UPDATE 3/27: Cedar Plaza owner responds to Retrofit closure
Many Mountlake Terrace residents were disappointed to see that Retrofit, a fitness club located in Cedar Plaza, abruptly closed for good at the end of the day on March 23rd. In a message on the company’s web site, founding partner Mike Hurley explains that the economy has had a toll on the business and apparently they were unable to keep afloat, especially with rent payments.
What’s worse is that Hurley says they will likely be unable to reimburse pre-paid membership dues or personal training session fees.
Retrofit was one of the anchors of Cedar Plaza and it’s absence will leave another large empty retail space in a complex with several other empty spaces.
Below is the message posted by owner Mike Hurley on Retrofit’s web site:
March 23, 2010
Dear Members of the Retrofit Fitness Club,
As one of the founding partners and a fellow workout partner, it is with the heaviest of heart that I announce that as of the end of the business day of March 23rd, 2010 Retrofit Club is compelled to file Chapter 7 Bankruptcy and to close our doors forever.
In 2005, I helped found Retrofit Fitness Club as the first Mountlake Terrace Neighborhood Fitness Club with the mission to provide great fitness with a community atmosphere. With your support and patronage we have weathered several storms. However and despite our best efforts, this current economic downturn has created an unsustainable situation for the club. For the past 6 months and up through today I have been working on a deal with the owner of Cedar Plaza, Mr. John Stipek, to keep the club open. Late today I received notice via his lawyer that he is unwilling to provide necessary accommodations to help us weather this crisis.
As our loyal members, our team has worked hard to empower you on your way to health and fitness. In response you rewarded us with your patronage. I speak for the whole of Retrofit staff when I say that we are grateful for your business. We are profoundly sorry for the disappointment and inconvenience our closing might bring to you and your families in providing such short notice on the matter. It could not be helped.
What hurts the most is that Retrofit might not be able to reimburse you prepaid membership dues or personal training sessions that have already been purchased. For those of you in this situation I will be in contact with you shortly hopefully with a remedy. Also, you are certainly entitled to make a claim for paid dues via the Bankruptcy Court.
As some of you know, I have invested five years of hard work and my life’s savings to fulfill my entrepreneurial dream of building a neighborhood fitness club. As of yet I have not had a return on my efforts or savings. And now I may be forced have to file a personal Chapter 7 Bankruptcy as a result of this turn of events.
I, with the rest of the Retrofit Team would again like to thank you for your support and your patronage. We hope you and your families will continue pursuing your fitness goals and to persevere in the face of challenges.
As of the end of the day on May 23rd 2010, I will not be able to field any calls regarding this matter due to legal constraints. However, should you be interested our U.S. Bankruptcy Case Number is:
09-22895-TT.
Be well and all the best,
Mike Hurley Retrofit founding partner
I am sorry to see them leave. They have been our neighbor business (Seattle Tae Kwon Do) for several years now. I know business has been hard for them and my heart goes out to the owner who divested everything they had in the company. I am also sympathetic to the patrons who loved the club and or lost money in the closure.
Brandon Richards
Seattle Tae Kwon Do
Sorry to see them go! They really worked to be available to the community.
So sorry to see Retrofit close after 5 years. We were hoping some arrangement could have been made with the landlord John Stipek to keep the doors open. For those who are interested in continuing a fitness program, I would recommend that you research http://www.snohomishbootcamp.com. You will be able to achieve your fitness goals in the outdoors. The present locations are in Marysville, Snohomish, and Redmond…but if there is enough interest from Mt LK Terrace customers, I think that it is possible to bring the program to your area.
Perhaps Seattle Tae Kwon Do should move in to the space?
For those women still looking for fitness alternatives in Mountlake Terrace, there is a fitness bootcamp that is ran out of the old Long’s Drug store off 196th, right by the Lynnwood Convention Center. The website is http://www.bodybyburnis.com. It caters to all fitness levels, Burnis is amazing and his positive energy will help you through the hard parts! I encourage all females to at least look up the website, it’s a great investment if you join! If anything, he runs a Zumba class on Tuesday nights that will get your heart pumpin’!
Look no further than Cascade Elite Gymnastics center for a bootcamp. I live in Mountlake Terrace and teach the bootcamp. We have been at this location since Sept. of last year. If you are at all interested feel free to email me at somofitness@hotmail.com or call my cell 425-478-6221. Ask for Slade