Anytime Fitness at 100 N. Laura St. Downtown notified its members May 15 the location would not reopen after the COVID-19 pandemic shutdown.
“We were made aware of some landlord changes that forced us to close our Downtown location (100 N. Laura St.)” the notice said.
The notice did not explain the changes by the landlord, 100 N. Laura St. LLC, led by managing members Chuck and Eddie Farah.
The Downtown Jacksonville Anytime Fitness club could not be reached.
The notice stated the Anytime Fitness owner is seeking a new space Downtown and members can use other locations or request a refund.
There are nine Anytime Fitness locations in Northeast Florida, according to its website. Anytime Fitness is a worldwide chain that offers franchise ownership. It has more than 3,000 locations.
Matthew Clark, senior vice president with Prime Realty, said the Anytime Fitness franchise owner, AF North Florida LLC, led by David Robinson, was notified in October that the landlord would not be renewing the gym’s lease, which expired at the end of January.
Prime Realty is the leasing agent for the 100 N. Laura St. building.
The landlord’s new tenant for the gym’s space delayed its move-in and Anytime Fitness was allowed to stay month-to-month while it searched for a place to relocate.
Then the COVID-19 pandemic hit in March.
Clark said the closing of the Downtown gym was not a result of an adversarial relationship between the landlord and tenant.
The gym equipment was removed in April and club members can retrieve belongings left in lockers by contacting the property manager, Weaver Realty Group.
Gov. Ron DeSantis announced May 15 that gyms could reopen May 18. Limitations require up to 50% occupancy, social distancing and equipment sanitation after use.
