Bonney Lake's First Gym Folds to Prime Fitness

At the beginning of 2012, Bonney Lake’s is bustling with activity.

“It’s so busy, the janitor is giving tours,” said general manager Brent Mounts.

Many prospective members want to lose some holiday fat and keep their New Year’s resolutions, but others are weighing the option of joining because they were forced to.

Last month, Prime Fitness purchased Bonney Lake Fitness, gaining access to its some 1,500-member bank.

John Bahlenhorst, owner of Bonney Lake Fitness, said that a decline in membership pushed him to shutter his business at the start of 2012, after 11 years in the community.

“There was just too much competition in town,” he said sadly as he and a few others cleaned up the space on Tuesday. Bahlenhorst declined to say any more about the specifics of the deal, only that losing his business was one of the hardest experiences of his life.

“We’ve been here a long time. The people here have been wonderful,” he said. “We took a lot of pride in that.”

Bonney Lake Fitness members were told about the gym closing the week before the New Year and were encouraged to join Prime Fitness, but the hike in prices left some discouraged.

“We’re being realistic, we’re not a fix all for everyone,” said Mounts. “It was a bit of a hostile environment for a while… we seemed like the big guy eating everyone’s lunch and raising rates. Those perceptions and misinformation were really unfounded.”

Membership prices at Bonney Lake Fitness ranged from $5 to $24, said Mounts. A membership at Prime Fitness costs $32 a month for an 18-month membership, or $36 a month for a 12-month membership.

Mounts said he anticipates about 40 to 50 percent of the Bonney Lake Fitness members to join his club and has already increased his staff and class options to accommodate them. He’s hired a Bonney Lake Fitness trainer and front desk staff member, and plans to give the members a two-month grace period to give Prime Fitness a shot, plus waive their enrollment fees.

“We’re hoping that they are going to see the content of our classes and appreciate the level of service and atmosphere here,” said Mounts. “We are four-and-a-half times larger than Bonney Lake Fitness and have a lot more options.”

Mounts said that while Prime Fitness courts its new members, he doesn’t want to forget about his original clientele.

“We are really mindful to take care of initial customer base that got us where we are,” said Mounts. “Our concern is really, how will we integrate these new people?”

There are a couple new spin and Zumba classes, turbo kick and a new mat Pilates class to choose from at Prime. Mounts said they are hiring new trainers “all the time” and he’s looking forward to seeing the impacts of the buyout on his business.

Meanwhile, Bonney Lake Fitness staff and trainers have all moved on – Balenhorst said that most have found employment at gyms elsewhere. The equipment will soon be shipped to other workout locations across the nation. The large electronic readerboard that used to beckon new customers is now advertising its availability.

“It’s just sad,” said Maile Gatchell, former manager of Bonney Lake Fitness. “We were the first gym in Bonney Lake. It’s hard to let go of that.”