening today at noon
This weekend, Equinox, the Ritz-Carlton of fitness brands, is playing the Lanvin-for-H&M game and introducing a new, non-luxury product: the no-frills gym.
Blink Fitness will debut with three locations: Paramus in New Jersey, Yonkers in Westchester, and a Manhattan outpost in the old Tower Records building at East 4th Street and Broadway in Noho. Lines have already formed for the memberships priced at a very reasonable $20 per month.
“After the recession hit, we started to look at places like Planet Fitness and saw an opportunity for us to enter this space and really have a creative expression of what fast, fun, and affordable fitness can look like,” says Dos Condon, the vice president of Blink Fitness.
So what does a $20 a month membership get you?
Blink doesn't skimp on top-of-the-line cardio and strength equipment—it's the same as Equinox's
Industrial modern design, created by the Rockwell Group, for starters. The same top-of-the line cardio and strength equipment made by Life Fitness and Precor (100 cardio machines and 60 strengthening) used at Equinox. A decent-sized stretching area with a “functional zone” floor created by Pavigym, which has some useful elements like a space for ladder drills, and less essential ones like a hopscotch.
What’s missing? Amenities. The locker rooms are attractive, but ultra-cramped. There’s no complimentary Kiehl’s, mouthwash, or even towels to mop the sweat off of your brow. You can borrow one by putting some money into an on-site vending machine or BYOT.
Also absent: group fitness classes and personal training. It’s a decision that likely reflects the main purpose this gym will serve—a place for the thousands of New Yorkers already heavily invested in the boutique fitness scene, who lay out $30 for spin classes, $35 for barre classes, and have a regular yoga studio for which they buy 10-class packs. They just need a place to run and lift.
Exposed columns and bright accents contribute to Blink's modern design
Condon says Blink is suited to the busy professional short on time and for (less-committed) newcomers, who may not be $150-monthly contract material, we suspect. “It’s accessible for people who don’t currently go to gyms,” Condon explains. “I think newbies are going to feel very comfortable here.”
To make them comfortable, there’s the club entrance, which Blink calls the Front Porch. It’s being billed as a social area for members to linger with a few stools and suped-up vending machines that sells healthy-ish beverages and snacks. The machines will soon carry other items like iPod earbuds, and, yes, towels.
With the Blink Noho opening its doors today, and New Yorkers flocking to the $20-per-month gym (plus enrollment fee), should we be worried about getting a treadmill? “There are easy business solutions to something that’s going to be very popular,” Condon says. “Will we allow people to wait in lines to get on a piece of equipment? No, we won’t allow that to happen.” —Lisa Elaine Held
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I wish this was around when I was trying to find an inexpensive place to use at treadmill while half marathon training last winter! This gym is a great idea. If it were closer to me, I wouldn’t think twice about having a membership just to have more options. Hopefully this idea expands.
Checked it out on Saturday, place is CLEAN, and was empty. It’ll be interesting to see how buys it is, but it looks great!
Joined Blink Paramus. Opens today! Looks great from a distance. I wasn’t available to do the pre-opening tour.
I’ve been debating this gym ever since the pre-sale was out. If it was closer to my apartment or work, I’d definitely join. Blink – come to Brooklyn!
This is brilliant. I had been paying for Physique, Exhale, yoga, personal training and a gym. I’ve scaled everything back because it didn’t seem to make sense. This would have fit perfectly and had I known about it sooner, would have kept my old routine!
I second that: Blink would be perfect for Brooklyn!
will have to swing by to see if it will fit into my commute. if so, I’ll leave my current gym for this amazing deal!
Thanks for sharing this great option–really, other than group fitness (spinning for me) and a locker room (i’d rather go home sweaty), Blink is perfect for me. I’m there!
i third the idea – blink brooklyn please!!
Sounds like a great idea. Hope they open one on the Upper West Side. The only thing I’d miss in comparison with a regular gym is free towels. I’d adapt.
IN PARTICULAR, PARK SLOPE – SAVE US FROM CRUNCH!
Sorry – that was supposed to read: BLINK PLEASE COME TO BROOKLYN FOURTHED!
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PLEASE BRING A BLINK TO BROOKLYN!!!
These look like great gyms. You can find gyms like these through http://www.soolis.com/gtms
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They just opened a new Blink right around my building in Parkchester. Nice gym except I wished they had spin bikes. I used to spin at NYSC; but I canceled my membership to this more affordable gym. And, so far, is even cleaner that NYSC. Please, please, please, bring some spin bikes….
Good idea I join plant fitness on church ave and there r no stair masters they said they don’t carry stair masters I was turn off hope u guy carry them and I will be joining.
I join its the best. cant wait for the 116 st area to open
thanks so much.