Body Zone Fitness members got in their last workouts Wednesday at the downtown Santa Rosa health club that has closed after nearly two years in business.
Body Zone took over the space previously occupied by Body Central. That all-women’s gym closed after a judge ruled in a lawsuit that it must admit men as members.
The poor economy was the reason for Body Zone’s demise; membership has fallen 25 percent, a manager on site Wednesday night said. The manager declined to give his name and Body Zone’s owner was not available for comment.
A sign inside Body Zone advised patrons the business lost its lease and that all memberships had been transferred to 5th Street Fitness, a block away.
Membership at Body Zone was about two-thirds female. Its predecessor, Body Central, opened in 1997 as an all-women’s gym.
The state Department of Fair Employment and Housing sued Body Central after a Santa Rosa man, Phillip Kottle, complained he was denied membership in 2003 because of his gender.
Body Central violated California’s civil rights law barring businesses from discriminating based on sex, race or religion, according to attorneys for the state Department of Fair Employment and Housing.
Kottle was admitted to the gym a year ago as part of a settlement.
State attorneys went back to court, alleging Body Central violated the agreement because it didn’t provide showers and lockers for men.
A Sonoma County judge agreed with the state and ordered Body Central to pay $50 each day in fines starting Jan. 31 unless it had equal facilities for men. The gym closed a month later.
Source - http://www.pressdemocrat.com
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