2XL Powerlifting

First, the positive: 2XL is clean, organized, and has modern, well-​maintained equipment. Two of the three owners are highly qualified in their field. The monthly membership fee is very affordable. The place has a vibe of challenge and success. The staff (most of them, anyway) and clientele are affable and fun. Tons of easy parking.
There’s not a lot of negative, but what is there is consequential. During the process of shopping for a trainer, I discovered one co-​owner has almost no professional qualifications or experience in the athletic/​health/​fitness industry prior to opening 2XL even though he claims to be an «expert» and a «trainer». By the way, winning competitive titles and awards does not necessarily qualify someone as coach/​trainer.
Along the way I found a lot of of other curiously odd things about this dude that don’t check out: Our wannabe expert/​trainer has completely meaningless bachelor’s-master’s-doctorate degrees in engineering, all from the same flim-​flam diploma mill. Ahh yes… you can fool some of the people all of the time; the rest of us use google.
This same person has also made numerous on line cheap shots at big name chain health clubs and cardio/​fitness enthusiasts, yet he is a partner in a business that at least on paper offers the same disciplines that he takes so much pleasure in making fun of. Translation: If you are into cardio/​endurance/​weight loss, 2XL will cheerfully accept your money but behind your back they don’t respect you or take you seriously. 2XL is for heavy weight training and that’s it. For everything else I suggest going somewhere that believes in what it is selling and doesn’t make a sport of trash talking the people they want as paying clients.
I also don’t understand 2XL’s hours (or lack of them). They are officially open only 24 hours per WEEK, and they sometimes cut those hours for special events. I can’t figure out if 2XL a serious for-​profit business or a bunch of good ol’ boys having a mid life crisis together in their glorified version of a kids’ basement hangout spot.
I have many misgivings about 2XL but I’m giving them a high rating anyway because it has been around less than six months and shows a lot of promise. It’s not fair to kick a new place in the nuts because of one smug, condescending, unqualified, self-​absorbed asshole with three fake college degrees and more mouth than muscle. I think 2XL will ultimately work out the kinks and evolve into something cool (hint to the other two owners: Reevaluate your business relationship with «Dr. Diplomamill»).
********UPDATE 06/​29/​15********
Actually, this is in response to the owner’s response…
1. Being insured and registering with the State of Illinois is not a certification of competency. All it means is that you pay taxes and are covered if there is a business related accident or lawsuit. Yippee! The non-​response blows off my completely valid observation that at least one 2XL «trainer» has no meaningful professional qualifications and no industry experience prior to opening this business.
2. The other stuff he says about raising money for charity, working with the disabled, being accepting of others, blah, blah, blah, is admirable but not material to the problems I’ve described.
3. Trying to have a five-​star Unilocal review for your own business removed over unflattering comments about one single person tells me that someone over at 2XL is full of himself to the point that he’s OK with throwing the entire operation under the bus to feed his obnoxious ego. How much does narcissism weigh? Congrats… not only was my calling you out as a liar and a fraud not moderated, now you don’t even have the five stars anymore.
I apologize to the other 2XL owners who are legit, but you’ll have to live with your decision to not do due diligence and properly vet this guy before you hitched your wagons together. I found all these red flags without really trying, so you have no excuse.