While gyms froze members’ accounts in the wake of shelter-in-place orders, 24 Hour Fitness continued to charge.
March 17th, 2020 — The Bay Area Stays At Home.
Counties in the Bay Area were one of the first in the nation to issue shelter-in-place orders in the wake of COVID-19. It forced businesses and schools to close their doors. One of them is 24 Hour Fitness, a gym spread out across 14 states.
On March 16th, before the official shelter-in-place date, CEO Tony Ueber sent an email late in the night:
“Dear Member,
As we all grapple with the enormous scale and impact of the coronavirus in the U.S., it reminds us of how precious life is and the importance of protecting our own health. For the health and safety of our members, team members and guests, we will be closing all 24 Hour Fitness clubs at 12 midnight tonight, Monday, March 16, until further notice.
Please be assured that your membership will be extended for the same period that our clubs will be temporarily closed…”
