FITNESS SF - Oakland

Oakland, 600 Grand Ave, Oakland, CA 94610 | ★ 4.1 (275 Review)

📞 +1 415-348-6377

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Gym Fitness center Personal trainer

About the Club

Experience the relaxed East Bay energy at FITNESS SF Oakland, a spacious 2-story fitness facility located on the north side of Lake Merritt. With stunning neighborhood views and a welcoming, tight-knit community, this gym is your destination for fitness and connection. Whether you're strength training, working with a personal trainer, or taking in the scenic vibes, FITNESS SF Oakland provides the perfect blend of community, convenience, and state-of-the-art equipment to help you reach your goals in a supportive gym environment.

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 FITNESS SF - Oakland
 FITNESS SF - Oakland
 FITNESS SF - Oakland
 FITNESS SF - Oakland
 FITNESS SF - Oakland

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Reviews

Freeman Dance

★ 2

Source: Google

Katie K.

★ 3

Guys are annoying there but the equipment is all you need to get ripped

Source: Google

Lar Bryer

★ 4

Fitness SF in Oakland is a smaller gym absolutely stuffed with equipment. It’s well kept up. Machines all work consistently and they are always cleaning.

Members span every racial, gender, and age demographic. I’ve never witnessed attitude thrown at other members.

It’s size doesn’t allow for a pool, studios for group exercise, hot tubs, saunas, or basketball, handball, squash, or pickleball courts, so it’s limited to cardio and resistance training.

It’s the staff that make it truly outstanding though. We’ve been working with Jeremy Jouanne for about a year. He’s incredibly knowledgeable, kind, caring, accepting, creative, interesting, and reliable. He’ll push us just enough to keep us challenged, but he’ll always keep an eye to safety. That’s important for two septuagenarians.

We’ve had memberships at a variety of gyms and clubs over the years. Fitness SF-Oakland offers a fantastic value. I’d love to see them expand to include group exercise areas, but they otherwise meet our needs perfectly.

Source: Google

Vincent Van Patten

★ 5

Great gym, spacious and clean with modern equipment!

Source: Google

Bharath Sitaraman

★ 5

If you’re looking for a pure no frills gym experience, this is the place to go. Staff is kind, all the equipment works, and there’s a good amount of squat racks and benches, especially considering the overall footprint.

I just wish people would rerack their weights properly…

Source: Google

Michael Powers

★ 5

I found myself back to Fitness SF in Oakland after working out at home since the pandemic started. I have a history of lower back problems so was a little concerned about getting back to a gym. I booked 8 training sessions with Jeremy Jouanne. He was FANTASTIC! I wanted to focus on lower body and core to protect my back and Jeremy crushed it. He could tell that I had a good workout base and gave me safe but super effective and exercises that I have been able to easily implement into my own routine. Also, Jeremy is easy to talk to and fun to train with. If you're thinking about sessions with a trainer I can't recommend Jeremy at Fitness SF Oakland enough.

Source: Google

Emmanuel artega

★ 5

Fitness SF Oakland is a clean, well-equipped gym in a super convenient location near Lake Merritt. There’s a great mix of machines, free weights, and lifting platforms; perfect for all kinds of workouts. The staff is friendly, the vibe is welcoming, and the locker rooms with rainfall showers are a nice bonus. Great spot for anyone looking for a solid gym in Oakland.

Source: Google

xiamara starr

★ 5

Jalen provided great service. I came to the gym for a tour and he was extremely helpful and attentive!

Source: Google

Celeia McCoy

★ 5

The gym is very clean and orderly, people there are respectful and serious about their workout regiment

Source: Google

Esme Reynosa

★ 5

This gym is very clean and have great staff! I especially appreciate Yuritzi, She taught me different exercises to use with intention! My confidence in the gym has grown since, thank you so much!

Source: Google

Josh Higgins

★ 5

I was in town looking for a new gym to join and the staff there were incredibly pleasant! Had the pleasure of getting the breakdown and view of the facility by a staff member named Mimi who was incredibly nice and cordial.

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Tyshaun Brock

★ 5

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Frisco Dragon

★ 5

A very complete gym. 2 floors of cardio, machines, free weights. Staff is EXTREMELY helpful, and the manager ensures that the place runs smoothly.

Source: Google

Alexandra L

★ 3

Clean & basic gym. Good for self directed exercise, and great for a quick workout if you live very close. They do have two HIIT classes per week (one at 6am during the week, and 9am on Sunday). Would love to see mat pilates added to this once or twice a week.

They used to have saunas which a lot of people used until they were removed during the pandemic. I hope they bring these back, I used it every time. Love the addition of the massage chair, 2 chairs would be great so more people can use it.

No enrollment fees aren't really a thing, they charge you 'last months fee' - i.e. the month before you joined.

Source: Google

Barbara Jovanovic

★ 4

The cleaners at this gym are exceptional and working super hard! The gym itself is well equipped but often very busy. My main issue is that there doesn't seem to be any cooling, it's way too hot in the gym all the time.

Source: Google

Alexander Verner

★ 5

Source: Google

Ool

★ 1

this would be the perfect gym if there wasn’t fake influencer with camera tripods everywhere. it’s IMPOSSIBLE to workout here and not be filmed. blows my mind why they would allow this it’s such a privacy issue and so uncomfortable.

Source: Google

Liping Sun

★ 1

Do not join this scam gym! Worst experience ever!!
This is by far the worst gym I have ever been to! I canceled my membership on March 11 because I was moving to another city. But on March 28, they still charged me $59! When I confronted the front desk, they shamelessly blamed it on their cancellation policy and told me to speak to a manager. Guess what? The manager was nowhere to be found—no matter how many times I tried!
Even worse, I found out that many other customers have had the exact same issue. This place is a total scam, robbing people of their money without accountability. If you don’t want to deal with unauthorized charges, endless frustration, and terrible customer service, STAY AWAY!!

Source: Google

Daniel Calvo

★ 2

The gym was good, it felt clean and well maintained. I am moving soon, so I had to cancel my membership. I am now being told that I will be paying another month of membership before it is completely cancelled.

Source: Google

Jaqueline B

★ 5

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David Weigle

★ 5

Best decision I’ve made was to splurge on training session with Jeremy at the Oakland location. It was life changing and showed me it’s never too late to start taking care of yourself. There’s nothing in life better than taking care of yourself that you can spend both money and time on. Worth every penny. Jeremy was able to assess my weaknesses and help me combate them at 68 yrs old. I truely believe with his help I came out of a downhill health spiral. And once exercising becomes a habit you can completely change your life. But most of us need a way to get started. And making a commitment by hiring a trainer is the best first step. I feel so blessed I was matched up with Jeremy, who was able to help me get thru multiple physical limitations.

Source: Google

Elena Podzorova

★ 4

Normal

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sameer rafiq

★ 1

I came from out of country and this is by far the worst gym staff and experience I have ever encountered. I was told I could use a free 1 day trial and after signing up they still charged me $20 because I was “not local.” The staff had contradicted what they previously told me. For 2 days I had to spend $20 USD a day. The staff didn’t honour what they said they would. I would not recommend going to this gym, I will certainly never come here again. The staff is not understanding and clearly does not know their own terms and conditions. Not to mention, the equipment is low quality.

Source: Google

Taylor Jaszewski

★ 5

Haven't been a member of a gym for a long time, but have had a great experience here. I've been doing training with Yuri, who has been absolutely excellent - she's given really helpful lessons on technique and helped me design a workout/diet plan for the days where I'm not training with her. Overall a great gym and a terrific trainer!

Source: Google

Justin M Walker

★ 5

Well-kept facilities. Clean and functioning equipment. Competent and attentive staff. This place is everything you need with nothing you don't at an affordable price and in a great location. Parking can be a bear so enjoy the beautiful surrounding neighborhood and walk or bike over.

Source: Google

Shalini Chatterjee

★ 5

I’ve been working with Yuri, a personal trainer at this gym, and it’s been a really wonderful experience. I’ve been hesitant to get a personal trainer because of financial constraints, but it’s definitely been worth it!! Yuri has gone above and beyond to help me feel comfortable in the gym and help me stay accountable. I definitely feel much stronger after our work together! She’s great about pushing me without being intimidating, and always makes sessions better with her great sense of humor. I love working with her!

Source: Google

Worthly Au

★ 1

I was in town temporarily so I bought a one month membership thinking that it was $60 as it says on their website. I walk in and before I pay I ask the front desk to verify that it is actually $60 and was told yes. A month later I check my card to see that I was charged $99 for the one month prepaid and they refuse to refund me the $39 even though I was notified that it would be $60 before purchase. Otherwise its a cramped but decent gym, but this switch up is deceptive.

Source: Google

Cole Caceres

★ 5

Staff are friendly - special shoutout to Jalen for always being super helpful!

Source: Google

Morgan Myers

★ 5

Great gym, amazing customer service (ty for the spot Jalen 👑)

Source: Google

Naomie Flores

★ 5

This is more of a review about my experience training with Yuritzi B. (Personal trainer) at fitness sf. Yuri is an exceptional, positive, and ethical personal trainer who helped me overcome some of the biggest mental barriers I’ve ever faced. Working out was never easy for me, but Yuritzi’s unwavering support, dedication, and encouragement made all the difference. She not only taught me proper exercises and how to connect my mind to my muscles but also provided the emotional support I needed as I navigated my insecurities about being in the gym.

I’m so grateful for everything she’s done for me and deeply appreciate the care and effort she puts into her clients. If I hadn’t moved so far away, I’d still be training with her in a heartbeat. Yuritzi is truly one of a kind!

Source: Google

Kelly A Ball

★ 5

My Husband and I have been going to FitnessSF for about 3 years. Once the world opened up again we joined and haven't looked back.

This gym has the feel of a neighborhood gym with amenities of a mainstream gym. Familiar faces and towels!

Also, you get 1 free meeting with a trainer to orient you to the gym or help you come up with a plan. I thought I would just take advantage of this 1 free meeting to get on the right track but when I met with my trainer Yuritzi, she had such good advice about form and general health that really inspired me to do more sessions with her. I feel so much more confident and motivated after my meetings with Yuritzi. She seriously pushed me further than I thought I could go and now I push myself because I know what I can do!

Highly recommend this cozy gym and Yuritzi as a trainer!

Source: Google

ELIZABETH DIAZ

★ 5

I've had the pleasure of working with Yuri, a fantastic fitness trainer, and I couldn't be happier with my progress. Yuri is incredibly knowledgeable and skilled, tailoring each workout to fit my personal goals and fitness level. Her positive attitude and motivational spirit make every session enjoyable and challenging. She pays close attention to form and technique, ensuring that I get the most out of each exercise while avoiding injury. If you're looking for a dedicated and inspiring trainer, Yuri is definitely the one to choose!

Source: Google

Lauren Combs

★ 5

I just started with a personal trainer here. Mae has been so kind and personal. I’m relatively out of shape and she’s been so encouraging. I feel like I finally have the momentum to take better care of myself. I highly recommend training with her.

Source: Google

Emilia Calderon

★ 4

It has everything you need and is a solid gym, however, it's not as big as the one in SF. The second floor is not well ventilated, it always gets hot and stuffy. Also, there are not enough bench press stations.

Source: Google

Bob N

★ 3

Compared to the ones in SF, this is the red-headed stepchild getting the hand-me down equipment and not as clean or well-maintained. You also need to bring your own lock, unlike the ones in SF which have dials and/or keypads.

Source: Google

Dan Alper

★ 4

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Gregory Eskridge

★ 5

Clean and respectful environment!

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Oscar Sanchez

★ 5

Great place for a good workout

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Jose De La Torre

★ 4

It’s overall a decent gym! Equipment is clean, has everything you need and it’s in a great location! The only thing I would comment on is the staff. I’ve been to many gyms and the front desk always greets the members. This gym doesn’t do that. I ask them a question about my account once and the lady behind the desk didn’t seem she was interested in helping me. If the staff was more polite and attentive it would be an awesome gym.

Source: Google

Drew Spitzer

★ 5

Solid gym, considerate staff, clean facility, good equipment. Shoot for off times to avoid crowds

Source: Google

Oub Lck Oficial

★ 2

The Gym quality is awesome, but the security is horrible.
I left my $52 digital lock accidentally close by the handle of the locker door and the next day it was gone.Any of the staff members gave me a convincing answer of what could happen. No Shame or Apologies, really disappointing.

Source: Google

Zachary Duquette

★ 3

I joined about 2 weeks ago.
They have a mix of very dated equipment and some new equipment.
Most of it is old or worn out.

They should really get rid of some of the equipment here. It’s so cluttered on the second floor and I can either 100% certainty there is stuff here that is never being used.

This gym needs a thorough deep clean, reorganization, and a proper inventory to fix equipment.

Source: Google

Joseph

★ 4

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Willex Fan

★ 3

Good:
Machine and weights are well organized.
Clean and provide towels.
Not too crowded.

Bad:
It is too small, you literally have to squeeze in between machines.
And there’s no AC on the second floor, which is uncomfortably hot during summer.

Still this is the best option in the neighborhood.

I miss my old gym 🥲

Source: Google

Clay Brooks

★ 5

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Benjamin Hoehn (mojomogul)

★ 5

Source: Google

Baska Baaska

★ 5

I didn’t write any reviews while I was a member because I didn’t want too many people flocking to my gym. 😅
But now that I’ve moved away, I have to say this was the best place to work out! The gym is very clean, with an extensive range of equipment that suits every type of workout.
The workers are super nice and always ready to assist. From weightlifting to cardio machines and group classes, this gym has it all. The environment is friendly and motivating, making it an ideal place to exercise.
If you’re nearby, you have to check this place out!
I am looking around nice places near my new home but I don’t think I can find 🥲 it made me miss my old gym

Source: Google

Lamarr Sutton

★ 4

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brittany

★ 4

This gym is always clean and the bathrooms are always clean. There are a ton of towels and personal bottles for us to walk around with to keep our stations clean. It gets crowded during peak hours, but not overwhelmingly so. People seem to generally be friendly letting me cycle in with them on machines. my personal trainer never followed up after the free training session and I had a bunch of issues trying to get scheduled to begin with so that was a damper on my experience. The monthly membership price is standard and this is conveniently located.

Source: Google

Joaquin Soto

★ 3

Always crowded, kinda condensed inside from what I'm used to

Source: Google

Yoana Tchoukleva

★ 5

I ADORE this gym! 🌟❤️ The equipment is great, the changing room is sparkling clean and the staff is amazing! Shout out to Shila and the whole team who make this gym my favorite ever!

Source: Google

Jaydubs 21

★ 5

Clean, modern gym. Good layout. Love the second floor windows overlooking the lake. Chill vibe. Polite people. No Meatheads. Affordable!

Source: Google

Jeffrey Miner

★ 2

I’m bummed. $99/mo for this gym. After recent renovations, they’re discontinuing all group classes at this location. Additionally, the lockers don’t have built-in locks — you have to bring your own.

These are big let-downs and a missed opportunity to bring this location in line with the more bougie Transbay Terminal FITNESS SF location.

Feels like the Oakland location got the shaft. Hate to say it, but I’ll likely be switching to YMCA or 24 Hour or Planet Fitness after my membership ends here.

EDIT—update: looks like they’ve increased their prices. It now costs $109.95/mo for all-gym access. Even less incentive to rejoin.

Source: Google

Ryan Keating

★ 5

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Joe Morrison

★ 5

Great gym! You'll have an amazing workout. A ton of equipment that's kept very CLEAN. And the employees and manager, are extremely nice and helpful!

Source: Google

Daniel Krueger

★ 5

Great Gym! Clean and well maintained. Busy but not overwhelmingly busy. Definitely would recommend it to anyone.

Source: Google

Rob Ryan

★ 5

I’ve been training 4x / week with Nick Sanderson, one of the personal trainers. He’s always on time and professional about our lifts. Of all the staff, he’s definitely right for a bodybuilding vibe. I set clear goals for my back muscles’ hypertrophy and Nick has definitely delivered. One of the best, and 10/10 worth the investment.

The gym location is prime: right by Lake Merritt. It has enough equipment that it’s the best gym in the area, but tbh it’s not fancy. Don’t expect a luxe locker room. No steam room, no sauna, no premium amenities. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ . It’s not Equinox, but it’s also $50/mo instead of $300/mo.

Source: Google

Miranda Dafoe

★ 4

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Mads McCausland

★ 5

Super friendly staff, spacious, very well equipped, good location, complimentary towel service, great price and membership structure. I can’t wait to come back!

Source: Google

Lisa Russell

★ 5

So far I am really happy with my decision to join Fitness SF Oakland. The gym is a decent size, plenty of cardio and weight machines. I am learning how to use the gym floor on my own (I'm used to doing gym classes). Staff are friendly, reception staff are lovely. The other gym users have been nice too. Everything is clean. I'd love it if they had classes on offer. Especially Body Pump! They do have the Les Mills equipment so you could potentially do your own on-demand Les Mills class but group classes are nicer.

Source: Google

Kenyatta Davis

★ 5

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Nick Lo Kim Lin

★ 5

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Dzmitry Zemniakou

★ 5

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Jonathan Ruffier

★ 3

Tl;Dr - it's a decent gym with upgrades on the way that you can do a lot with, but you'll be around some people with poor gym etiquette; they can smell so bad you'll need to leave when they're in the gym. For the base level membership, this gym is well worth it, with some non deal breaking frustrations along the way.

It's a gym. It has gravity and things with mass for you to lift and get strong. Good variety of equipment, space is SUPER tight. Been going here for a little over a year and been able to get most of the things I need. They're currently upgrading to a turf area, which is the area of greatest need, so you can do carry exercises as well. Trainers are decent, some are better than others. Front desk staff is great. 80% of other members are fine.

The biggest issue is the other 20%. Their gym etiquette isn't that great. Some people use 4 or 5 machines for circuit training during busy hours, some of the older patrons get really pushy or verbally aggressive when they want to use equipment you're on, many people walk within inches of your barbell when you're mid lift. Worst is that some of the patrons have such horrible body odor that you can smell them from 10 feet away and you can't workout near them in a small gym, some of the patrons smell so bad you can't be in the free weight area when they're nearby, which really ruins a lift.

Source: Google

Jeremy Gathright

★ 5

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Laquita Rabago

★ 5

Great class based gym that I would recommend to anyone looking to get and stay in shape. They keep the classes fresh which keeps me motivated to get up everyday at 6AM.

Source: Google

Joshua Wasserman

★ 5

I have been working with Nick, a personal trainer at Fitness SF, for a few weeks, and it has been a great experience. Having worked w my fair share of both good and bad trainers over the years, I can truly say Nick has been a pleasure to work with. He is a consummate professional: on time, focussed, and meticulous w/ recording the sets/reps/weights to track progress. He also checks in on me during the week to see how I am doing. Definitely recommend working with him if you're looking to invest in personal training.

Source: Google

Shah Smoak

★ 5

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Kati Warner

★ 5

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Robert Lee

★ 5

Had a drop in visit. If they had short term visitor membership it would be even better!

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christopher aquino

★ 4

Great gym

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McKenna Cole

★ 4

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Marijane Hope Dalayan Castillo

★ 4

This place is less fancy than some of the other locations (I'm looking at you, SF Transbay). No bidets, no solid wood bathroom doors with plantation shutters, no dry bar, no steam ironing closet, no free mouthwash, no ear swabs nor heated towel racks here. You must bring your own lock (heaven forbid!). Some of the machines have screens that don't turn on, or the display has snow or other irregularities. That said, it is full of awesome people and is at a beautiful location by Lake Merritt. If you run or walk the lake, you could follow it up with a gym session. Check in is easy with the QR code, staff are kind and friendly. The showers have been upgraded to marble tile, with rainfall shower heads, which are gorgeous. The water can take a while to heat up, but it's worth waiting for. Other patrons are kind and respectful. Just because it has fewer amenities I give it 4 stars, but it's still a great gym.

Source: Google

Takeshi Tanaka

★ 1

The Customer Service of Front Desk Staff was the epitome of Poor lackadaisical could care less about accommodating Consumers

And much More about their egos, and Power plays

Poorly Managed Run and Operated

Source: Google

S H

★ 3

Great for the price. Does the trick. It’s clean and well-equipped. However I have two complaints. The group class room needs an overhaul in my opinion. It’s an awkward space, poorly lit and cluttered. Gives a bit of a dingy feel. Also the company should really get their computer system working. It somehow deleted me, so the employees told me that corporate would handle it, but nothing happened for months. Then I basically signed up again but the password creation didn’t work so I now haven’t been able to access my new account. They let me in with my name but it’s just annoying enough to spur me to write a review about it. Employees acted unsurprised and like this was an ongoing issue. It’s probably just as annoying for them to have these conversations 20 times a day and have to type in everyone’s name manually 🙄

Source: Google

David Miller

★ 5

Very nice gym overall in a nice location

Source: Google

Max Stuart

★ 5

Excellent. Has all the machines, & they replace & update them frequently. Classes are infrequent so the large room w/mirrors is usually available to do whatever you want, including use the otherwise super-expensive row machines. They also have tons of Hyperice percussion massagers for use.

Source: Google

Muhannad Sarhan

★ 5

Love this place!! Friendly staff, lots of machines. Clients are great too.

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Nnenna Umelloh

★ 5

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Phíllíp–Kevin McKeówn

★ 5

Great location fantastic staff

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Daniel Keller

★ 5

Cheap gym, with good selection of Olympic lifting stations. Very pleasant staff.

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Pita Havea

★ 5

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Diaz Nutz

★ 1

60$ a month to watch millennials sit on the machines and text while the managers socialize. Not to mention after spending 20minutes looking for parking you get to come back to your car and find it broken into because there is a homeless encampment nearby...good luck!

Source: Google

D Will

★ 2

Giving 2 stars because I have absolutely no problem with the gym environment and equipment. From previous experience I don’t specifically have a problem with the front desk staff either.

I have had two incidents here at this location where I’ve felt singled out or experienced rude customer service and slightly judged in more than one way. In this industry there is a way to speak to your customers and after requesting a slight accommodation to resign a form which I had previously submitted after from what I was told was a result of their system being down I was basically told that as a paying customer if I didn’t sign (during the busy hour when it already appeared that the front desk staff was busy) that my money wasn’t needed here. The Manager Letty assumed that as she put it that I was being disrespectful by walking away after I informed the front desk agent that I would sign once I finished my workout. I also already had headphones and music playing so I could barely hear her to begin with. I was called out in a pretty aggressive tone and it felt like an ego battle started from there. They are correct in the manner that they don’t need my money and I appreciate them for making me aware of that because I am now in the cancellation process of trying to get my membership cancelled. I would just like to fully disassociate at this point. I don’t believe that this interaction was professional at all.

The previous incident to occur was with one of the class fitness instructors before a class started as I was already stretching with 2-3 other people in the same room at the time. I specifically was told in a rude manner that I had to leave the area downstairs before a class started. I asked if I could simply finish my stretches since the class didn’t start for another 10 minutes or even join the class and was rudely told no to both of these request. Once again I asked was there a separate fee for the class and found it odd that the option wasn’t even offered to join. Very unprofessional in my personal experience.

I hate to diss a company but this is just from my personal experience. I’ve had a better time there when I didn’t have to interact with personnel at all.

Source: Google

Mike LaShay

★ 1

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Bence Barna

★ 5

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Jared Lin

★ 5

I came here on a Thursday morning just for a trial day and was very pleasantly surprised with my experience. The gym makes incredible use of its modest footprint, and in my opinion, does not feel cramped. There are plenty of free weights and machines to appeal to lifters of all levels. Free weights include two sets of dumbells up to 100s, kettlebells, three olmypic benches and several flat benches, two incline benches, two full cages/olympic platforms, and tons more. There is plenty of capacity at cardio machines, group fitness room, and stretching area. Locker rooms and showers are pleasantly upscale, clean, and well-stocked. The staff and patrons are kind and considerate. Bonus: massage guns!

This gym is totally worth checking out. The only thing that worries me is how crowded it will get during peak hours. I'll just have to wait and see after I come a few more times as a member!

Source: Google

Lotus

★ 5

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Lou D

★ 5

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Mark Curton

★ 5

I really enjoy this gym. Staff is friendly and they have a lot of equipment so you usually get what you are looking for. Granted I go here mid-day so not sure how it is at night. But I recommend coming here if you are looking for a gym in the area.

Source: Google

Clayton Foster

★ 5

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Shane Sweeney

★ 1

Edit: it’s not safe to park near this gym. My car has been broken into twice in the last three months. Also, many violent crimes right outside the building including several murders. No policing or private security in the area. It’s not worth it - go elsewhere.

Previous review: Love this gym. Clean, good equipment, and respectful crowd. I think the price is right for the value. It gets pretty crowded though - Fitness SF please consider opening another Oakland location now that the pandemic is over!

Source: Google

NDC

★ 1

Update: 3/18/22: I spoke to Letty @ the Oakland Fitness SF. Our conversation was cordial. From my understanding, she was direct and stands by this business (charging people during COVID 19 after canceling)). Ostensibly, she says my receipt could be fake - they requested email threads - in my mind, email threads can be faked, too.

I screen-saved and made copies of my receipt (putting it in PDF) - I forwarded it but they feel it's not sufficient. I feel they did nothing to absolve the ordeal (see review below for full details). It was brought to my attention that people who write reviews just do so out of anger and there's no basis?! There's basis if or when your account is getting charged (after canceling) one would be angry, too. I don't blame anyone for speaking up. The cancelation process...as someone pointed out...complete utter nightmare. Lastly, their follow-up responses here are misleading.

Previous review:
It's unfortunate to share a negative review because it’s about building community and local businesses…however, this calls for it. I canceled in March of 2021 (primarily due to COVID 19) - they requested a freeze, but I declined. The process of canceling was not clear. I was provided multiple emails and a convoluted story; therefore, I went in person, canceled through email correspondence – copied 3 emails or more within 1 email. Also, I saved a digital receipt (w/ the date and etc). What makes this outlandish…this business continued charging someone else’s bank account (with my name attached to it) for months!

Recently, I was notified about the charges which made no sense whatsoever. Why continue to charge someone else’s account who canceled – both parties canceled… the answer didn’t make any sense.

No one in that department will accept our calls – they are trying to buy time which is running out. I forwarded my receipt of cancelation (attached in this review) to: Luis and Enriquez.

All of this occurred during COVID 19, I feel this business is taking advantage of members during tough times… talk about low on the depravity chain. This business went under new management not too long ago – since then, business practices have been unethical (below average). We are in the process of reporting this as fraud. I suggest anyone experiencing the same to report it to the BBB – collectively, we can do something about this. The gym itself isn’t bad – the front desk staff are doing their job – management is the problem, and we can resolve it.

Source: Google

Marshall Thierry

★ 4

Bit on the smaller side, equipment is a bit cramped and a bit older but staff is nice and they've got some added stuff I haven't seen from the major gyms like massage guns. Overall, would recommend. Just a bit cramped

Source: Google

Jeremiah Jimenez

★ 5

great gym snd gets the job done

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liz I

★ 5

I really like this location, staff is nice, a lot of different machines to choose from and not bad for the price. They also have extra spray bottles for guests to use to wipe down the machines.

Source: Google

Cyrus Sarraf

★ 5

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Gabriel de Cuba

★ 2

Honestly it’s just a gym. Nothing really sets it apart besides the fact that they had a pretty big SAUNA. Which I absolutely loved. They took the sauna out and I honestly don’t think they realize how many member loved that sauna. If they put one back in I’d come back as a member. Bad move sf fitness

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matt Mcginley

★ 4

I like everything about it but the Loud Loudmusic that goes right through noise cancelling headphones. Turn it down!!!!!!!!!

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M. Anthony Hopkins

★ 5

Perfect local gym. Helpful and welcoming staff. Friendly members. Enough options so I don't have to wait for anything.

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N/A D

★ 1

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John Kei

★ 2

Really disappointed when they removed the sauna. They say it's because of the added heat - why not turn it off during the summer months and back on during the colder fall/winter/spring? I really miss it.

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Stephan Gordon

★ 3

Staff are kind, equipment well maintained. The gym isn't entirely body positive (the workout sections are identified with images of very muscular men, which isn't what everyone is going for). For people who are just getting into fitness, it may feel a bit intimidating and unwelcoming.

Overall, it's a solid gym that I think can be a bit more inclusive. Again, staff are great.

I also agree with the others that it was really sad to hear they removed the sauna. This was such an amazing part of the facility; so many good conversations and a very critical part of my wellness routine. I sincerely hope they reconsider and bring it back.

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Richard

★ 1

Extremely disappointed that the sauna has been removed from this facility.

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Brandon Smith

★ 5

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Renzo Romero

★ 5

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C.J. Strickland

★ 5

Nice fun great equipment

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Carly King

★ 1

I really enjoyed being a member here, but the cancellation process has been a nightmare. I first tried to cancel my membership all the way back in March. Several months later I start getting charged membership fees again without any forewarning. It has been a slog trying to get the charges refunded— Luis from their cancellation department doesn't respond for days or weeks at a time and ignores everything I write to them. From glancing at recent reviews, it seems many people are having similar experiences trying to cancel. The gym itself is good, but clearly the corporate half of the business is shady :(

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Cecilia G

★ 1

Not the greatest vibes for females that want to feel comfortable lifting. As it is men here stare at all women that enter the upstairs lifting area but what did it for me was having one of the trainers stop helping one of his clients to try to tell me there was a "better way to lift," not that my form was wrong but just a better way to target certain muscles (I wasn’t trying to target those muscles) ironically, I could see others with horrible form nearby. I was the only female in that area at the time. As it is, it’s hard to get the courage to go into those areas when you know you'll be stared at but to be called out when your form is fine just did it for me and is the reason, I decided to leave this place.

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Melany cristina Limon

★ 5

Me encanta 💖

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Fanon Best

★ 5

Everything you need

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William Stanton

★ 5

I do squats and deadlifts here with my training partner every Sunday morning. the platforms are great and the crowd is cool. nice cafe right next door with a view of Lake Merritt. all around a great gym with a good vibe

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Sherrey Bina

★ 1

Dude- Fuq this place. Can't believe how shady their billing practices have become. I've emailed and called and even reported them to BBB for continuing to bill me even though I have requested in writing to cancel my membership. Nevermind the fact that they continued to bill me during the pandemic, even though gyms weren't even allowed to be open during SIP lockdown. It's been months of this bullsht and I'm STILL GETTING BILLED! I hope they go bankrupt.

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rabeenite27

★ 5

The beast works in the gym and this gym is special for me I love it

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Cici S

★ 5

Clean and never feels over crowded.

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Aaron Henderson

★ 1

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Aaron Henderson

★ 1

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Sharon Yuxin Tao

★ 4

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William Harris

★ 5

Great gym never crowded friendly people who work out there

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Clay Hays

★ 5

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Chris Lyons

★ 5

Solid gym

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Nnamdi Offor

★ 5

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Mercedes Veloz

★ 5

So glad they are open again and making everything safe for everyone.

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Yang Su

★ 5

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Serena Richardson

★ 5

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Imhotep Royster

★ 5

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Corey Ponder

★ 5

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Reba Ali

★ 3

?How much should a person pay per month

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STC

★ 5

This is a good gym in an awesome location. The gym has all of the equipment any type of fitness customer might want. They are doing an excellent job attempting to address covid-19 by limiting gym access and keeping the place clean like a science lab.

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Qamar Hjazy

★ 5

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Boris Gladkill

★ 1

I froze my account at the beginning of the pandemic - Fitness SF proceed to lift the freeze without consulting me and charge me 50 dollars. Nowhere in their follow up emails did they state that they were automatically removing account from freeze when they opened up their "outdoor" classes. They refuse to refund me and just offered to "put my account back on freeze". absolutely shameful deceitful business practices. We are at an all-time high daily COVID case count and rising. THE PANDEMIC ISN'T OVER. I will never use this gym again. Buyer beware. absolute scam.

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Omar Omilabu

★ 5

Great place to work out. I've been to plenty other gyms and the staff at Fitness Sf prides it's self on having a clean environment. Everyone is friendly and helpful.

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Aaliyah Yusuf

★ 1

I have been using this facility for over 6 years had my card on auto pay never missed a payment barely even used the facility. I'm one of those people that pay monthly but never go 😫. I had to change my debit card and forgot to update it with SF fitness and they sent me to collections for a $100!! You would think after being a loyal paying client for so long that a phone call or an email would have been warranted!!

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Chad Nixon

★ 3

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Jingsong Wang

★ 3

They need to get on top of their Back Office. I signed up my wife for membership on February 2nd but she ended up not liking it. I already paid for the first and last month of her membership. When I asked the front desk about cancellation, because I requested after the 20th of February, they said would have to charge an extra month so I'd pay for 3 months when she had used the gym once or twice?? Why do you need to give a certain amount of notice if you've already paid the last month?

On top of that, you have to email to cancel. I emailed Sunday, and 2+ days later, still no response. I also called today for Membership Services during their operating hours. On hold for several minutes, then sent to voicemail. Repeated 3x and still eventually voicemail every time.

Additionally, went through my email to find my membership contract -- did not see one.

Honestly very tempted to cancel my own membership.

Reply to owner:
This was never told to me when I signed my wife up. They said it would be month to month, no conditions, pay first and last month. Additionally, I called the Oakland location yesterday and spoke to someone. They said since I paid for the last month already, even though it's after the 20th, I wouldn't be billed for a 3rd month. Which is correct?

Final update:
I received a reply from the Cancellation Department and they waived the extra month fee. Still, I hope this review helps them understand how frustrating this experience of handling membership service is for their customers and they are able to make some changes. Updating my review to a 3*.

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Chris Walters

★ 5

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James Firestone

★ 5

Relaxed atmosphere. Great classes, especially boot camp

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Shannon DaSilva

★ 5

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J.C. Moore (Shadow)

★ 5

Great place to work out, and Renew yourself, and physical fitness next to the beautiful lake Merritt

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Boston Blake

★ 4

Towel service is a great recent upgrade! The staff is friendly enough, and the gym isn’t too crowded mid-morning, mid-afternoon, and late evening. It’s a basic neighborhood gym. Good equipment, and machines are quickly repaired when broken. That said, parking can be tough and the place is tragic when compared to Fitness SF’s newer locations in San Francisco. The quality gap is enormous. Still, it’s a great value for the current pricing.

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Jeffrey MG

★ 4

Update: I had to cancel my membership and rejoin but they got me into a better membership program. I still get frustrated with the all too regular price increases, but I do enjoy the atmosphere of these gyms.

Previous: They have been drastically increasing their rates with no increase in services. July 1 they go to $70 a month. No pool, no amenities. I’ve been with them for over 10 years. This is outrageous. Good bye. Thanks for the two day notice. Happy Pride.

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Adrian Escamilla

★ 5

Was wondering how much a membership there cost?

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Eamon O'Connor

★ 3

This place is ok. It’s clean, not too expensive, and convenient to my apartment. I have two problems with it though. One is fixable, the other is not. The fixable one- why are there not enough plates? I’m constantly pilfering plates from other benches/machines. So is everyone else. Just buy more plates! Problem solved.

The harder one to solve is it’s not really big enough for the number of people, and they compensate by putting all the machines really close together. Which means you’re more likely to get the machine you need,but also it always feels like you’re about to accidentally clock someone with a dumb bell.

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Andrew Malek

★ 4

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LuaLuma

★ 3

The location and the hours are good. The shower floors are really unsightly and it is hot as hell in the entire locker room. You’d think with all the money they’re charging for a membership they could afford to turn on the a/c or redo the tiles so it didn’t give the impression that if you stepped in the shower barefoot you would surely contract some kind of swamp fungus. Also would love it if there was some kind of lounge area to sit and use WiFi between workouts-Feels pretty crammed overall.

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John Crossley

★ 4

I have been working out here for more than a year and have always been comfortable and have never seen any bullying or shaming behavior by other patrons. Nor have I seen any behavior that I think would make women uncomfortable to work out here (though I am not a woman so take my view with a grain of salt). The price is pretty reasonable for what you get.

My only complaints are the lack of towel service and a few months ago the hot water in the men's showers went out and it took several days to fix. It isn't a regular occurrence so it isn't that big a deal but I was disappointed they couldn't find a way to fix it faster.

[EDIT] They now have towels

Source: Google

Madiyar Damen

★ 2

No free parking

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Michael McLean

★ 5

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Hollis Williams

★ 5

One of my favorite places to workout. This gym has updated equipment, knowledgeable trainers and super personable front door staff.

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C C

★ 2

I've been going to this gym for years now and its seriously going downhill. The gym is not cleaned well and often has noticeable sweat stains and dust throughout. The cardio machines are older and not well maintained; its pretty common for machines to be offline for more than a week. Additionally, they've cut a majority of my favorite high impact classes like spin. Some classes did not get replaced at all and others were replaced with a low impact offering. Warm up mats are literally falling apart. Locker rooms are really outdated as well. Only plus is that they have been replacing their weightlifting equipment.

I voiced my concerns to the manager and fitness director but ultimately I decided to move to the Embarcadero location because I am having a better experience there. If you're serious about having a multitude of options at the gym, I suggest you go elsewhere. Its like corporate has completely forgot about the Oakland location.

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Bob Dobalina

★ 5

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Shanon Corbin

★ 4

Update: As of July 8, 2019
Towel Service has started!!
Remember: Only 2 allowed per visit! (if like the other Fitness SF locations)

Fitness SF as a brand in the Bay Area is great: Staff, new equipment and engagement in many aspects to the various health conscious/aware clients visiting. Fitness SF - Oakland is accommodating to the commuters and people just a few steps away from downtown Oakland and the nearby neighborhoods. Thinking of making this your spot to start your health journey, keep in mind:
Plan ahead - use Google search in knowing which hours are busiest
Bring a lock - the locker room does not use digital locks
Use the Fitness SF app - Forgot your keycard to scan in -- use the app on your phone and they can scan you in to work out.

I like this place!

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Ryan OReilly

★ 4

Lots of space

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William Vigna Jr

★ 5

Very clean.

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Eric Kim

★ 5

Good gym. Spots to do Deadlift and Squats!

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Carol Ghaffari

★ 3

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Nicolas Jimenez

★ 1

Fitness SF Oakland is where fitness goals go to die.

The gym is chronically crowded, poorly ventilated, and equipment is often broken and old, and there are no perks like towel service. I also get a weird vibe from going there, not sure why.

I initially signed up because it's close to my apartment and I figured that I would go to the gym more often since it was close. However I actually had trouble getting myself to go there since it was always no fun, and I started getting seriously out of shape.

I then got a membership at the Oakland YMCA, where they have a pool, a basketball gym, a paddleball court, and much nicer weight room / equipment (if you like doing squats and cardio machines especially), and the vibe overall is much better. Even though it's slightly farther from my apartment I started going there more often and would get much better workouts in. It's made a real difference in my fitness and I've lost a lot of weight there by a combination of basketball, swimming, and lifting. My girlfriend also stopped going to SF fitness a while ago, and is now going to Core Power Yoga classes in Rockridge, which she enjoys a lot more, and is able to actually stick to a workout routine. We stopped going to SF fitness entirely and recently cancelled our membership.

If you have a ton of discipline to go to an unpleasant environment to work out, then this gym might be for you. If this isn't the case, I'd look elsewhere, at the Oakland YMCA gym, or take workout classes.

Source: Google

Adam Siegman

★ 4

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Sofiane Ramdani

★ 5

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Brandon Barnette

★ 5

Emily and the staff are great! She made me feel confortable made sure my needs and wants as a member were met. Gym is gorgeous, clean and a lot of toys to play with.

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Araceli G

★ 5

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Raven Hannibal

★ 5

The best gym in Oakland. Clean and plenty of equipment to get a great workout but the fat manager dumber than a box of rocks🤔

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Lois Zeray

★ 5

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Cinthia Navarro

★ 5

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Zach Levaton

★ 4

It's a smaller commercial gym that isn't the cleanest, gets crowded, and has parts that looks kind of beat up. But honestly, most gyms at this price point are going to be like this. I avoid rush hour times and I haven't had a problem with getting my lifts/cardio in. Definitely recommend against driving to the gym when there is sunlight, though, as the lake will be crowded and parking will be scarce.

Source: Google

asante solomon

★ 5

They give more promo upon my membership and the place was so accessible...

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Joel Muniz

★ 5

Just came from the Gym I have been working out in this Gym since it was Gold Gym. Clean and very up to date. They have classes that you can attend with out signing in.

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Blake Spears

★ 5

Great gym!

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Jorge Gómez

★ 4

It is a decent gym, but beware: there is no air conditioning at all. And they like to creep up the membership rates very suddenly with little or no prior courtesy notice. The current manager is one of the coolest guys around. Pick this place over the decrepit 24 Hour Fitness on Webster any day—at least this place doesn’t smell like B.O.

I received a reply for whom I assume is the owner (which is a very nice gesture) touching on the subject of membership price increases. I completely understand raising the rates for everyone across the board for upgrades (and new gym openings in the city). However, I respectfully disagree with this argument: I have not seen any upgrades to the Oakland gym in it of itself—this is my home gym and has been so on and off since it was a Gold’s Gym in 2009. So my main gripe is to penalize an Oakland-only member with membership rate hikes when there are minute (if any) upgrades to the Oakland gym in it of itself. The other argument that management has thrown at me is the “comparison argument”: “well, all the other gyms are charging so much more!” To which I normally say, “how does that actually affect your profit at the end of the day?” This gym is not going anywhere and the business appears to be booming. But simply because everyone else is charging their new members more does not justify a price increase for existing members at this gym. At the end of the day, I think the gym is decent, and I am overall satisfied with it. Just a note to prospective new & to existing members: pay close attention to the justifications for the price increases.

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Anthony Crowell

★ 5

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Melissa Morley

★ 5

This is my Favorite gym! Why? Because it's no-nonsense, convenient and affordable! I feel fortunate to live close by. There’s even made an app if you want more training and it's included with my membership-I couldn't be happier. The staff is friendly, not pushy. The trainers are legit depending on the level you want and need. I learned some great strengthening exercises from personal trainer, Sam Berenson, that have really helped improve my posture (*combined with Physical Therapy at home exercises for my old Left Shoulder Injury). Sam is really professional & down to earth. My coordination with exercise classes may be a bit lacking (I'll start getting my Rights & Lefts confused), but I did attend a super Group X Core Strengthening class with Liam and it was fun & tough. Liam also has good taste in tunes (if you're old like me you might like it). I don't have all gyms access, but if you want it they can make it happen for you an with some killer locations in SF - Embarcadero or behind Twitter (both looked Awesome to me) + Many Others! Checked it out, as there are many fitness options to choose from!

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Andre Amaya

★ 5

Good place to weigh train

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Jman the city

★ 3

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What I Know So Far

★ 5

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Even Cheng

★ 1

Thought it is the only one location in east bay so I’d check this place out. I was pretty shocked that there is no towel service at this location with the amount of $$$ I paid to Fitness SF. The second floor of the weight lifting area is burning hot at 7pm as if I was doing hot yoga. The men’s locker room is even worse like a inferno. Chill people around and polite but the owner needs to fix the A/C to get this working

Source: Google

Veronica McDaniels

★ 5

The Oakland facility is friendly and helpful

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Chris Gerlach

★ 4

Rudy is the best trainer I could ask for and one of the first people who inspired me to get fit in the first place. Amazing dude!

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Amy Dang

★ 3

Overcrowded, not just the gym people, but even the equipments themselves. They have too many equipments that are placed right next to each other, making workouts uncomfortable, no personal space. The gym is reek of the typical gym smell especially on the hot days. The reason I joined was their convenient location, but I'm going to cancel soon.

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Christina Papageorgopoulou

★ 5

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Daniel M

★ 4

Fantastic well-epuipped gym.

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tonewaf wasik

★ 5

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Sean Eyler

★ 5

The best gym I've ever been a member at... and I've been a member at 12 other gyms over the past 18 years. It's the best gym not because of the facility or equipment (which is good), but because of the people that go here. This is the only gym that I can say is a true 'community' of people and where jut about everyone is putting in work. Before you roll your eyes at that statement, let me explain: Everyone is considerate and even supportive of eachother. Whether you're a 60 year old woman bench pressing or a muscled mutant on the elliptical, everyone is supportive of eachother. I have never seen such a variety of people interact, coexist, and even socialize in the same weight room. The women are not afraid to get on the free weights, and the the biggest guys don't look down on the first-timers. I can tell people are here to actually train and improve themselves. That's motivating. Best of all - no crossfit. The staff I've interacted with is great, and they have sports drinks / protein shakes at the front if you need one. Price is fair.

Cons: Some of the leg equiment needs updating, and they need a few more safety clips for the barbells.

I am fortunate to live only a block away, but if you're looking for parking, just go up the hill on MacArthur.

Source: Google

Antonio L.

★ 1

I am a new Bay Area resident, and I still don't have a California driver's license nor a job that shows I work in the Bay Area, and because of that I cannot be "allowed" a 1 day free pass to actually try the gym out, and some sales rep named Julia basically told me that they don't trust people to just use their gym for free without being able to show that they are locals and they can commit to sign up for it, which sounds absurd to me. I called another gym right after and they have no problem having me use their gym for a 3 day trial for free, and if i do like it (which I already know I will) then I can join them. So 1 star for extremely poor customer service, it really needs to change that ridiculous policy and get some sales reps who actually care to get new customers.

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NELSA Smith

★ 4

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Adam Faust Bailey

★ 4

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Anthony Thomas

★ 5

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Alex Spaete

★ 5

A no fuss fitness facility with friendly staff that offers every machine etc. you could want. If you're into something special like cross fit then this isn't the place for you. Be sure to come early as it gets warm inside and bring your own towel for the locker room. Parking is often available in the library parking lot across the street or paid meter parking.

Source: Google

Brian Newton

★ 4

Clean gym but kind of expensive and often very busy.

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Azul Galvez

★ 5

Staff is friendly and great. The group x classes have great instructors and they are almost always full! The gym can get a little packed from 5-7pm but even then, I don't ever see myself waiting for a machine or having nothing to do. Other members are courteous and kind. I signed up for a membership under a special promotion and have absolutely no complaints!

It's located a little less than a mile from home so I just run there and count that as a warm up.

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Michelle Mabry

★ 4

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Lillian

★ 4

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Alexis Jackson

★ 5

Great place to workout...

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Mary Lucus Flannery

★ 3

Standard gym. Lots of equipment. Crowded group classes. Weird pricing structure that always changes depending on when you join. Locker rooms are okay but not fancy at all. If you are looking for individualized care you can get it here but it will cost you and you'll still be at a an overcrowded gym. If you like to do your own thing, this gym is fine.

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Justin Scroggins

★ 5

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Zemeira Singer

★ 4

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Vanessa Scaduto

★ 4

Olympic weights, row machine, group classes, and plenty of cardio machines. I live within walking distance of this gym, so I don’t have to deal with parking by the gym; which is sparse. I suggest under the overpass by MacArthur and Grand. The gym on weekdays around 4pm starts to get super busy and you may be waiting around to use a treadmill or a weight machine. The group classes vary from spin, to sunrise hatha yoga by the lake. Every instructor I’ve met has been awesome. Facility is clean, staff is accommodating, and the music is a hit or miss. It seems like they let the staff choose the music. So you never know what may be playing over the speakers. I suggest bringing your own headset to listen to music. The locker room (womens’) is clean and includes a sauna. No towel service at this gym. Personally, I don’t think it’s necessary. For a smaller gym, there’s a lot they offer in the space provided. I suggest trying it out to see if it’s a good fit for your fitness goals.

Source: Google

Mimi Rawls

★ 5

The staff is very professional and helpful. The equipment is clean and the classes are great. You can't beat the location, but parking can be a bit difficult if you don't live in the area.

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Matthew Lavoie

★ 4

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Pablo Cortes

★ 5

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Greg Tsutaoka

★ 4

Solid place to get fit

Source: Google