I got introduced to Edgewater Athletic Club via a swim program they host. Pros: - They have a nice sized pool that has several swim lanes for beginner swimmers and more advanced swimmers. - The staff member at the entrance was very nice. He was always willing to loan me a towel every time I visited. - The swim program is setup every well! It took me a few rounds to land a spot because it's very competitive but it was worth the wait. The instructors are very knowledgeable and helped me feel more comfortable in the water. Cons: - The pool is cleaned monthly and you can really see the difference of it being recently cleaned vs collecting whatever in the pool. - The locker rooms could use an update and a deep cleaning. I wish they had a mix of short lockers with the full sized lockers so we don't have to stuff all of our items into multiple lockers when it gets colder outside. read more

Another Sunday afternoon wasting 45 minutes going to the club, changing, showering, and entering the pool only to be told that even though the schedule states open swim at 3:30 pm, the pool has been reserved until 5 pm. No prior notice and no signs before entering the pool today, read more

I've been here a couple times for swim class for my infant. The facility is small but not bad. The pool is good, and the equipment looked well-kept. The staff member who was there when we visited was always friendly and charmed by my little one (not the only reason I liked her!) and always had a mask--in June 2024 when most people have abandoned masking. The location made it near impossible for me to get to swim class so I'm going to have to look for another option, but if it had worked out I would have been happy to continue using this facility. read more

I recommend this Athletic Club I took my grandkids to get a little fun in the swimming pool..We really enjoyed it..Prices are decent for all day pass..I will definitely going back here & there..Not too far from the house..Atmosphere is nice..Great place..Staff is very friendly & helpful..Cleanliness.. read more

I just had a terrible experience with the owner which was the final straw for me. As a background, a couple years ago my wife and I became homeowners in the neighborhood and both of us are swimmers and were excited about having a pool so close to home. My initial impression of the gym was that it was a little worn, you could tell there was an effort to keep the locker rooms clean but they were definitely past their prime. Ultimately they had a pool - small (20yard) but that was enough to get the job done and that was mostly what we were going to use it for anyway. It was local and we were excited about supporting local businesses. Flash forward to today, I was aware that the pool was closed all week for maintenance so we called ahead to see what time it would reopen for open swim. We get there a few minutes early but it didn't seem like it would be open in time so I went to the front desk to confirm the schedule. The young person at the front didn't seem to have a clue or a care what time it would reopen. I explained that the pool schedule was very difficult for lap swimmers to follow. Once the owner came over he immediately became combative with me trying to prove his point. His exact words (stated multiple times): "you don't understand I make more money from clases than I do from lap swimmers like you". All while raising his voice at me in front of the whole gym. He continued to be combative even while issuing my refund. There had been other issues before (roaches in the locker room, rude clerks at the front desk, unresponsive phone service) but this was the last straw. If the owner has no issue explaining to me that my membership is not a priority to him then my money is best spent elsewhere. read more

Members beware! I was a member here for a couple of years and canceled my membership in October 2022. I received confirmation of the cancellation request, but I kept getting charged for four months of dues. The gym does not return calls or emails and I have reported them to the BBB with evidence. I am very concerned that a formerly reputable business has hit hard times and is exploiting their members. I am surprised by the business' unwillingness to address the issue. read more

Think the ambiance of a dungeon hardcore gym in a historic ballroom. So, I'm a fan. The staff members are nice and remember you. More adequate selection of cardio machines-the normal ones (bikes, ellipticals, treadmills) in the front room with a couple more plus a couple of stair mills in the weight room. I know there's a pool, but I don't swim. The weight room! This is where the limited space bites them. One flat and one incline BB bench stations. They have, I think, 2 full Rogue squat racks. Nice selection of pulley stations. Nice selection of pin select weight machines. Battle ropes are near the racks. Enough space for 1-2 people to be doing barbell movements from the floor-they have a trap/hex bar!! They have steel and bumper plates. My biggest gripe about the weight room is that it's all a bit on the old/worn side. It's still good equipment, but if you're looking for a pristine Globo-gym, go down the street. That's where the reference to a dungeon hardcore gym comes in-just add a couple of chalk buckets and metal music, and I'd feel even more at home. They have a list of classes, but I haven't attended any of them. The three things that I love most about this place are: the location (very close to home), the weight room (small, but mighty), and the price. So, I'll keep going until I move away from this place. read more

I have been coming to this gym for ten years and consider myself a part of the EAC Family. However, my daughter has gotten lice from their pool at least three times over the three years while she was in swimming classes with Alison. The steam room smells like mildew and the locker rooms and pool deck have small bed bugs and cockroaches. I loved this gym but sadly it is going under. I would suggest working out someplace else! Also, they are deducting membership dues during the pandemic, even though they just reopened. Hey PHIL we need that money, if we haven't been to the gym GIVE IT BACK!!!!! read more

We LOVE this gym! We have been members for something like 15 years. The pool is great , all the staff are wonderful, engaging, and seem to genuinely care about the members. Maria is a hard worker, always cheerful and watches out for what people need in the moment. The ballroom(weight room) is such a unique space to work out in. There's just not another gym like this and I often recommend it to others. It's charm may not be for everyone (if you like loud , pumping, energetic, crowded big gyms then this is not the place for you). What's great about this gym is sometimes you have the pool or the workout room to yourself for a bit, and sometimes it's more busy but either way it's a nice mix of others/social work out space as well as times to be alone or nearly alone. Even when all pool lanes are full, the wait is never too long. Even when there are a number of people in the weight room or main equipment room, it's never too full to not be able to work out on the equipment you want. Also there are a number of classes and lessons to join for throughout the week (yoga and other things.). There are swim classes for kids and adults . A steam room. Also located at EAC is Aaron who is a massage therapist with loads of knowledge and experience working with chronic pain, sports, rehabilitation, and general massage. If you have an issue , he likely can get to the root of it fast! Our family is very happy with this gym and will stay for many more years to come ! Bari, Lenka and Anna (who has been swimming at EAC with her mama since she was in my belly!) read more

If you are looking for a unique gym with a distinctive characteristic of its own, try this place out. Push weights under a chandelier and challenge yourself to the limit in the middle of a ball room. An old building with spaces converted into a fitness center, this gym is a one of a kind. Unfortunately, much of the facility is worn down, with lockers that are rusted and not functioning correctly, unpleasant smell(s) throughout parts of the facility, and showers where the heads do not stay in place. I like the uniqueness and the engagement/service aspect of the staff, this was phenomenal. Only street parking is available in the area. read more

Edgewater Athletic Club - Gyms Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I have really mixed feelings about EAC- on the one hand, it's super-affordable, and it's almost never crowded. It has a pretty nice pool (which I think is one of the main amenities that draws folks to the gym) and all the weight equipment you could want. The cardio room has plenty of machines, and you will never, ever have to wait to use any of them. Downsides-- the locker room is not pleasant, despite the fact that the cleaning staff really does an amazing job keeping it clean. The lockers themselves are in terrible shape -- many of them don't work (others seem to have stuff left in them for months). The locker rooms have no ventilation and often smell (the climate is also really bad- there are times in winter when the locker room was so cold I didn't want to take off my clothes. There were other times it was so hot in there, I felt uncomfortable). Also, honestly sometimes it felt depressing to work out at such a low energy gym- there were many times I was the only person in the cardio space (and while I don't use the gym at high volume hours, I've never worked out at a gym where I'm the only person on the cardio floor at 2 or 3PM on a weekday). While I liked that I never had to wait for a machine, sometimes working out at EAC could be lonely-- even the staff seemed a bit bored during those hours. After a year working out there, I ended up switching to another gym, even though EAC is the closest to my house. read more

I've been a member for months and am not impressed with the cleanliness of the facility. I've visited many other locations and clubs who were able to keep the hair swept in lockers and prevented that old mop mildew smell near the pool entrance. Besides that, the gym has ample space, good number of classes, and friendly helpful staff. Just please clean better! read more

I went into this club looking for a great gym in the neighborhood. After reading the Yelp reviews I thought (stupidly) that this would be a good place. I called prior to my arrival and asked if they had a program in which I could try the gym out for a few days to see if I liked it. The man in the ohone said, "yes, we can offer you a seven day pass." I believe his name was John or Derrek. I popped into the club the next day. Now not all gym are created equal and this one was definitely subpar. Let's start with the smell. I was hit with a wall of chlorine, bleach and awful cologne the moment I walked in. Okay fine. Keep in moving. I spoke to a super nice guy at the desk Chris who asked me to fill out some paperwork and gave the me $0.05 tour. It's not fancy, that's for sure but if it's a place where you get your workout accomplished, fine. Off to the locker room, nice lockers. The hole in the wall and the clogged toilets? Not so nice. I went to the cardio room and went to get on a machine, it was beyond vile and dirty. There was dust and muck inside the cup and phone/iPod holder. I decided to change machines. Maybe they aren't all that disgusting? Yeah they are. After getting on a broken machine (no sign to indicate) I finally found an elliptical that I didn't fear I would catch MRSA or hepatitis from. I wiped it down only to discover lots of black and brown gunk, so I stuffed my towel in the cup and phone holder and worked out. Between this machine and the broken machine the owner/manager/sweaty guy with some authority looked stupefied as to why I was displeased. Well sir, let me point out to you that your machines are a total scandal. Do you clean them? Ever? He gave me some song and dance about keeping the gears maintained and that's cool but I'm talking about where people step and put their hands. Why was my towel black after wiping out the holders? As I'm working out there were two guys who began using a super strong cleaning solution to wipe the machines down. Yeah, you're going to need better paper towels and a vacuum cleaner guys. After I finished my cardio I went into the group fitness studio to do some light weight training. Okay, it was then I realized why the membership was so cheap. They NEVER replace equipment! Mats that have holes in them and are falling apart, protective coating on the free weights that's missing or peeling off and Steps that are as old as I am and as dirty as the inside of a dumpster. I like nice, clean fitness clubs. And while the owner may say what he will about me, perhaps my standards are too high for him and his filthy club. I'm sure that the members are super nice, and clearly don't have the same concerns I do and that's okay. Not every place is for everybody and Edgewater AC is not the place for me. Somebody call the Health Department!!! read more

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Pros: Number of treadmills Cons: Too crowded Lost my swim cap and swim goggles If u thinking about swimming, forget it: u need to wait atleast 30 mins to get a chance, and most of the times its used for aerobics and classes. And they took 25 days just to clean the pool!!! read more

After joining another gym (LA Fitness) I realize now what a gem EAC was...You know the assholes taking selfies, hording the equipment while they text their girlfriends, guys asking you how many more reps you have on a machine, running back and forth messing up your routine to find an open machine or station?? Ya, that doesn't exist here and it costs about the same as LA Fitness with no initiation fee or first and last month bullshit or any hard sell bullshit. There's two LA Fitnesses close to this gym, aside from the lack of actual Spin bikes and perhaps parking, don't waste your time or money anywhere else. Plus, you can typically see some pretty good eye candy freak shows as it is in Edgewater so it keeps it interesting...More interesting than the douche nozzles you find in Lincoln Square anyway...And they give you towels! I'm cancelling my LA membership and coming back here. read more

When I first started going here, I loved it because it was low-key, inexpensive, and rarely full. I'm now happy to pay more elsewhere for small conveniences that really start to matter after a while. I've come to really dislike the place. The locker room is tiny and disgusting. The showers barely work -- good luck getting hot water. Most of the lockers are broken and the rest are rusted out. If there are two people in it at the same time, there's basically no more room. They're doing a major renovation which will hopefully expand it -- maybe then, *four* people can fit in there at the same time. I've had stuff stolen from LOCKED lockers there twice. Admittedly, these were some of the old and rusted out lockers that I didn't realize could be shimmed open at the top. Management should have known about this and fixed it. Now I won't even leave more than my street clothes in there -- everything else comes down to the workout room with me. Still - it's affordable, and rarely full. If you only ever used the workout areas, it would be just peachy. read more

I love this gym enough to try to come in almost every day. The staff is friendly, the heated pool is rarely crowded (outside of the swimming classes), the towels are plentiful and the equipment has great variety and is always free. I haven't checked out the other classes, but the Muscle Blast class with Kelly Martinez is an awesome class if you're serious about pushing yourself. Beware that he may make the occasional inappropriate remark, but just realize it's to keep the spirit of the class lighthearted to keep your mind off your tired body. If you decide to give it a go, be prepared to leave with shaky legs and a drenched shirt. The reasons I didn't give it 5 stars: - I wish the steam room was a sauna instead. - I wish the hours ran later, particularly on weekends. - I wish there was one more Muscle Blast class per week. - The locker rooms could use renovating. - And the main reason -- I've seen the ceiling drip on two different occasions (but the next time I looked for that drip, it was gone) read more

I've been coming to EAC for quite some time and wanted to give everything a try before reviewing... Facility ~ Amazing! This place is top notch! The whole place is damn near spotless and the women's locker room is immaculate. Trainers ~ I've had Derek as my trainer... man, this guy will give you the workout of a life. Do some kettle-bell training with him, he'll kick your ass and get you in amazing shape! Equipment ~ where do I start? They have EVERYTHING and lots of it. Very top of the line equipment. All in all, great gym! Christine approved! p.s., They have a chandelier in the middle of the gym. Hysterical! read more

I love this gym because it's so clean and mostly empty. It's like I get the gym to myself most days. Granted, I don't normally take classes, but it has all the equipment I need from the spin bike, treadmill, to weights, and most importantly, the pool! I love the pool + steam room, as well as the towel service. Lockers are super clean and they recently changed out the carpeting in there. I haven't been able to find a gym that's as hassle free, allows month-to-month without pressure, has a pool, and is clean... and also just low key in general. I miss this place.. wish I lived closer to Edgewater just so I could keep this as my usual gym. read more

For what you get, you can't beat the price. I got the partner deal with my boyfriend, so I paid $500 per year. It's a lot less than most gyms, and the best part? You never have to wait for a machine. It's kind of a hidden gem of Edgewater. No one really knows about it. I've never had to wait for an Elliptical. I wasn't pressured into using a personal trainer (which I've heard is done at other gyms). They were very chill and straightforward when I signed the contract. The staff are friendly and laid back. They are renovating the space currently, so it looks a bit 'hard hat zone'-ish right now, but it will be okay. It's a bit of pain in the ass at the moment, though. They also have classes - they offer quite a few different types of Yoga. The best part? You don't have to pay extra for the classes, they are included in your membership! I haven't attended the classes because they don't coincide with my work schedule, but it's good to know. Overall? Great place for a great price. NOW WORK IT OUT. read more

I'm back with an update. Over the last year not only have I become stronger and fitter, I've formed a solid gym routine and met so many wonderful people thanks to the trainers at EAC. The place continues to be spotless and everything is always available for use. I've worked out at other local area gyms and wouldn't budge from EAC, it's family. Oh and if you have enough balls, try the Muscle Blast class with Kelly. Longest running class at EAC with a cult following. read more

The gym where people know your name. I've been going here for a year and I love it. The staff who work there are legendary, from the swim lesson instructors who have taught kids until they grew into adults to the class leaders who really know how to push tough workouts. It never gets too crowded; I came from a suburb where Lifetime Fitness was the dominant gym and there would be crowds around benches, none of that here. The pool and lessons are a great place to get started in a swimming journey. Muscle Blast is a fantastic challenge for sadistic athletes (although it might be ending soon...). In all, a good balance of classes. The weight room is in an old ballroom, so that's pretty cool. They have a CrossFit style centerpiece: a squat rack/pull up bar complex with barbells and med ball targets. 8 fully equipped squat racks and a landmine station is definitely enough for their clientele. From what I've seen in the weight room, there haven't been any instances where members have been inconsiderate or intimidated. To borrow a term from my "favorite" franchise, there is no need for a lunk alarm here. Coming from the behemoth that is Lifetime Fitness, you would think I miss the level of service or amenities from a huge club. And while you don't have a cycling studio, pickup basketball games or a rock climbing wall, I never used or needed those things more than for novelty anyways. Plus, there is still towel service! read more

I felt the need to write a review to inform others of my experience with EAC. The facility itself is not luxurious, or has the best equipment, but I knew what I was signing up for. The staff was always great, and extremely friendly. My issue began when I tried to cancel and it pertains to the management. I tried to cancel for months, beginning January 2018 and kept getting misleading information, which I do not blame the staff for, at the end of the day, it was explained that only the manager, John could assist with any cancellations. I lost my debit card on file and had to cancel it. I called EAC several times to tell them I wanted to make the payments and cancel, but was told that I could only update my card information and cancel in person. I was out of the country for over two months, when I finally returned and I was told I could only cancel by emailing John. I finally, emailed John in February and had no response. I came in to the club a second time and asked to speak to John, he was not available and was told that he would be informed of my issue and I would be contacted. I never received a response, which Is why I called a second time. I was told that John would be made aware and contact me, again no response. At this point, I do not trust EAC and am afraid of giving the club my card number. Fast forward to March, Im getting regular calls and bills from EACs billing company. In fear of being charged fees on top of fees, I go into the club, speak to a very helpful staff member, and I update my card information. At this point I realize I am trapped and have to most likely pursue legal action to figure out a way to stop being billed. I email John once more on March 29th, 2018 asking for someone to at a minimum contact me to discuss how I can stop being billed. John answers on April 5th, stating that members cannot cancel their memberships if a balance is owed. If I would have been told this since January I would have made the payment as soon as I returned in February, instead I am charged through April, and do not even receive an apology for being sent on a wild goose chase. No accountability on their part and somehow all the blame falls on me, when all I wanted to do was cancel. If I wanted poor costumer service I would have joined Xsports. read more

I went here with a friend who lives in the neighborhood a few times. - good equipment - cool pool - friendly staff - great local business! It was nice to be somewhere that wasn't so 'corporate'. If I lived in this hood - this would be my gym! read more

I used to live in the Sovereign Apartments, which houses the Edgewater Athletic Club. Oh, everyday I thought about jumping down 10 flights of stairs and opening a membership (residents get a discount), but alas I never had enough money. It would have been so nice . . . A couple of years later, and I'm still in the neighborhood. Got the "Stimulus Package" from the IRS, and immediately used it to get a membership. Since the construction was not yet over, I was able to get the special: One year for $480.00. Not a bad deal! So now there's a brand new room filled with stair climbers and treadmills (some with small TVs attached), plus the pool, steam room, and weight room. The latter is my favorite. Where else can you workout in a former ballroom, complete with doric pillars and a chandelier hanging from a baby blue ceiling? Europe, probably. They're fancy over there. Also, it's never very crowded, and there are actual fat people there, not just young and fit gym rats. The only bad part is the locker room. I can't vouch for the women's, but the men's is so small! I have heard that soon they will be expanding those as well, but until then I'll just change at home. read more

So the shape I'm in happens to be fairly round. I figured joining a gym would help this. I live about 3 blocks from this place so I'd have no excuse not to go. So I paid for the year membership like they want you to do and I discovered something I should have known about myself. The reason I'm so round is because I'm too lazy to walk the less than 3 block to the gym, much less use their equipment. So you may be asking why I'm giving it 4 stars... it's not the gym's fault I'm lazy. The times I've gone the equipment is decent and clean and they remodeled so there are now TVs in front of a lot of the machines for personal use. I took a class once and it was decent too. The staff is friendly and it's not too crowded. All in all, I think this is a good gym... but I think the only thing that will motivate me to go is if they turned it in to a north-side location of Fogo De Chao. Yum, never ending meat. read more

Joined this gym. To address my previous concerns 1) There are set kiddy play times. Usually it's reserved to a lane or two. It's often available for lap use. 2) Locker rooms are now perfectly air conditioned. Apparently it was a one time thing. Even though it is connected to the pool, they are climate controlled now. 3) Still expensive, but I received a student discount so only $40 a month 4) Staff still isn't perfect, but was nice during the sign up process. Top notch gym. read more

Recently completed my first year membership and re-signed for my second. This is my favorite Gym! I've been a member of David Barton and Bally Total. Both extremes of good and bad. This gym isn't the meat market of Barton. Certainly not the overcrowded, filthy and hard sell place Bally is. This is the kind of Gym where you get to know the staff. Who I must say are always friendly and helpful. You come to this gym when you are looking to make serious changes to yourself but want to feel comfortable and welcomed. I've utilized almost all the services: Massage: David is amazing. He has an intuition that is only matched by his learned skills! Training: I've had the pleasure of working with a couple of trainers. Derek is whom I'm with currently and he really knows his stuff. I've seen big changes in body since I've worked with him. Classes: Many offered but have yet to find the time to attend. The weekly schedule is stacked with plenty of interesting classes. POOL!!! Enough Said. Good luck finding a gym with a pool. This is awesome! Machines and Weights: Clean and modern and always in working order! It's always a pleasure to head to EAC! read more

While I think a 3.5 would be a little better, I'll err on the high side because of the charm. It's a nice little place. I like that they kept the old 20's feel of the ballroom that the weight room used to be. It has all the basic machines you'll need, some treadmills, some ellipticals, a few bikes, and a couple stair machines. Some free weights, too. Helpful staff and best of all, it's not a Bally's-type meat market. Go, work out, go home. Locker space is pretty small, but serviceable. Same with the pool. They seem to have a fair amount of classes, too. But for me, it's pretty much a fall-back for running/biking when the weather's too bad to do it outside, or I need to hit the gym, and I'd rather pay the $10 for a day pass than trek all the way down to UIC. However, if I wasn't a student there with a giant college rec center at my disposal, I'd be happy with a membership at this little place. But yeah, if you're in the neighborhood and want a nice little place to just go get your sweat on, have at it! read more

Worst gym in the area. Broken equipment. Rusty equipment. The staff's answer to any question is to speak with a manager. Live in the city part time and one month my payment didn't go through. No phone call. No email. No contact from anyone at the gym to rectify the payment. Tried to charge me a $25 return fee. Go to LA Fitness it is only a block away. Locker rooms are clean. The lockers are not broken or rusted or completely rented out. EAC charges the same as LA Fitness but with LA you can go to any gym in the country. read more

This could be the 2nd best gym I've ever been to (number one was the gym at my college, which doesn't count anyway). It's got everything I need (that is, a weight room without waits, and at least one bike/elliptical always open). It might not have the most advanced equipment, but it will have everything that's necessary, and quite a bit more. The EASC, for lack of a better acronym is also scary cheap, especially if you join with a friend. It's an even better deal when you tack on the free classes (yoga and the like) and pool usage. You also get a discount if you're a student or live upstairs in the Edgewater. If it's the latter, you can get from your apartment to the gym without ever going outside. Do not underestimate this, especially in the winter. If you somehow don't own an ipod yet, there's usually pretty decent background music and enough TVs to keep you occupied while you work out. Also, if you're not familiar with the building, it's a vintage 20's hotel, and this is obvious in the weight room, which used to be the hotel's ballroom. Another thing I love about this gym is that it doesn't have (as has been noted several times in other yelps) the meat market atmosphere that some other gyms have. As a guy, this normally wouldn't bother me, but the girls here also got the memo: I don't think I've seen anyone, male or female, sitting on a machine I need to use chatting to their bff, Jill, about how omg cute the boy/girl over there is. The hours are good too: the gym opens at 5:30 and goes until 10, which pretty much covers every legitimate time to be exercising. Location, at least for me, is as good as I could hope for, which for the EASC, is a good summary. read more

EAC is a neighborhood treasure. Their customer service alone makes them an establishment that Edgewater is lucky to have. After scoring a free pass at a local street festival, I wasted no time in heading down the street to check out this gym. My friend and I were greeted by a welcoming staff member who seemed happy to help us. Something that's always frustrated me about most gyms -- the gimmicks and over the top sales pitches. You won't get that at EAC. What you will get is clean, a non-stuffy, well-equipped gym where folks of all fitness level can work to improve their wellbeing. Also that ballroom/weight room is cool as hell. read more

It's been only 1 month since my husband and I are going to this club, but we like it so far. Pool, towel service, fitness and yoga classes. I have to point out, that the pool is empty most of the time, so it's great to be able to swim there with just a couple of people, and now share a line, as it usually is. read more

Edgewater Athletic Club - Gyms Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Clean and numerous facilities. Great towel and instructor services as well. Definitely recommend people going gym here!

We joined in December, and I've been going every day for about two months now. I really like the gym, everything is clean, the staff are nice, and I've never had any problems with waiting for equipment. My workouts alternate from cardio machines on one day to swimming on the next. I've never had to wait for a lane and love that the TV's on the cardio machines have an iPod hookup to play video on the TV screen. The only downside for me is the lockers in the Men's locker room. Most of them don't lock properly and if you grab hold of the lock and bounce it around, most will come open. I make sure to seek out the ones that latch properly. I also wish that they offered more class options, the two times being before or after a normal work day. It would be nice have a few more options for those of us on an irregular schedule. The steam room is amazing and a great perk. read more

I just signed on for my second year at Edgewater Athletic Club. Yes, the gym is clean. Classes are full, but never overcrowded. I can always get to the equipment I need when I need it. The staff is friendly and helpful, but isn't always in my face either, which I appreciate. For the money it's a good deal. However, the reason I signed on for another year of membership is Kelly Martinez, Edgewater's director of personal training. As somebody who's worked with my share of trainers, here and in New York (where I lived until recently), I can say that, in the last seven years, Kelly is the best trainer I've ever worked with--no question about it. He knows the human body, always presents creative and challenging workouts, and listens to my goals and concerns without coddling me. What I appreciate most about Kelly is the fact that he's honest. The four stars are for Kelly. The gym gets three from me. read more

I first went here in October 2015 for a nutrition advice from Rachel, one of the trainers. She gave me a good plan, showed me some exercises and followed up with an email. Rachel and everyone I've interacted with here has been very friendly. I always get a hello when I come in. They have towels and it's a nice amenity. The men's locker room is always clean. The gym is in an old hotel and the weight room is the old ballroom. When you go there, look at the ceiling. The cardio room is at the front of the gym and it looks out on Kenmore Rd. I like that it's quiet! They have music playing in the weight room, but it's not loud. There's no piped in music in cardio room. When I'm doing my cardio, I don't like to listen to music. I enjoy the quiet. It gives me time to think. If you go to the gym on weekend mornings, you might see a lot of kids attending swimming lessons, but that lends to the neighborhood feel. The coolest thing about the gym is the large photo of hotel staff taken at the Christmas party in, I believe, 1927. I love that picture! 3-19-17 Update: They now have music piped in to the cardio room. Loud music. I hate it. They changed cable TV providers so the selection on the TVs on the treadmills is quite bad. Mostly reruns of sitcoms and news. Any relaxing benefits from my cardio workout are now gone. I enjoyed the quiet. They really need to refurbish the locker rooms. 1/3 of the lockers are rusted shut. Many of the lockers are rented to monthly renters, so it's difficult to get a locker sometimes. But, I will continue to go here. It's a good value and it's close to my condo. I am posting this with the hope that someone will see this review and comment. read more

I would not recommend EAC. I was a member at EAC for several years and it was a great place. Small, local, clean and convienent. Before leaving Chicago to take a Job in Atlanta I cancelled my membership in person and in writing. Several months later I realized they had continued to charge my account. I called the manager and explained the situation. He told me the person I gave my cancellation to no longer worked there and he refused to refund the money. I told him I could prove that I hadn't lived in Chicago and that they could see I hadn't used the membership. He told me it didn't matter. I then wrote a letter to the owner and after several months have not received an reply or call. I'm out a few hundred dollars. I'll live, I'm dissapointed at the lack of professionalism, a lack of response, and frankly rude treatment over the phone by the manager. As the buddhist proverb puts it so well: Our actions are our only true possessions. We cannot escape the consequences of our actions. Our actions are the ground upon which we stand. I just read Dereks comments below and I'm astounded. I've never once spoken to the man about my membership. I talked respectfully to his other staff including a manager and never once made any threats regarding their reputation. I've simply written the facts as they happened. Derek shame on you for trying to salvage the reputation of your gym by using misinformation instead of actually following up with me and refunding the money you owe. read more

It has been 3 months since i cancelled my membership. someone asked for my opinion so i thought i would give it here as well. To sum it all up, this was the first membership i have EVER had to ANYTHING (across all spectrums of memberships) where it was made very easy to quit. That is, i was not asked a thousand questions or even remotely swayed to reconsider. (i was given false cancellation information via telephone and in person, and was told i just had to email the boss to be done. i have the managers reply.) Sure they got 30 more days of money from me, but they also got bad word of mouth. Apparently under a "million dollar renovation," all salaries are covered forever and clients are unneeded. this just has to be the case. There were a few sparkles of hope throughout my membership that kept me coming back. i won't list some of the other complaints. it just came down to customer service. in a city with gyms on every block this is all i really expect. overall, myself and 5 other colleagues have left this place over the last year under quite unrelated circumstances. we will gladly pay more for less elsewhere. read more

This gym is pretty cheap and a decent facility, but be warned that you have to cancel your membership in writing. I am now almost two months past the end of my year-long membership and I'm still being charged for a gym I don't use while I try to pin down he manager to get my membership OFFICIALLY cancelled. So I'll be out a couple hundred dollars and be a very unhappy customer. The customer service here is lacking, to say the least. Never have I had to deal with such a situation anywhere else. read more