I've been going to the FAC for over five years now and I love it!! It's clean, private and the staff are all wonderful! The nursery and custodial staff in particular are so helpful. The classes and trainers are great too. Edited to add: I removed a star because I remembered that they got rid of the jacuzzi and never built a new one. read more

This club is a mess. Zero communication with members about dues/fees, then try to hold you hostage if you don't pay the fees you didn't even know about. You'll get a lot of surprises if you go here. Thank God I removed my credit card so they couldn't charge me more for things I didn't sign up for or agree to. You're much better off at Equinox. Plus their facility is way better! read more

I love Franklin Athletic Club. It stayed with us all through Covid to allow us to continue our fitness routine. They are always making improvements to the gym, and recently lots of upgrades on the Fitness Floor! read more

1.)The no refund. (if this happens contact michigan consumer protection) 2.) Management does not place members issues first what happens at Franklin Athletic Club, you are ignored.You are under minded and disrespected. When you do not place customers first and behave like people do not have choices this place will keep losing customers. 3.) What happened to me was very close to retaliatory as if I worked there. This place has out of control and extremely revengeful. BE AWARE! read more

Great fitness club. Trainers are amazing Brittany,JP, Reggie as well. They actually listen and target a workout goals for your body type. Other employees are pleasant and speak. Beautiful pools, great classes such as yoga, kickboxing, swimming, Pilates and so much more. read more

After using the club's classes for 5 years, I became a member about a year ago and now I am leaving. The club itself is usually mostly clean although they had a major "stomach flu" outbreak in the winter leaving several members ill. Aside from a few longtime employees, the place churns and burns people. There isn't a way to sign up for the classes online, but they are at inconvenient times anyhow. Leaving just in time for them to completely close the woman's locker room ... great that they are remodeling but there's got to be a more practical way. Now the real cause: between swim, tumbling and camp we've spent a pretty penny at FAC. The story is long, but the abridged version is FAC left several campers unsupervised in the pool for (according to FAC) 45 minutes. The ensuing tale is sorted (mainly because my son is 6) but beyond being pulled under water several times, there were more unsavory details probably left best to the imagination. The age range in the pool during the chaos my son's age at the youngest to at least 11... but rather than deal with clear internal staffing issue, they removed my 6 year old from camp. Arguably my son played a part in the situation, however at 3' and 42 lbs, he's not exactly pushing around an 11 year old. And where oh WHERE were the counselors? The supervisors of aquatic events? It is nerve wracking enough to leave your kid at a camp, but the whole thing gave me a case of the willies. For basic come and work out type stuff, FAC is fine. We had an issue at the beginning with a referral bonus, but otherwise I could forgive my complaints. The cracks are evident when you get into the inner workings of the facility. Based on my observations, the management does not know anything about customer service...which theoretically is their industry. In my situation the owner should have been involved, especially because of the length of my tenure however he didn't have the courtesy to make the informational phone call uninviting my camper. Their staff let a pool full of children get unruly and unsafe, but did I get so much as an apology? Nope, just a kick in the pants. Water under the bridge, but although they said I could keep my daughter in camp and bring my son back next year...I think I'll pass. I expect more when camp plus dues is $1750/month. read more

All of the physical therapist are awesome! Jeanie is so understanding and Joe motivates you to push yourself. They are a great group of people. read more

1. Poor customer service 2. Don't enforce their own covid rules . (Front desk people don't tell people to put masks on nor insure basketball courts are reserved. At least that's what front desk people said today after a guy with no reservation went on my reserved court without a mask. I guess staff put up signs everywhere that masks are required BUT don't enforce) 3. Reduced basketball court hours without decrease in membership costs 4. Have kept charging money since late summer despite gyms falling under state covid restrictions. 5. Go if you would like to increase your odds of getting covid. 6. Expensive I think they used to be better and have gone down hill. It's kind of run down inside and looks like it's from the eighties. Basketball courts need to be refinished and are in rough shape. read more

A club that closes the outdoor pool on a day that all other pools are open just tells the story. It sucks! Badly!

I don't know about the athletic club, but the summer camp and childcare center is a mess. refused to provide a refund for a deposit that was placed to hold a spot in summer camp. the spot was used and paid for by another family, but they still refused to refund my money when I cancelled a month prior to the start and the spot was paid for in full by another family. and even though I cancelled the registration, my account was still charged for the balance weeks later! they're terrible with accounts and money read more

I love the convenience of this place! If you like to exercise and have small kids that need daycare and/or like swim, tumbling, tennis or dance it's a great place for everybody to go! Cons: Parts of it are a little tired even after the renovation and it's a little pricey. read more

Probably the best place for tennis, fitness, and wellness in the Midwest! Tennis, fitness, basketball and newly renovated! read more

Franklin Athletic Club - Lobby - Gyms Near Me - Southfield, Michigan

See all

Really nice! You get what you pay for! Awesome work out instructors and equipment! Hours are good and food is healthy and fresh. I encourage you to give it a try for yourself. read more

customer service is terrible...If I could give negative stars I surely would. Most of the workers have the worst attitudes. Don't even get me started on eddies cafe. I even hear Eddie doesn't was his hands after he uses the bathroom and then proceeds to make the food. The vending machines in his cafe never work and my money is always getting stuck.Oh and did I already mention the workers terrible attitudes. read more

I've been a member here for about a year, playing tennis at least once a week (I'd like to play more!). Tennis I love playing here. They have around 14 indoor courts that are in really good shape. The front five or six have great viewing above one of the baselines for tournaments or parents watching their kids. Of course, all indoor courts get really hot and humid in the summer, and these are no exception. They don't turn the ceiling fans on, though, but maybe they have their reasons (pushes hot air down?). Our two hour drills usually consist of 10 minute warm-up, baseline to volley circuit, some sort of baseline game, transition drill, and a volley overhead combo drill. Around an hour and 25 mins in, we warm up serves and then play a half hour of doubles. There is a wide range of classes available for different levels or you can create your own drill (but I think that's a little more expensive). Pool The indoor pool is really small, but it's clean. I can easily push off one end and make it 2/3 of the way across without coming to the surface. It's nice to just get in a pool in the middle of winter though. I've only had to share a lane once or twice (of about 25 times). There is a lot of equipment that you can use (kick boards, fins, aqua-fit paddles, etc.) so that's really nice to break up the workout. I haven't been to the outdoor pool, but it's only open (obviously) during the summer and I've seen a menu so I think there's some sort of cafe out there. Work out All the equipment is super new and high tech. At least half of the treadmills and all of the bikes have TVs connected to them. There is a really cool new thing called Expresso (expresso.com) attached to some of the bikes that allow you to take virtual bike races and save your ghosts so you can ride against yourself later. It's connected to the web so you can see a live leaderboard. The area is usually full, but not overcrowded and I've never waited for a machine. The trainers are around a lot, so I think they keep an eye on things to make sure no one's being obnoxious or going to hurt themselves. Fitness Classes The timing of aquatics classes aren't the most convenient and there aren't any options that will fit for me after work (I could probably get there by 6:00 if I rushed). The kickboxing classes with George are awesome. He's very motivating and helps you get into the focused zone, but he still kicks your butt. Schedule at: http://www.franklinclub.com/fitnessSchedule.html Kids' Club I haven't been over there, but I know it exists! Staff The staff is really great all around. I've done a couple of kickboxing with George and he's awesome. The tennis pros are really great! I've played with Clay, Mike M., Mike C., Scott and a few others and they are all super personable and helpful. The desk attendants are very nice and most remember my name. There is a high turn-over of these employees it seems, probably because most are college age and either going to school over here and leave during the summer or live over here and will leave for school soon (I want Gerald to come back!). Sally is very kind and helpful. So is Elizabeth. Other There are sand volleyball courts outside I was really hoping there would be a summer league, but there wasn't. There have also been fliers for SCUBA classes for kids and adults, but I don't know the quality or popularity of these. Prices The fitness classes are free for members. For tennis, less popular 2-hour drills (Friday nights) are $23 for members. More popular drills are $30 for members, $36 for non-members. Pretty typical for tennis. I think one-hour of court time was $30. Membership dues for omni (workout, pool, tennis, fitness classes) are around $100 per month. Membership (omni or tennis-only) doesn't mean the tennis is free, just discounted. read more

Looking for a place to to play tennis? This is a great place. I went looking for a new place to play tennis during the winter months. I called there to inquire about the place. They offered me one free hour of court time to check out the facility. My daughter and I played, then checked out the club. This place is great! The tennis courts are well kept. The place is clean. The locker room is very clean and spaceous. Even though I didn't do any work out, the equipment is first class. I am also looking into playing USTA. That way I will get some good practices in. The staff is very friendly. his is the place I will probably be playing this winter. read more

I've only went to the Pilates Reformer classes and loved them. The fitness club itself is clean and has a great deal of amenities. In regards to pilates: the instructor, Melanie was amazing. She is a personal trainer, owns a pole studio, and is a certified instructor. She made sure that I had the proper form when using the reformers and gave techniques that were helpful. She was funny, friendly, and made for a good group class. I felt a difference after 5 sessions and would definitely go back. The pilates classes are now done by Equilibrium and no longer under the fitness center's management. read more

I rejoined the club last June. I started with one trainer which did not work out. I switched to Matt. He was my lifesaver. He helped me with my neurological and physical issues. He challenged me each time differently. I found my mental and physical abilities had really improved. After a great training session on the brand new equipment the club ket him go. I am so upset. I was offered to start over with someone new. I am not willing to do that at this point. I am 60. I have never committed and stuck with training before Matt. I am so disappointed in the management at this club. read more

Great atmosphere especially geared towards families and group events. If you a parent the day care is Fantastic. They with the kids have gym access for children and classes are second to none. ( kids yoga, b-ball, gymnastics and bounce houses etc ). The other nice thing is that after 5:00 pm the gym is never. Busy so finding equipment is not a chore. They have very nice basketball courts and tennis leagues. The main thing is cleanliness and it shows. Another thing that I enjoy is that their are always activities or parties going on in or around the gym or outside pool. Makes it feel more like a club than just a workout place. Great pools, good food at eddies cafe and a host of classes. Hopefully after the renovations they can get a few new pieces of equipment and carpet for a needed refresh of the decor. I highly recommend. read more

We did not have the best experience with the tennis program. My child was hit by another child on purpose and the other child admitted to doing it on purpose and was able to stay in the program. Additionally the other boys in the group were so rude to my child. It's just not organized correctly. Additionally, another incident was keeping my child on a half court even though he was good enough for the full court and telling me he would be on a full court and then having him on half court. They just don't have it together for the junior program. read more

The management at FAC has indeed improved a lot since my last review. The staff will go out of their way to make sure you are comfortable, and are extremely friendly and welcoming. Great community to be a part of, definitely. read more

Great, family friendly club with lots of options for working out and racket sports. Kids options and swimming pools are nice as well.

Very bad experience after 4 years of membership. Unprofessional , not nice and very agressive managers! I was ripped off for mounths! I will not recommand this club. read more

This club has the potential to be a great club, but they miss on too many details. The staff is very friendly, the atmosphere is improving with the renovation. For the price, however, people expect a bit more polish. The renovation is taking forever. They have a "renovation blog", but it is not updated and they never post any real plans. All of a sudden, they have a bunch of recumbent bikes, but still not a lot of treadmills--which are the most in demand cardio machine. They have orange cones marked "watch your step" where tiles were removed in the men's locker room ~6 months ago. They lack equipment cleaning wipe dispensers, but sometimes have a bag of wipes sitting on the floor. Piles of dust and construction vacuums sit near the new equipment. The occasional broken machine (hopefully less of an issue post remodel). You won't find these issues at other high-end clubs in this price range--but the friendly atmosphere does offset many of these misses in my opinion. I hope the new Equinox forces them to step up their game and get some of these details right. They also need longer childcare hours on the weekends. Overall, this is a very solid club, but needs a few tweaks to be truly great. read more

I'm shocked at the negative reviews and wonder about the motivation. My family and I just relocated to the Detroit area. Franklin Athletic Club was down the street from our temporary residence, so we enrolled our 2.5-year-old son in the day camp, and kept him there even after moving 20-minutes away. Here is the thank-you I recently sent to the staff. "I want to thank you for providing my son with the most well-rounded, loving, and friend-filled summer camp experience. At only 2.5, my son recognized that "Camp Franklin" was something special, since he's still talking about it and it's the end of September and even asked today when he gets to go to camp. The staff, structure, and range of activities were impressive. Each day I dropped my son off or picked him up I was in awe of your counselors. Their way with the kids and the seemingly impossible but effortless way they wrangled so many excited children made it clear these were not only experienced counselors/educators, but that they loved their job...and the kiddos. My son spent car rides home telling me about playtime in the splash park, songs he learned, crafts he made, and of course, the bounce house. After this summer, I am convinced that Franklin offers something different, something special. The facilities, the quality of staff, and the variety of experiences makes me certain my son will return next summer. Thank you for everything. See you in June!" --- In addition, the variety of group classes, the community atmosphere, and round-the-clock childcare make Franklin ideal for any adult, especially those with children. This place is awesome. read more

I have been a member for less then year. My experience has went from ok to absolutely horrifying. There are a few nice individuals who work their, however the club is not updated, fingers are pointed in different directions and nobody to talk to. The main thing that really made me upset is the summer camps. The program is run by Laura Barrick and her brother Tyler is extremely involved. They are not equipped and or educated to work with children. The camp is disorganized and the young counselors like to pick favorites. I have heard horror stories from other parents in regards to the camp and other programs for children at Franklin and unfortunately I had to experience some as well. No, I would not recommend Franklin Athletic Club and especially the children's programs to ANYONE. read more

We have been members for a couple of months and LOVE Franklin! The workout classes are great (kickboxing with George, Spin with Lee, and the TRX classes), they really push you and I love that I am working out with people of all abilities! The club is going through a major renovation and is looking really good! The staff is so friendly and always call people by their first name, makes it feel like a family atmosphere more than a "club/gym." The kids classes are what drew us in and what keep us there. There is SO much for my 3 year old to do, tumbling classes, yoga classes, story and play time...The list goes on and on. Ms. Lori is so good with the little ones and makes them love classes there. And...Ms. Kahty, I really can't say enough about how wonderful she is with the kids. My kids LOVE gymnastics with her and her Monday night Yoga class. They look forward to coming to the gym because of her! We have been really happy here! read more

Our 4-year old twin boys have been enrolled at Franklin Academy since October 2014, and my wife and I are extremely pleased with our decision. The managers and administrative staff are very professional and well organized, and the classroom teachers are skilled, good-natured, and truly interested in our sons' growth, physically, emotionally and academically. read more

The Health Club/ Gym area is never cleaned consequently people sweat on the machines all day with no one cleaning them until the club closes.Broken equipment/ TV's are not working. Also, staff member's are not around they should be working the floor checking on things/ guest. I can't use a machine because the weights that the previous person used are still on the machines. There are empty cups and dirty towels that aren't picked up?? The towels are dirty torn stained, so are the bathrooms which are not in the best shape or cleaned as they should be. The staff just sits around and gossips instead of helping and taking care of the club. There are other clubs that charge a 1/4 of what Franklin does and have better staff and cleaner fitness areas. Don't waste your money here. read more

I joined this club because my company grew a partnership with them, and I was offered a discount. I was used to the ways of places like Powerhouse Gym (which still gets the job done, because everyone in there wants to get their pump on), and have never been part of a tennis club. I'm there to primarily lift and do cardio. My favorite aspect of this place is how clean it is. This is a place that I can go early in the morning, bring a change of clothes, workout, then shower/change and head out to work. This is great because I don't ever feel like I'm catching some fungus in the locker room. The maintenance and custodian staff is fantastic, and it's always the same people working (the management must be good to work with). The customer service is nice and it's never too crowded. I believe most of their money is made on the tennis courts, which I don't use. However, I have used their indoor pool, outdoor pool and basketball courts. I have friends who have taken their weekend yoga/pilates/cycling classes and love them. Every 90 days, their administration staff have been kind enough to write up paid receipts for me in order to get reimbursed from my employer. If one can afford this club, I would highly recommend it to anyone in the area. read more

I've been a member for almost a year, and really enjoy the group classes in the morning. I love having the Kid Zone available for my 3 year old son. He loves Ms Erica, Ms Kia, and all of the girls in Kid Zone! Having such a wonderful staff in the Kids Zone makes it easy for me to get my workout done knowing that my son is in great hands, safe and having fun! read more

My review is exclusive to the Aquatics Club for adult swimming lessons. Don't waste your money. The teachers are high school students who swim competitively but have zero knowledge on how to teach adults to swim and various drills for practice. These kids are very sweet and mean well, but they are clearly overwhelmed at trying to teach an adult student. Most of what I learned was from YouTube videos and a couple encounters with lifeguards at Costick Pool in Farmington (I wish I started my lessons with them)! At $84 a month (you need at least 30 days notice to discontinue the lessons) I was extremely disappointed that 5 weeks in, I still don't know how to tread water and need more help with breathing during freestyle swimming. The lessons are only 30 mins long while at Costick, they teach you for an hour at $10 less than FAC! Just biding my time until this month is over and I will be taking my lessons elsewhere! read more

I love the new renovation! Terrific staff, friendly and accommodating management and thankfully it lacks that pretentious environment some other clubs in the area so gleefully foster. The trainers here can meet every need, from body building to weight loss and there are always new and interesting classes and equipment....very cutting edge. read more

I would not recommend this gym to any one. This gym is a very old facility, is aggressive in trying to squeeze money from its members, and the various class and facility schedules are geared towards retirees. Most of the trainers are very old and inexperienced. Very bad!!! read more

My daughter was in Franklin's Fun and Games camp where she was being bullied by other camp members for 3 days. My husband was a witness to the 2 incident and told the camp counsler the cousler said,"I will handle it tomorrow". I contacted Camp Manager and asked her to address the incidents she told me that she would address it the next day. We received a call the next day from the Camp Manager only to tell us that my daughter came to them crying, but nothing happened because the children and Counsler said that nothing happen. I told her that I do not believe the Counsler because the Student to Counsler ratio is TOO HIGH and that my daughter wouldn't be crying because nothing happened! She also told me that the incident that happened the day before was nothing and that my daughter accidentially stepped on a child heels as they were lined up to leave and that's why the 3 girls were yelling at her and pushed her. I told her that my husband witnessed the incident and approach the counsler about it because he saw one of the girls hit my daughter and he wants the situation addressed. The CAMP MANAGER told me that the little girl didn't hit my daughter JUST "pushed her" and that's not hitting. My husband also went up to Franklin to talk to the Camp Manager about the bullying he witnessed and how it was handle and she told us that this is not the RIGHT FIT for our daughter and she was NOT TO RETURN. I agree that it is not the RIGHT FIT for my child and here are the reasons why: 1. Student to Counsler ratio is too high. 2. It is okay for a child to push another kid. 3. If a customer asked the Management Team to look into a situation, your child will be removed. 4. It's okay to hit a child with a Tennis racquet and not apologize. (another incident) 5. If your child is crying and needs help, they will not receive it unless it was witnessed and confirmed by the person doing the bullying. 6. The Camp Manager will make excuses for bullying instead of addressing issues in a Customer Centric way. read more

My spouse has been receiving therapy for shoulder replacement at the DMC Rehab Clinic that's located inside the Athletic Club. The staff at DMC are fantastic but the Athletic Club's management isn't. During my spouses therapy I would go to the little snack shop or sit next to the tennis courts benches but didn't roam and read my book until therapy was completed. Overall the place is nice, was actually thinking about trying out the facility. But today I was told that DMC guests are not allowed to go outside their clinic. This came from the V.P. General Manager. It's unclear whether we are allowed to use the bathrooms. Attempted to clarify but the V.P. General couldn't speak to me at the time; very important meetings. It's really a shame this has happened, I will write to DMC to let them know what their landlord is enforcing. The management at Franklin Athletic club is very short sighted the actual staff are friendly and helpful. Buyer beware! If their doing this to guests what are they doing to the members? read more

We have been a member of FAC for approximately 10 years. During that time, we've had two children. My 8yo attended the Franklin Academy for 4 years, and my 4yo is halfway through his second year. The academy is a play based program and has benefited and well prepared my children for 1st grade.The kids have daily access to the entire club, including the indoor and outdoor pools, gym and enrichments. While my youngest attends the stellar after school progam created by Mr. Lear, my 8yo and I have the opportunity to do homeworm in the cafe with steady wifi. My children have participated in most activities offered for children and events, including a wide array of camps (pokemom, pee wee to varsity, swim camp). Both kids attended all of Ms. Lori's classes. They have also been lucky enough to be offered Pistons camps and clinics, martial arts, tennis, etc. The family events are always welcoming, fun (Pistons Fly Team, Spooktacular, petting zoos). The birthday parties are always a blast with great facilitators. So, you can tell I'm all into the kids :-). Activities for the children, as well as the amenities for adults, are what keep me at FAC. Among the reasons mentioned above, we are provided towels and feminine products. The ladies in the nursery even helped potty train both my kids and witnessed the first time they walked and heard their firat spoken word. They came and got me and we all cheered and took photos and videos. Can't beat that! The facilities are always clean and I've even had my hair done by the club stylist, Diane and used the tanning booth. I can't wait to get a massage from one of the three masseuse and a soulful makeover from the skin care and beauty specialist, Nina Marie. The management have many issues to solve, and I think they do a dang good job at doing so. So, what a poster called "gossip" may occur, but I've always perceived it more as collaboration to find the solution, developing strategies to make this a better place, focusing on diversity, family oriented clubs...constant development. Yes, I have been a member at this club for 10 years and, obviously, I've had some issues, but all of them have been addressed promptly and professionally. I can also be a difficult person ;-). So, yes, I've been at the club for 10 years, my kids feel at home here, everyone knows my kids and looks out for them, as they have grown up there, but the investment has been well worth it! All kids deserve tobe in a safe place.Thanks y'all, you're doing a great job! read more

I took my daughter to the cooking camp at the Franklin Athletic Club but, the campers never cooked during this camp. When I finally spoke with a manager, she stated that the children would make cereal necklaces and eat a snow cone during the week. These are things that my daughter did as a preschooler. The description was very misleading and my 2nd grader was very disappointed. If you want a cooking camp, keep looking. read more

I have been coming to Franklin for several years now and my family has been a part of the club for a long time. It is a great place for the whole family. Their kids programs are great and extremely flexible, the fitness instructors are awesome, and the overall atmosphere is very welcoming. I highly recommend this club to everyone! read more

We love this gym. My kids are involved in many of the youth activities and the quality is much higher than what we found through community rec. The staff is absolutely amazing. Every time my kids see Miss Laura they take off running to hug her :) It really is a great place, very clean, not overly busy and crowded but top of the line equipment. We have been very pleased with our membership. read more