Gold’s Gym

Disappointed. I decided to not renew my membership at this gym after they raised yearly rates by approximately $ 100.00/yr. I am doing this primarily based on principle. I was told for years that my annual rate would remain the same due to longevity and that the rate was locked in. I was told today due to fine print and for corporate splitting reasons that the rates were not flexible and had to go up. I would have been fine paying a little extra for club improvements, etc., but feel that they lost a long time customer due to greed. It’s not good business to tell a customer something for years, then to change it.

I’ve been going to this gym for the last 2 years and I think I’m done with it by now to be honest.
— I’d say there is at least one machine broken every day so you basically hope that it’s not yours.
— If you’re in the weight room you’ll spend at least 5 minutes looking for clamps to hold the weights on or just go without and hope you’re level and don’t hurt yourself
— No towel service like in the downtown location
— People clearly do not wipe down the machines and even when you want to, the wipes machines are empty
Now all of the above I would easily give a 4 out of 5 for because you know what you’re paying for. What brings this down to a 2 is the customer service and rates.
So one of the great things you get with Golds is supposed to be a constant price during your membership. That isn’t true with this Golds Gym…
2014 — $ 320
2015 — $ 388
2016 — $ 568
That’s right, a 46% increase in rates year over year. I brought this lovely fact up to the assistant manager and all he gave me was a story about the owners breaking up and how «Corporate» is forcing them to increase the prices dramatically. I was okay with the original price increase because they gave me a one month notice so I could prepare. This time, I arrived and they told me my membership has been canceled and I’ll need to pay the joining fee again.
Honestly, thanks for the great two years Golds but a 46% cost increase with no notification… That just shows how much you care about your members.

I’ve been going to Gold’s Gym regularly for a few months now– chosen bc of proximity to home (yay!) and will totally upgrade this to 4 – 5 stars after one thing. classes. especially zumba/​dance type of fitness.
It is SAD. Just have to get this out of the way and then on to the positive. There’s ONE dance class and it’s the weirdest experience Ive ever had. Kind of have to crack up it’s so bad. I will NOT deny it’s great cardio and the people who go are sweet– but whoa. Surreal.
It’s lots of theatrical leaping back and forth with no counts, no cues, pretty sad rhythm skills to watch or mimic and not exactly choreo to each song either.
I respect anyone who teaches and puts them self out there-​props for that– there just has to be more options!
Men and women alike come to tons of classes all over the city– there has to be some zumba/​hip hop instructors that would love to teach some classes here.
(look at Community Fitness packed schedule– and it’s in weird location-​steal a teacher or two for a class here or there!)
Please please begging! Have gone to the one class with friends who feel the same– more options please!
I know it’s originated as a bodybuilding gym, and yes hella buff people here and that’s amazing and wonderful– (hello bicep view from cardio land above) but it’s standard these days to have multiple dance fitness classes at any gym much less a big gym with a great studio.
Otherwise after the remodel– the locker rooms are clean– always tons of machines– with TV’s– yay.
Super sweet friendly staff too, whenever I come and go.
Thanks Gold’s!

Something is wrong with the owners of this gym. Maybe they don’t use gyms themselves. Whatever it is, this gym is really poorly set up and run.
There are plenty of places to go and get a good workout in Seattle. Lots of new fitness and training gyms in Seattle. So why would you go here?
After nearly 2 years of a promised makeover and remodel the gym is worse than before.
Gold’s Broadway nearly doubled in size. But what did we get for all that space? Nothing. No new equipment in the main weight room. In fact all of the free weights bar and Dumbbells and cable machines have been squeezed into the main half of the gym leaving much less room to work out. Your always bumping into equipment or someone trying to use a bench.
Once again NO NEW EQUIPMENT. Just the same old crappy equipment. That is always breaking down. (As of writing this review HALf of all leg machines are busted or «under maintenance») At one point we were promised a new large Cable machine. Instead they added TRX straps making the ONE CABLE MACHINE they do have even more congested. Even gyms half the size of the original have at least two big cable machines. Not here…
Would you like a quiet place to meditate? Maybe do some stretching where you don’t have to listen to aggro gym music? Or a place to do some yoga away from the banging crashing weights? Sorry ’bout that. They now close and LOCK the quiet class room that everyone could use for a quieter workout. When confronted with why they do this you get various excuses. «We don’t want weights on the new floor.» «We don’t want people to take the special class weights out of the room.» They also got rid of most of the pads for doing floor exercises that you could move around. And the ones they do have are now locked in the classroom full time. I have never been to a gym that locks you out of the classroom when it’s not in use.
Over and over during the too lengthy construction we were promised all sorts of new amenities. None of which EVER surfaced. Twice as much floor space. But less space to actually get a good workout. Pay your full gym membership, but you can only use PART of the gym. To make matters worse they just keep letting in more members so the gym gets more and more cramped and crowded.
Here’s the deal: EQUINOX will be opening their first gym in Seattle in about a year and I can’t wait to dump Gold’s for them. This place has gone downhill so fast.
Don’t join Gold’s Broadway.

For a serious lifter, Golds Broadway is as good as it gets within a five mile radius. Nothing else comes close unless you head out to the suburbs. The only competitor, really, is the 24 Hour Fitness on Yale, which is OK but has inferior equipment, a bad parking situation, and an issue with cleanliness.
Golds Broadway has high quality equipment all-​round, plenty of space, and about 97% of what a serious lifter needs. Equipment seems to be well-​maintained, parking is outstanding (2 hours validated in the lot below), hours are decent, and the company is good. This seems to be where the well-​built do their thing. Equipment is a good combination between old school iron and effective modern machines. Seemingly small things — like the availability of staps and belts — go a long way toward making this gym the best around. Locker room is a bit small, but I’d rather have the space dedicated to lifting. Nearby you’ve got GNC, QFC, and Menchies. Plus Emerald City Smoothie if you are in the mood for a bad smoothie (that’s another review).

Yay! So glad the place expanded to make room for more classes (which many members don’t use) so Gold’s could justify jacking up my annual membership by $ 100. Looks like they ran out of money to maintain the workout equipment. So much for my leg workout today; three machines I need out of order.

It’s a nice gym. It has all the basics, it’s pretty spacious, tho I don’t think they use the space efficiently. There really isn’t a good place to deadlift, as they don’t want you to do it in the open area near the TRX.
Lots of dumb bells (that the selfish members hoard when it’s busy :(), plenty of benches, and the machines look well maintained.
The trainers and staff were perfectly nice, tho the trainers looked a little grumpy. Maybe that’s what they’re supposed to do.
Oh, and if you’re good looking, you’re going to get no peace. The boys here are huuuuuuuuungry for sexy tops. I’m not referring to t-​shirts.

They have done a great job upgrading and expanding this place! What once was a small two level area is now a wide-​spread full on gym with more equipment and class space. It makes it seem less crowded when busy and it’s nice to have more areas for stretching. Staff is always friendly and the place is clean. Only sad point is that many times equipment is down for maintenance and won’t be fixed for a week or two… usually just the elliptical machines. Other than that, for the price it’s great!

So I have worked out at this gym many times, never been a member just bought day passes. I like this gym to switch it up a couple times a month from my home gym. I would never buy a membership because the staff is horrible, extremely unfriendly & to be honest borderline rude. They make it seem like its a hassle for them to give me a day pass. Also every time I have gone the day pass price changes any where from $ 10-​$ 20 plus tax. This last time I went they said the owner bumped the day pass price to $ 20 I told them to give my money back & I left.

guys, let’s be real. most gyms are sweat stained, broken down, cluster f*cks. i’m talking locker rooms full of gyrating, sassy, elder-​folk who sit bare naked on benches… pre shower. i speak to you of three ellipticals in the whole joint, two with «out of order» signs and one with the remnants of what looks to be cat vomit crusted precariously on the hand rest. this is the norm i’ve come to know and i have accepted it because, damnit, i want to feel the burn and will wade through any and all adversity to do so.
i read the reviews on here prior to starting my membership, and was expecting the aforementioned familiar hell when i showed up my first day. but people… this place is paradise.
1) CLEAN. yes, all caps. i have abandoned lowercase right now, so pay attention. how can a gym be so clean? i scoured the premises for exercise elves but either they’re too quick and/​or magical or the staff here is just super on top of their shit (read: it’s the latter)
2) soooo maaaany machiiiines! like, woah dude. i haven’t actually counted yet but i think there’s maybe 25 treadmills in the entire place? that’s a lot for a gym, especially one that isn’t super huge like this one. and i’ve not once seen them all occupied either. very impressive weight machine count too, but inevitably you may end up waiting a few minutes for your weapon of choice– there’s a lot, but not of each particular one, of course. they’ve also just added a whole new section which renders the whole gym quite spacious and varied.
3) trainers=yes. i haven’t worked with them all personally, but i have interacted with almost all and they’re extremely friendly, helpful and chill.*
* note: genuinely loling at the dude who said that «the two bearded trainers are stone-​faced and awkward” — he’s referring to trainers who are, in fact, two of the best at this place; they are both personable and a pleasure to work with. it’s comical but also disheartening that people will make assertions like this, especially when they’re so obviously based on an impression and not actual interaction with the person/​people in question. Unilocal reviews have become a very haphazard commodity; it’s unfortunate that there will be people who take those comments as legitimate and be consequently swayed by their falsehood. the reality is that those guys (kyle and eric) are awesome!
4) the staff are so friendly! like, who are these people on here who say they’ve had horrible experiences with the front desk people? did your parents tell you there was no santa claus way too early? have you just come from a ke$ha concert? are you permanently scarred from a public pants-​pooping incident? whatever the case, why are you so angry? i have NEVER had an unpleasant interaction with the staff here. in fact, i am consistently amazed at how personable and helpful they are.
5) location/​ease of process: so not only is the gym located in a mini-​mall with a QFC (convenience much?), but they validate parking for two hours if you come in before 6 pm– TWO HOURS! do you understand the splendor of being able to park for free for two hours in capitol hill? this is like, spotting a unicorn level fantastic. nay– spotting a unicorn engaged in a celebratory dance with a leprechaun on a calm summer’s eve level fantastic.
here’s the bottom line, friends. this is the best gym i have ever been to. it will be the best gym you have ever been to as well, should you be wise enough to patron it.
seacrest OUT.

Really disappointed that this gym with such a huge gay membership does not have a float in the LGBT parade.
Recent management does not keep bathrooms clean, on weekends the saniwipes in the gym are not replaced, owners, when they are there so not interface with members.
Front desk staff always seem to be to busy to say hello or goodbye.
Other than working out, no personality to the place. (Yes, I know it’s only a gym)

I live extremely close to this gym so when a groupon opened a deal for one free month, I decided to try it out. The offer also included two free training sessions, not like I needed it but I was not even offered when I came in. The gym is usable, not ideal whatsoever though. I only came in about 3xs even though I had a month. The vibe is strange and the staff aren’t the friendliest. Def not coming back, I don’t care if the gym was under constructed or not. The atmosphere was just off. I do not recommend. I rather take the extra time to walk down to the 24 hour fitness on Denny and Yale.

Pros — The location cant be beat. The remodel is fantastic. The gear is good and the lobby and locker room are stylish and clean. I’ve found the weights to be top notch and always feel comfortable here. And let’s face it, gyms are still one of the best places to see and be seen and this is truly a major epicenter of Capitol Hill. If you’re new to town, this is a good way to meet folks and get a good workout in. When you’re done, QFC and Broadway awaits. Also, there is a good smoothie/​post workout/​energy drink bar on premises too. You get two fee hours of parking M-​F and after that it’s only a dollar and hour.
Cons — The two bearded steroid trainers are stone faced and awkward. They earn their money by personal training, you would think they would friendlier. The «Master» trainer is the antithesis of healthy. Looks like he just got off of a five day binge. Catty and rude too. The guy at the front desk is a dud too. Overall, not very friendly when you enter the building. Ultimately a bunch of sour faces. Not good.
UPDATE — I cancelled my membership as staff is just too nasty… So long, hello 24 Hour Fitness, love it, BTW!!!

I have really mixed thoughts about this gym. It’s close to my apartment, which is nice. It’s pretty cheap, which is nice.
But there are some serious issues that I really think Gold’s needs to address, and they really haven’t. In fact, since the addition… it’s gotten worse.
I lift. If you also enjoy lifting, this gym is going to be mediocre for you. There’s one, maybe two squat racks. There is no dedicated place for deadlifts, so they just have mats on the ground. That is *ridiculous*. Get some real racks!
The other HUGE issue I’ve noticed: why, seriously WHY, do the bench presses not have safety bars? You’re in Seattle, home to the Seattle Freeze, and you’re forcing people to have a safety spotter instead of being able to bench safely alone. Besides that, spotters fail, and safety bars are backups. That’s just careless!
Furthermore, the Smith machine isn’t a suitable alternative to squatting in a squat rack. It’s the difference between using Google maps and reading a paper map. Smith machines reduce your range of moment and force you into an unnatural movement when you’re squatting. Just get rid of them and replace it with another squat rack. I rarely see people using them, and there’s always a line of people waiting for the squat rack.
They just moved the barbells from the weight room to right next to the front desk, so if you want to do some accessory lifts, you have to walk through most of the gym. It’s not quick.
This place has some issues. It’s not great. It’s not terrible. It’s worse than my college gym, which is impressive, and now I’m actually paying for a gym membership… so, that kind of sucks. If you’re into cardio, this will probably work for you. If you’re not into cardio, prepare for disappointment.

I’ve been going to various Gold’s in several states for the past 10 or so years and this is one of the better ones. It is large and clean. The freeweight area could probably be organized better, there is a lot of dead space. Other than that, no complaints.

I have been thinking about updating my review for several days now and as reluctant as I am to do so, I think at this point my previous 4 Star review no longer stands.
I have no issue with the people who work there… everyone has always been friendly and professional. However this place gets more and more dilapidated and overcrowded with each passing day. I am hopeful that the remodel will alleviate some of these issues but right now it’s pretty annoying. The machines, flooring, benches and equipment are in serious need of replacement and upgrades. The mirrors that have been held together with duct tape for 2+ years still haven’t been replaced. There are holes in the wall, and it is so overcrowded that some days I just walk out without getting my workout in. The free weight area is a joke! There are way too many benches crammed in together and there isn’t even enough space to safely workout. And most of the benches are covered in cracked or ripped vinyl.
There are almost always people working out in walkways and hallways. Yesterday there was a trainer holding a group exercise session right in the middle of the main walkway. There was literally no way to get around them without having to climb over several benches and machines. The stretching area is so ridiculously small for the amount of people that occupy the gym at any given moment that many times I have to wait to use the mats.
Again, I am really hopeful that the expansion will solve these problems and that there is also a budget for NEW equipment. But the remodel has been dragging on for many months now with no end in sight.
If these issues are resolved, I will be happy to amend this review. But if you’re looking for a new gym… right now Gold’s on Broadway is probably not the best bet… unless you want to get in line and wait. For everything.

At the moment, Gold’s Gym is really bad. The benches in the free weights are so close together that it can be dangerous. The flooring in that area is also worn and sticks up in places presenting a tripping hazard. They are about to complete an expansion (which has been ongoing for at least 2 years) so I’m sure it will get better, but it seems that while they have been waiting for the expansion they have let everything deteriorate (most of the equipment is quite worn).
I second all the comments about the severe overcrowding too. It is often necessary to synchronise your exercise with the people either side to avoid hitting each other with weights.

I’ve been a member for a year, and I think it’s come to the point that this gym is severely over-​capacity. Working out in the evening after work is a monumental challenge — 80% of the dumbbells are being used, and people are now hoarding dumbbells and barbells just so they can use them without having to wait.
Often you see people working out in the central walkway as there is no space elsewhere. There is usually a line for the treadmills. No air conditioning — just giant fans — which waft the smell of sweat and body odor throughout the building.
It hasn’t been decorated in a while — the TV’s are boxy CRT’s with fuzzy pictures showing things like CNN and informercials.
The men’s showers have no privacy — just a thin curtain which has two-​inch gaps on either side. The caulking around the tiles has come away completely, and there is a layer of mildew and limescale around the shower and on the curtains. Also the locker room is far too small, and its often a challenge finding a locker that’s available.
Thankfully I managed to cancel my membership after a year — I have read horror stories about how they make it difficult for you — so far it appears to have been effective.

I experienced some difficulties in the beginning of closing my membership. A couple days later they were able to cancel my contract completely and they also withdrew any charges associate with it.
Apparently there was a miscommunication from the beginning. Either way, problem is now solved, and was done so very apologetically and swiftly.
I really appreciate their effort in resolving the matter and after learning that they have month to month memberships I would book again!

I have to update this because I think a 2 star rating is far too generous. The combination of broken &/​or poor equipment & the fact its often so congested that I leave far earlier than I intended makes this nearly an unusable gym. 1 star is the lowest rating I can give so I will go with that.
I guess i’ll see if all the negative comments about trying to cancel your membership& getting a run around are true because I am done with this place.