Another update! Back to report that the new configuration of spin class downstairs and mat classes (like yoga, barre, and pilates) upstairs works very well. I've been loving Monday night spin classes with Zain - he is an incredible instructor with the best playlists. His class is some of the most fun I've had at a workout class. It feels more like dancing with a group of friends than working out. I bike about 10 miles in his 45 minute class which is something I just never thought I'd be capable of. I've also been enjoying Wednesday evening barre classes upstairs with Erin. This is a new class and I hope they keep it on the schedule! Erin is a great instructor who queues very clearly and makes the class feel fun with her high energy. As someone who primarily weight lifts, barre is such a refreshing challenge for me. I feel like I'm learning a whole new skill set in that class. For a bit, I was also liking the Thursday evening mat pilates class with Chi but they seemed to have taken it off the schedule now :( The weight training areas continue to be conducive for a great workout. My only wish would be that they replace some of the elliptical machines with treadmills. When the gym gets a little busy, it's easy for the treadmills to fill up pretty fast since there's about 8 treadmills total. Whereas, there's probably twice as many ellipticals and I don't think I've ever seen more than a few people using them at a time. I'm also not a huge fan of the fact that you now how to ask the front desk for a towel - this isn't something I've seen at any of the other locations. The bathrooms are a bit outdated and could use some updating as well. read more

Love this gym! The staff are so friendly and the facilities are always clean. I have all of the equipment that I need for my lifts, which I also really appreciate. read more

I Joined this gym about 3 months ago thanks to a good friend of mine. I have been trying to work out with trainers and at home to varying but really no success. I really needed a place outside the home that wasnt a hassle to get to. The Merritt downtown has a little bit of everything for everyone - Pool - Great classes - Training and rehab options - multiple spaces for free weights, kettle bells - raquetball - heavy bags - basketball court -indoor track - Steam rooms/Saunas Really anything and everything for whatever type of workout you feel like Merritt has it. The staff here is always friendly and helpful. my bday was earlier this month and they made sure to say happy birthday to me it was just a small little thing that I really appreciated. Merritt has a bunch of "areas" and it never feels crowded and so far I have never had to wait for a machine or weight I can get in focus in and get up out. Also depending on the type of membership you get you have access to so many Merritt Clubs around the area youre always close to a gym read more

I recently relocated to Baltimore and the search for a gym/club began. That completed, I am extremely happy at the Merritt Club. I enjoy the Federal Hill because they have a wonderful outdoor pool with super amenities and great people. If I am just going to exercise, I have also spent time at the downtown location, which I also would recommend. read more

Thisbis the second review i am leaving because the gym had my first review taken down. So I'll say this. The gym is NOT what it seems or worth paying for.. I was personally attacked by two gym memebers in front of staff but because of my skin color i was made to be the instigator.. In the mens suana there are jars of Vaseline and men watch each other in the gym showers. The staff say they are trainers but none of them work out or are in shape. This isn't a personal attack this is about the business and the lack of training and care.. Let's see if this review gets removed .. BTW i cancelled my membership The pictures below are between me and the gym manager where i am explaining what happens. She also tells me that people KNOW not to use there phones in the floor but it's not posted or listed in the policy!!! read more

Merritt Clubs - EMAILS BETWEEN ME AND THE GYM MANGER WHERE I EXPLAIN WHATBIS HAPPENING INT HE GYM LOCKER ROOMS!! - Gyms Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

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Old, expensive, not well maintained, crowded. Sad that the community is not better served.

I've been a member at several gyms in the city (under armour, grind, planet fitness, LA fitness, earth treks) and the centre st Merritt gym is BY FAR the best. It's spacious and you can do everything here -- basketball, yoga, aquatics, boxing, a ton of classes, steam room, the sauna. Everyone who works here is incredibly helpful, kind and professional, especially the front desk staff. I'm shocked that it doesn't have 5 stars on yelp. The membership prices are extremely reasonable for what they offer. parking is easy and it's always clean. I recommend it to everyone. read more

UPDATE: In a google review, the gym now claims that the individual involved denies the incident ever occurred. However, I personally spoke with Tammy, the manager, who informed me that the individual had been confronted, interpreted the situation differently, and was given a warning. It is concerning that this account is now being completely contradicted. This organization appears to prioritize profits and sales above all else, like many corporate businesses. It is deeply disappointing that, after placing my trust in this gym for just one day, this was my experience. The final resolution offered to me was a one-month free membership, which I firmly declined. This offer fails to address the core issue: no amount of free membership can justify or excuse the behavior that--despite their prior acknowledgment--is now being denied. This contradiction raises serious concerns. If the incident is supposedly being "denied," why was I offered a membership as compensation? I urge others not to make the same mistake I did--avoid this gym, do not come here. ORIGINAL REVIEW: I came to the gym interested in the equipment and amenities, I tried out the sauna and I experienced an incident of non-consensual and inappropriate touching from another member on my first day trying this facility. When I reported this incident, I was initially promised that the offending member's membership would be immediately terminated and there is a zero tolerance policy for that behavior. Instead, later on after speaking to the manager, I was given a three-day membership extension and even felt I was to blame for the other members actions. When I escalated the issue to corporate, I was offered only a month-long membership, with no consequences for the other member due to "privacy concerns"--yet there were no concerns of my privacy being clearly violated and no further actions will be taken. While the gym itself has excellent equipment and facilities, the lack of accountability, disregard for member safety, and acceptance for this behavior has completely shattered my trust in this establishment. After my experience, I will never return to this gym and cannot in good conscience recommend it to others. read more

Was a member for this club for 2 years, tried my best to be a regular. Most of the staff are very welcoming and friendly. All Facilities are always clean. Plenty of space. However, I had a couple of encounters with a rude staff. That seemed to always pick or say something towards me, that made me want to not be there. read more

The club itself is good. Nice pool, machines, etc. I mainly needed the pool for training for a triathlon, but then I got a rowing machine in my garage and decided to replace swimming with rowing, so a $79 a month membership did not make sense anymore. However, when I tried to cancel, they told me I have to come in in person, because I have to sign a bunch of forms. What is this, the 19th century?!? They essentially want to make it as hard as possible for you to cancel, hoping you'll delay it and they will continue to charge you. Stay away, very sneaky company read more

been a member for a while seem the club is getting worse and worse now that membership fees went up again you think staff would try to improve thing you members holding up machine being on. there phones and now you members holding up 2 machine at one time complaining to. staff it just fall on deaf ears the staff is real good at dismissal you in a subtle way and when they don't want to hear you they will over talk you and make excuse on excuse and i love the we will look into it line or the we do. something about it and they do nothing i use to care and help out where i could me and few other member now our attitude is screw it this current staff need a customer service refresher course, cause they truly not making the cut sad pay you member dues use the equipment and shut up nobody. care or listening to you complaining and thats how is seems cause thats how it is sad read more

Critical: Communication, Professionalism, Quality At the beginning of Covid-19 I was told we didn't have to wear a mask while on the floor but today I'm working and a staff member stopped me from working out because I didn't have my mask on. I'm suppose to put it on when somebody walks by like how are you suppose to work out when every time somebody walks by you have to put your mask on. First of all WHY WASNT THE NEW RULE COMMUNICATED AT THE FRONT DESK WHEN YOU FIRST CHECK IN ! Been a member since 2012 ! So happy I canceled my membership to this place ! Paying $80 - $110 a month for bullshit read more

Speed bags been broken for a month now and manager never calls back to give updates , been member for 44 yrs and worst manager I've dealt with read more

Pool availability for lap swim is an ongoing challenge. All pools have time limits posted (30 minutes per person when the pool is busy) but this is not enforced in any location. You also can't pre-register for a lane at a specific time, so the result is that there have been times I've been waiting for a lane for over an hour. There is no enforced lane sharing policy, so often there are people swimming that won't let you join the lane. There has been more than one occasion where I arrived, waited 40 minutes for a lane, completed my 30 minute swim, and got out of the pool only to see that other lanes have been occupied by the same person for that entire time. Which wouldn't be a big deal if there wasn't a line of people 3-5 people deep trying to get into the pool. Today I waited 40 minutes for an opening in a shared lane. When someone got out I walked over to enter the pool and someone else (who had just arrived) hopped in from the other end of the pool. When I asked the lifeguard to intervene, I was told that was 'not their job' and if they got in first they couldn't be asked to get out and wait in line. Additionally, there are no aquatics classes offered in any location (swim lessons are available but not aerobics etc). Most available classes that are not 'advanced' level of intensity are only offered during standard work hours (between 10a and 5p). Short version: I pay a ton of money per month for access to the gyms with pools, and the pool management is so inefficient I often can't get access to the pool to complete my workout. Simple management fixes could increase access for everyone 1) enforced time limited on lane useage 2) enforced lane sharing policy 3) pre-registration for lap swim lanes read more

I jus want to congratulate Merritt Clubs, Downtown Athletic Cubs for the excellent cleaning job and constant des-infection of bathrooms, shower (power wash), floors, sauna, steam room, etc. been performed constantly, during Covid-19 pandemic times. I want to particularly mention Francisco, who works nonstop des-infecting even lockers and walls. Thank you very much Francisco for your excellent Job. It is really pleasant to be member of such a clean gym making me feel safe during Covid-19 pandemic. Jose Hernandez. read more

I want to start of this essay of a review by saying that with no intentions does this reflect the staff at this location. I've always had positive interactions with every person that works here. They're all friendly, inviting and were a great team to have at the gym. With this said, I left this gym recently with a pretty sour note regarding the facility itself, it's patrons and price for what you receive. To start, most would argue that Merritt clubs would be classified as close to a "higher-tier" gym, and with that comes minimum expectations of what you receive at almost $80 a month. The facility itself at this location does not reflect that price point. The building feels cold, poorly renovated, and lacking the amount of appropriate stations. Nitpicking here, but It's really upsetting to have my own workout impeded by the INSANELY loud music played by the group fitness classes. The gym is poorly renovated in an attempt to repurpose old racquet ball court rooms and are improperly equipped to contain noise unlike other gyms with group fitness classes, so much so that the music will very strongly break through noise cancelling headphones from two rooms over. It makes conversations with people next to you anywhere downstairs pretty difficult. Further, putting deadlift stations in racquet ball rooms that have no sound insulation is a very strange choice. I've seen lots of people walk away from their own workouts when someone starts deadlifting because of how loud it gets, and have heard stories of my friends have confrontations from people upset at them for deadlifting loud. It's also confusing that I find myself waiting longer than usual for stations in this gym than other gyms i've been to, even as this gym only seems to get half as crowded during peak hours. Why are there just as many leg extension machines as there are bench presses? A lot of "specialized" machines in the gym typically go wasted because most patrons aren't always using them at the same time as other more popular multi-use and compound equipment, but it feels like this gym keeps itself crowded with too many "part focused" machines, and not enough compound machines or equipment, cable track locations and benches. Having only one pec-fly machine that is almost always waiting to be used, but four different incline chest presses scattered around the gym is a weird choice and definitely doesn't reflect the average use time of equipment for gym patrons here. Again, I acknowledge this is a nitpick, but these are expectations that I think many other people have at a fairly expensive price point here. My biggest complaint here isn't something that I believe is the fault of the gym itself, but is something that I think needs to be addressed by staff. The patrons - particularly the men - are some of the creepiest people i've been exposed to at any gym. I've had two different people at separate times tell me older men have been following me around the gym staring me from a distance. I've had very strange encounters with other guys that have made me feel uncomfortable. I've had chats about this feeling with other people here who've acknowledged the same feeling, and they've told me they've been made aware that this gym is typically a location for "cruising". The sauna has a direct line of sight to everyone changing in the locker room, and i've constantly felt uncomfortable knowing that there are men who are very obviously situated in the sauna for the wrong reasons. Intentions at this gym are typically pretty off compared to any other gym i've been to, and I really think it's unfair to have other people feel this way. I could continue to write about some of the off-putting things about this facility, but ultimately I just can't find the appeal in the gym at the price I paid. It's really disheartening to say, as the staff are some of the best gym employees i've encountered, and the location has great potential. However, a lot of this feels squandered and leaves my workouts with discomfort, and I also constantly end my lift wishing this facility was replaced by a different type of gym. Many other friends I've made here share similar sentiments, and it's only that the convenient location in the neighborhood is what makes it most attractive. read more

Seriously considering transferring here from my four year membership at Under Armour. UAPC has had extremely limited hours over the past year. read more

I became a long term DAC member after trying several other gyms around town. It's in a very large multilevel bldg. It's got everything I want in a health club: basketball court, pool, track, plenty of cardio machines, largest collection of free weights I've ever seen, resistance machines, sauna, steam room, clean large men's locker room w/ lots of showers. Lots of different classes including Yoga, I'm probably forgetting some other features. Friendly & helpful staff. Many trainers who are always helpful. I've never known the staff to be rude or not helpful. 24 hour club. Good restaurant on the first floor. A small group club members (me included) meet there every Tuesday for lunch. read more

We worked out here while visiting Baltimore to "scope out" our future residence. To begin with, Becca responded promptly to my email inquiries and we were able to do a visitor pass for my husband and I. The gym was enormous, and had equipment we cant even find in Buffalo. The staff is friendly and facility is clean, especially during these COVID times. We look forward to getting a membership here when we move! read more

City gyms are hard to come by and hard to run. Gyms require space, cleanliness, and the right sort of customers at the right sort of price - and this place seems to do quite well, though I do have weirdly nitpicky things to mention. Merritt Athletic Clubs is a chain in the Baltimore area that does a lot more than just exercise equipment - it's the kinda place you can swim, run, play squash, do yoga, play basketball, etc. Think about a YMCA on steroids. This particular MAC is nice. The majority of the gym is centered around a running track, with the weights and most machines suspended above the middle of the track on a platform. The lower portion of the building consists of classrooms, and there is a pool off to the side. Weight-wise, this place is just okay. There are a limited number of plates, a bit weirdly designed squat racks, and the layout is just a hair crowded. There are no bumper plates or equivalent accommodations, which may be partially because of the weight section's second floor location. I saw chalk on some of the bars, though, which seems to indicate some deadlifting may be allowed. Despite the commentary of other reviews, everything was rather nice and clean, so no complaints there. This place is entirely adequate for most lifters, but those who like to do oly lifts might find it a bit constraining. All in all, while I might prefer a bit more intense weight equipment, this place is a great option for the location! read more

I love this gym! It's huge! The front desk people don't seem too friendly or happy to be there...but everyone else was very nice. It was my first time there and the message therapist gave me a tour. It's a HUGE faculty with a lot of great amenities! They also have some really great group fitness classes. I'd highly recommend this club. read more

I was a member for several years. The location I went to was on fort Ave, federal hill. While the location was mostly clean and had adequate equipment, service from mgmt was sub par. Upon moving, I canceled on 1/21, but was still being billed on 3/21. After 4 emails, and a lack of responses, I had to submit a fraud claim and contact the BBB. I would not advise using this gym as they are in responsive of anything is needed or you move away....ie they will bill you despite requests to cancel until you take legal action read more

Great gym that I'd recommend to anyone in the Mt. Vernon or Baltimore area. They have pretty much everything I could want, including an indoor track, basketball court, plenty of weight rooms, a boxing studio, and a pool. I've been quite happy with my membership, and thankfully the gym never gets so crowded that you can't use it. They have a generous trial pass and locations throughout the city, so go ahead and give them a try! read more

The staff has done a great job in re-opening the gym. They have addressed all of my concerns and questions. Becca has been readily available and has adjusted to the needs of the members. I am glad that I am a member and look forward to many years of membership. This is a great location with numerous opportunities for fitness. Join today!! read more

I would like to preface this review by stating that I am a bartender at a busy bar in the Baltimore region and that yelp is the bane of my existence; this is the first time I've ever written a negative review about any business -- in my entire adult life. That being said, the level of disrespect, contempt and invalidation I received at the downtown location still astounds me almost two weeks later. On Wednesday, November 14th, my boyfriend and I had gone in hoping to receive a 'couples pass'. We were there the week before and had Corey give us a tour. We weren't able to receive the pass, as we didn't live together, which we weren't exactly happy about, but understood. My boyfriend emailed corporate about possibly getting a rate and he received a text, which said from Corey, what the rates for a couple were, so we assumed that after reading the email (and understanding the outside forces that are preventing our cohabitation), we were good to go. Fast forward to the 14th, we came in, sometime between 5pm and 6pm and talked to someone, I don't think he ever told us his name, about it and he said that we needed proof that someone from higher up gave us the okay on the couples price. We showed him the texts, and he immediately grown frustrated and berated my boyfriend about how this wasn't a response to the email, but instead an automated response. It had to be said a couple different times as it wasn't immediately clear that the text from Corey was an automated response, as the text message had in fact answered the question from the original email. He offered us to have a customer service representative come over to help us out. Her name was Wanda. She said more or less the same thing, but both employees grew very bitter, frustrated, raised their voices, and grown pretty heinous with their body language. It ended up with my boyfriend threatening to write a review on yelp, to which Wanda thanked him for threatening them. The problem therein, is that not only were the staff incredibly dismissive, but no one in corporate had even bothered to respond to our email. On Thursday, Someone reached out to us to hear our side of the story. They said they we would call us again the next day, Friday, due to the snow on Thursday. We still haven't heard from him. I also, think it's odd, that the only person who didn't raise their voice was me, the perspective customer. But the most funny thing is that, even before walking in, we sat in our car and we agreed that even if we didn't get the couples rate, we would sign up anyway, because it was only like $10 more a month. Instead, we left feeling upset, invalidated as a couple, and possibly under the impression that homophobia still exists in Baltimore in 2018. read more

Just finished up my membership at DAC/Merritt. And I'm not renewing it. Here's why. 1. It's more expensive than any health club I've EVER been to, and that includes Gold's, MAC, and even Washington Sports Club (WSC) in D.C. The fees are OUTRAGEOUS. I'm law enforcement and even with their supposed "discount" rate, it's still 50% higher than any place I've ever worked out in. 2. The equipment and facilities are old, old, OLD. Shower rooms are nasty: they smell horribly like mold and... well, funk. I'm not going to sugar-coat it. They smell like used towels. Doesn't anyone ever clean here? 3. I never received a personal trainer as they had promised me when I signed up for the membership. The excuse they gave me at the time was, "He's not in right now, just give him a call on Monday." Two years later, I have never been able to get a hold of this so-called trainer. Breach of contract - quite honestly, I ought to sue for my money back, because I never got what was promised. 4. Staff is impersonal at best and rude at worst. There doesn't seem to be anyone in charge here. 5. Did I mention hellishly expensive? The ONLY good thing about this place is that it's open 24 hours. That's it. No other reason. But why would you want to come here at any time of the day? I so miss the Gold's Gym at the Power Plant. I LOVED that club. Time to find another workout place. Mount Vernon deserves better than this. read more

Every gym has a different vibe. This one is expansive and casual. The crowd is all-ages, skewing towards 20- and 50-something men. This is not a place frequented by intense, weight-slamming bros and Lulu-lemon'ed girls, like the Federal Hill location. There is plenty of equipment, a good number of cycles and treadmills, an indoor track, a pool, and racquetball, squash, and basketball courts. Sure, sometimes the employees are surly, the temperature is too hot, and the smell of food from the conjoining restaurant is nauseating, but overall, it is a good, clean gym. Please note: if you plan on using the men's locker room, you better be comfortable with seeing all ages and shapes of the male form. Older dudes seem in no hurry to get dressed. read more

Update - I finally left the DAC. The final straw was when I spoke directly to the regional manager about the litany of issues that needed to be addressed. He gave me a snotty look and gave me some canned answer that basically told me he just didn't give a shit. Add this on to the scary people they've been tossing out memberships to lately - think rap music playing out loud in the locker room and the word "faggot" thrown around more than once. The best part was when I asked the membership guy to cancel - after finding out I joined in 1992, he said, "Wow, that's a long time...the girl at the desk will give you the form." That's it. No "is there any way we can get you to reconsider" or "wow, why are you leaving after so long?" Doesn't matter...I had already signed up at the MAC. The MAC by the way is A-mazing. 15 bucks cheaper and 20times nicer. I walked in and immediately felt at home. And bonus the staff are personable and (shocker) look like they actually use a gym. What a concept. Buh-Bye DAC...you're not getting a dime out of me ever again. Oh and by the way, canceled on Dec.23rd...they tried to tell me that I'd need to pay dues for Jan and Feb - January because the billing cycle had already begun (bullshit, the money had not come out yet) and February because that was technically the last month's payment. Good thing I stopped payment through my bank that day. :) read more

If you want to smell old grease (from the restaurant downstairs), be in dirty locker rooms, face pissed off looking staff and equipment that is ill kept, this gym is for you! I have been coming here for convenience only, but it is evident that the staff does whatever they want and management looks the other way. Also, I have to walk ways to get water, get sanitation wipes, and there are no signs for re racking weights. For the past several months I have only see one attendant actually coming by the free weights area "cleaning" and putting weights where they belong. Not a well kept gym, so looks elsewhere. read more

As an update, when I finally did cancel, they make you pay the next month's bill as well. They say it takes 30+ days to cancel in the system. So if you cancel Feb 4th, you still are a paying member until March 31, and owe March's dues. Pure money grab. I called and pleaded and gave them every chance to make this right. I'm not upset that I had to pay for a gym I didn't use for months - as it was plainly in the contract I signed. I'm pissed at the obvious predatory billing. I didn't want to fight it out on my credit history, so I paid it. Avoid! read more

I was recommended to this gym by my employer, which is in close proximity to this Merritt location. Hoping we would get some deal/barter system worked out between my company and the gym I took advantage of a week pass. PROS: proximity to work, gym is spacious and never feels cramped, plenty of cardio machines and free weights, and they have a basketball court. CONS: the locker room facilities including sauna and steam room are terrible. No curtains on showers. Cheap watered down products in showers. Everything seems old and ill-functioning. The carpeted areas need to be deep cleaned or replaced. And for a monthly cost of $110 they have GOT to be joking!! I'm from New York City and Equinox gave me a better rate than this gym. When I spoke to a staff member about getting the rate my co-worker got, no more than a week ago, for half off, he told me that was a limited of time promotion (to which he initially knew nothing about) and it was back to the standard rate of $110. I then asked if there was anything he could to see I too could get the rate, and he simply said no. So I said, thanks but no thanks and proceeded to walk out. He then suggested that I take a look at the gym to reconsider, and I said, no again. If you're not willing to work out some sort of deal with me I'll take my money elsewhere. And that's what I plan on doing. Charging $110 a month for THAT gym is absolutely absurd! read more

Due to annual maintenance week at my home gym, I adopted this place as my temporary home for a few days. First impressions are everything, and the only thing in my head as I walked the floors looking for the women's locker room was: 'I'm so lost...' Literally. Gloomy and industrial, the downtown Merritt resembles a very large high school gym. An indoor track surrounds an elevated platform of machines and weights atop zigzagging levels of group fitness studios, a mini pool, and outdated locker rooms. Actually, the entire place is severely outdated, and if I were gym shopping, I'd walk right on out. I was not impressed with the teeny towel I was handed and utterly perplexed by the dirtiness of the women's locker room (especially the bathroom stalls). Had I only used the locker room and equipment, I would give this place a lone star. Thankfully, I bypassed the equipment, spent a few minutes scoping out the studios, and settled in with what I really came here for- the group exercise classes. One word: phenomenal! I loved the instructors here and actually felt challenged for the first time in a very long while. I ended up taking 4 classes in 2 days, and am definitely going to come back for some of them in the future. (Note: if your gym is part of the Elite Sportsclub Network, you can use any gym in the network for free 3x a month). Bottom line- this place has fantastic group fitness classes, but the amenities leave much to be desired. read more

The negative reviews piling on here for DAC are right on the money. This gym is way overpriced for what it is -- outdated equipment, impersonal staff, dirty (borderline unsanitary environment). I have a love/hate relationship with this gym, because for many years I lived a block away - nothing beats walking 1 block to workout. The space is also fairly amazing being an old train station. I have belonged to many gyms in my life in many cities, ranging from a super high end Boulder gym to a crappy hole in the wall for $40/month downtown Baltimore. Yet, over the years, DAC has been the gym I have belonged to the most and every time I would begrudgingly pay my fee, wondering if any part of my money would get invested into the facility -- i can tell you in 14 years it seems like it hasn't, with exception for a few flat screen tvs. Well maybe this wave of negativity on Yelp will cause someone at meritt athletic club to finally do something different. Hope is all we got at this point. read more

This is probably the greediest gym ever. BEWARE of their cancelation membership. They charge greedy. A whooping $200 dollars to cancel membership. In addition they will not pro rated refund the month that you paid currently. I paid a total of 340 dollars for nothing. The sales person name COREY did not mention anything about cancelation fee better yet did not even explain this during my registration for membership. They just want your money!. This associate personnel name CLAIRE. Is a super jerk. So inconsiderate, so inhumane. They just dont care. I hope these guys trip over on something going home. read more

I don't like Merritt because their too dam expensive. However being self employed makes getting to the gym a little challenging so being open 24Hr a day works wonders for me. Another plus is the indoor track. Treadmills quickly become a bore and I'm just not brave enough to take a run outside during an east coast winter. Overall a good gym but it's way overpriced, and Merritt doesn't even give out guest passes. Man fuck that. Fitness Evolution, Spunk, & Planet Fitness(20 Bucks) all have bring a guest EVERY-TIME so giving Merritt 80+ bucks is dumb. Nice gym though. read more

Been a member of Merritt for about 5 months now and love what all locations have to offer. The cycle studio is the best at downtown location however it can accommodate more people in the canton location. Kelly R. is the best for cycle and you have to arrive at least 15 mins early for her class if you want to keep your spot! I also enjoy taking the pump classes and my favorite instructor is Meghan S. I can tell that she enjoys lifting which has made me fall I love with it as well as enjoy the change that I see in my body. Between fort ave, canton and downtown they all offer the same things but canton and fort ave have more classes available at the times I want to go. I live a block away from the downtown one and haven't been to this location that much. Also, canton and fort ave are newer so they have a cleaner more crisp appearance compared to the downtown location. If you enjoy sunbathing then fort ave is the place to be! Canton has an outdoor pool as well but the building next to it blocks the sun in the afternoon hours. Downtown only has an indoor pool. All three have parking however downtown's is tight and limited. As far as price it's 79.00 monthly and you have access to all locations. They run specials all the time and for new members and if you are a member they send you gifts for your birthday month. In all beat gym in Baltimore and I love being a member of it! read more

BEWARE I was at Merritt Canton. The gym is actually nice. There are lots of amenities, which I loved. I signed up with them for a year contract. I assumed that YEAR meant JUST THE YEAR, but they included an automatic contract renewal clause they DID NOT TELL ME ABOUT. After moving out of Maryland now, I got automatically billed for an extension that I did not know about, I can't get my money back, and I'm just plain pissed. The gym is nice, but they ARE GREEDY AF. Just be careful when approaching this gym because you shouldn't need a lawyer to choose a gym. Urgh Merritt... You were so good in my eyes until now. Thanks for the parting gift of having me pay you. read more

First off this gym is expensive. I'm a fireman so I get a discount, as do military, and police. I'm still paying fifty bucks a month for a rather typical gym. But, in a world of typical gyms where many people don't know how to work out and would rather enjoy their favorite soap opera during a sweatless elliptical workout Merritt has some unique advantages for someone who wants to lift weights. 1. This gym is open 24 hours (The downtown one). 2. This gym is huge. There are tons of places to hide, tons of floor space, there is an inside track, basketball court, multiple racket ball courts, and a good number of studios that are barely used. 3. There is a private collection of bumper weights for Olympic style and power lifting. 4.It's extremely easy to park. 5.Having a membership allows you to go to all the Merritt's, one of which has a pool/bar that I have heard is very popular in the summer time. Never been though. For some one who wants to lift weights there is a power rack and a squat rack on the main floor. There are also a number of serious lifters there, both Olympic and power. Personally I find that it is worth my 50 bucks. read more

I have been a member of Merritt Athletic Clubs for almost 8 years and haven't regretted a single moment. I have taken group classes since the beginning and highly recommend them. Not only are there a variety of classes and times, but the instructors are phenomenal. In particular Cynthia who teaches Zumba and Heather and Jax who teach body attack. (Actually all the body attack instructors are great!) These ladies are extremely encouraging, upbeat and happily take suggestions of tracks you like/don't like. I plan my schedule around the classes at DAC which can be problematic when dating (ha) but totally worth it. Only reason I'm not giving 5 stars is because I wish DAC had Barre and Body Combat classes. :) #RavingGroupFitnessFan read more

I'm not sure if its the BEST gym in Baltimore, even if it is the most prominent. Merritt has done a nice job in carving themselves out as the place to go for a good workout. Their downtown location is in a beautiful building, once a train station. Lots of space and machines. A full track, basketball court and lots of side rooms for boxing, handball, etc. Membership includes the ability to go to any of their other locations, and a good bit of them are 24 hours a day. So why only 3 stars? The price. They are the most expensive gym in the city as far as I can tell. That'd be fine considering their great location(s), but all in all I can go to any of the other many gyms in the area (MAC, Planet Fitness) and get the same services, only much cheaper. read more