Almost five years from the day it opened, the Washington Sports Clubs in the Old Centreville Crossing Shopping Center is closing up shop. It's last day here is Saturday, Nov. 30.
"The landlord and we have agreed to disagree," explained Pete Bazzel, senior director of Town Sports International, parent organization to Washington Sports Clubs. "It very much is a disappointment. We've been pleased to be in the community — Centreville is a great location."
The club opened here, Jan. 31, 1997, and grew to 1,350 members. And Bazzel says the relationship between the patrons and club has always been good. But when it became evident that the landlord-tenant dispute couldn't be solved, the club began notifying its members, about 90 days ago.
"We gave them an opportunity to transfer their memberships to our Fairfax club at 11001-C Lee Highway [across from Border's books], on the corner of Routes 50 and 29," he said. "And a fair amount did."
Bazzel said the club has no plans to relocate in the immediate vicinity, but "if an opportunity presents itself, we'd certainly look into it." Washington Sports Clubs has 12 full-time employees there, and many will transfer to the club's Fairfax or West Springfield locations.
Centreville manager Zeke Zielinski is sorry to see it close: "This is one of the nicest clubs in this area and the only Washington Sports Clubs [locally] with a basketball court."
Many of the patrons are also disappointed. "I'm really sorry about it because I think we really need something [here] to feed into the Little Rocky Run community and [other nearby neighborhoods]," said Alina Neas of Little Rocky Run. A charter member, she works out there three times a week; her husband does likewise. "It's so close for me here," she said. "Now I'm gonna have to go to Fairfax."
Since August, Clifton's Constance Connolly has taken fitness instructor Terry Dabrowski's Masters in Motion class for seniors. "Everybody loves her," said Connolly. "She sets up a program for you and makes sure it keeps you enthused. Since I started, I've lost 15 pounds and the arthritis in my knees feels better."
Regarding the closing, she said, "I think it's a shame because this [location] is more convenient for me." But she'll stay with it in Fairfax. Said Connolly: "I'm not giving up my exercise."
Bill Kreitz and Toni Nolan of Fair Oaks are also in the seniors class. "We have 15-20 people in our group," said Nolan. "We do cardio [exercises] on the treadmill to warm up and the weights to cool down — total body."
They work out twice weekly, 60-90 minutes each time. "There's a lot of camaraderie among the group," said Nolan. "We're all going to the Fairfax club." Kreitz said it's closer to their homes, so they won't mind: "I haven't seen [that] club, yet, but I've heard it's nice."
But for Chris Zavadowski, of The Elms apartments across from the club, the closing makes a definite difference. He goes there six days a week, one to 1 1/2 hours per time, alternating between weights and cardio workouts.
"It's been great," he said. "This was one of the big selling points of moving in — I'd wake up and come across the street and work out. There's no wait for any of the equipment, and everyone's nice." Now, he said he'll probably switch to Life Time Fitness, in another part of Centreville, rather than drive to Fairfax.
"I don't want to have to deal with Route 29 traffic in the morning — time is too precious," said Zavadowski. "I'm disappointed; this was the closest gym — it was hard to beat."