Bucktown Athletic Club

The amenities are not good for the price of a membership here. This is a low/mid-tier gym with a decent amount of machines and equipment, but it lacks amenities that gyms in this price range typically offer, such as saunas. Based on value alone, I would rate the gym 3/5 stars. However, my overall review is 1/5 due to unfriendly policies and staff processes that unnecessarily complicate simple tasks like signing up and canceling a membership. To make any membership changes, you either need a member of their small registration team to be present or you must use their app. I had to visit the gym multiple times just to sign up and multiple times to cancel, wasting time because the gym seems to believe its membership team has a specialized role that only they can handle. Unfortunately, this team is often not available or not on-site. The front desk staff—who are only able to check people in—are put in the awkward position of repeatedly telling members they are't able to help with basic requests. I also suspect there is a wide range in what members are actually paying compared to the listed pricing, as the membership team describes their responsibilities as “nuanced.” Overall, the gym lacks organization. Its policies and processes slow everything down and create a poor member experience.

I really like the staff as they are all super nice! The facility is also clean. However, I feel like some of their machines are outdated. They also don’t have enough squat racks/smith machines. I came from planet fitness that was open 24 hours weekdays and had longer hours on the weekend, so it’s very disappointing that this club closes so early and starts late compared to other gyms. I would honestly go back to planet fitness if it wasn’t so far away now; I had to change gyms due to moving.

I like this gym overall, but the treadmills are a major problem. Multiple machines are broken or unbalanced, and it doesn’t seem like they’re being maintained.

I primarily keep my membership for access to a treadmill and Kacey Hyde Brott’s excellent Pilates class. However, the facility lacks amenities like a sauna or pool, treadmills are always out of order and the locker room is extremely cramped. Women frequently bump into each other, especially at the entrance, making it an inconvenient and uncomfortable experience. I suggested installing a safety mirror so members could see around corners and avoid collisions instead of just hoping for the best. Unfortunately, my request was denied due to ‘privacy concerns’—which seems inconsistent given that a separate wall already provides privacy for the locker area. A small change like this could greatly improve the flow and safety of the space.

This gym's practices are disappointing. During the pandemic, they temporarily halted memberships but restarted them without notifying members. I had replaced a lost debit card, so the original one on file was invalid. Despite this, they continued to accrue charges on my account. When I felt safe enough to return and called to restart my membership, I was informed I owed over $200. I had no idea they had resumed my membership without my consent for the past four months, even at the height of the pandemic when I didn’t feel safe going back. They insisted I pay the balance to rejoin, showing a complete disregard for members' safety and comfort during such a critical time. Additionally, their pricing is unreasonable for the services they provide. I ultimately chose to take my business elsewhere.

I tore my meniscus in my knee and reached out multiple times to get a refund for personal training sessions. They never got back to me. On top of that, they told me I can’t talk to someone or reach out to anyone. The front desk was openly rude to me. I called their manager and left a message and she never called me back. It’s been two and a half weeks. Don’t sign up here. They never went through rules and policies for me so I didn’t know a refund wasn’t possible. They are unprofessional and clearly don’t understand customer service

I was at this gym for a while. It was a good experience. Until I went to cancel and the guy I talked to lied to me about putting my account on hold, and they continued to charge me for multiple months. I was then told that they had no record of my request, and that all cancellations needed to be made in writing. This, of course, was not explained when I spoke to this guy over the phone. Just another overcrowded gym that will scam you out of money when you try to cancel.

I actually had great things to say about this gym until recently, when I saw they continued charging me for months after I had cancelled my membership. They had me come in, asked me a bunch of questions, sign a bunch of documents to cancel only to continue charging me AFTER I MOVED. If I hadn’t checked this would have continued. Very shady business practices!!! I do NOT recommend this gym.

I've been a member at 3 total gyms in the area and visited others and this is the best gym by far (besides midtown which is like $300/month). Very well maintained, nice locker rooms stocked with amenities, friendly staff, plenty of cardio equipment, fair amount of weight equipment. With all that being said, it does get overwhelmingly busy to the point of frequent waiting for weight equipment if you go during busy hours. Overall, best you'll find in the area for the price.

Very friendly, helpful staff. Ample variety and quality of equipment. Clean. Trainers can be terrific but be selective.

I really like this gym, but they close too early now. I was a member pre-pandemic and stupidly signed back up without checking for new hours. The early closing on Friday and weekends is especially suboptimal. They should really keep either this or the Wicker Park Athletic Club open until 10:30PM or 11:00PM. If they aren't going to stay open later, I think this location needs a couple more power/squat racks and another seated row/pulldown machine. A bench press with safety rails wouldn't hurt either.

Beware of phantom charges / unscrupulous billing practices. After paying membership fees for 5 years and terminating membership, was charged erroneously without notice of invoice and sent to collection agency. Billing department does not waive phantom charges despite clear record of membership cancellation in official records. Billing representative was immediately confrontational and clearly accustomed to receiving these complaints. Their membership cancellation process operates like a scam, so please be wary of engaging with CAC.

We stayed in bucktown for an extended vacation and got a pass for while we were there. This place had EVERYTHING you would need. It was spacious and loved the way it was set up. Tons of classes to offer. We appreciated how clean the gym was. They were constantly cleaning and had access to wipe down equipment throughout the floors. We wish we had a gym like this back home.

I tore my meniscus in my knee and tried to get a refund for personal training sessions they set up. They didn't ever get back to me. They never explained the policy. They wouldn't put me in touch with anyone. I asked if I could talk to his manager because he wasn't giving me any information. She never called me back. It's been three weeks. Don't go here. They're incredibly unprofessional and terrible when it comes to money. I'm going to just to get this settled.

Nice gym but honestly I am going to cancel my membership probably unless they change the hours

Went here and did a free day to try it out. Really clean and a great size! Great to see everyone wearing their masks and not a ton of people there at once. They also have their staff constantly spraying down equipment.

Bucktown Athletic Club serves the same area more or less as the nearby Wicker Park Athletic Club but this location is much larger and has a lot more redundancy in equipment, especially on the cardio floors. Peak hours here go from about 4:30-7:30 but even then, it isn't too hard to get a workout done. Everyone is friendly for the most part and I haven't had trouble working in with someone on some more popular equipment. The gym itself is very clean and I haven't had any problems with broken equipment. The staff is also frequently cleaning. There is also Wi-Fi and some vending machines selling water, protein, and Celsius pre workout. All in all, a decent place to get a workout in!

I have seen a review similar to mine posted, but I decided to share my experience. I joined in the summer of 2021. Did not love it so I cancelled my membership in June 2021. To my surprise, March 2024 I receive an email from a debt collection agency that states that I never cancelled my membership and owe BAC money. The first time I have heard of this, 3 years later. Keep in mind, I no longer live in Chicago. I have been trying to work with BAC to resolve the issue, but only a sales associate (who has been rude from the beginning) to no avail. Whenever I ask to speak to a manager, they need to "investigate" and I guess I don't make it past the gate to speak to anyone above an assistant manager. I find this incredibly shady and I would stay FAR away if you do not want to have to wonder this establishment will try to hunt you down for money you do not owe 3 years later.

I've been to gyms all over the US and this has to be one of my favorites. I really love the clean/open feel of the gym, everyone I've seen is pretty considerate about wiping down which is rare, and there is always someone cleaning and wiping down the machines. Speaking of machines- the second floor is full of them, I've only gone during the day but usually I have a lot of breathing room and everyone minds their own business. There are three floors, ground has lockers, showers and bathrooms+ a barre studio+ a mini training area. Second floor is cardio machines + a cycling studio+ a general studio, and third floor is weights! There are free gym towels to use, free wifi and classes included with membership. The classes are fun and open to every skill level. I've tried Barre and its been hilarious and worthwhile- I feel like a clumsy ballerina. But that's ok, because all the teachers are open and encourage you to do your best because its your workout.

I literally made a Yelp account just so I could write a review to warn people of these scammers. I loved the workout classes and facility itself, but not worth the hassle and money you'll be ripped off if you ever try to cancel or put a hold on your membership. Especially during a pandemic, you would think they would be a bit more accommodating. They put a complimentary hold on my membership as I did not feel comfortable coming during COVID, then without warning removed the hold and I was told my account was overdue. They had some collections agency harassing me every day to pay for a membership that I had not used for almost a year. I've tried calling and cannot speak to a human, only an automated response. If you try to email, you won't get a response for weeks. SO SHADY.

Was visiting family in town for a wedding and LOVED working out here! HUGE with three floors! Lots of space and excellent equipment. One floor just cardio machines. Other floors with plenty of dumbbells, cable machines, benches, BOSU balls, medicine balls, squat racks, etc. Everyone was so friendly. Quiet too. Will be back!

There was another reviewer who wrote about the same issue. The gym will change its policies on you without any notice or communication. Such as, changing their membership freeze policy without notice and when you go to make the request they give you a whole new set of rules. They set arbitrary deadlines and your freeze can't take place until another month, which in most cases is useless. These policy changes are just to take your money while you're not using the facilities.

I have had a wonderful experience at BAC - exceeding my expectations! I can always find a machine and love the classes. Some of them are popular and fill up (especially in Jan/Feb) but I've never had a persistent issue getting in. Props to a few of my favorite instructors: Katie Duffy (weds body pump pushing you hard), Amy Sauvola (thurs DJ cycle with the good pre-weekend vibes), and Carlyle (sat AM body pump kicking my butt). My only wish is that there were a few of the other classes offered at this location! Most of the negative reviews seem to be about the cancellation policy, which tends to be an issue at all major gyms and hasn't impacted me yet. I didn't have the best luck with a personal trainer here (didn't really push me) so dropped that but the classes are a much better substitute for me anyway.

I am here a few times a week this place is like my happy place and always love the wide array of classes offered with some great instructors. Ambiance prior to being a member I was a member at a gym that was $10 a month called Cardinal Fitness which was bare bones but now from modern the equipment to all areas being Staff is always very helpful and nice. I like how they will try to answer any questions and the trainers I have worked with are knowledgeable and try to assist you in attaining your goals. Classes I love working out here because even when there are a lot of people around you can get to a class or a TRX machine

I have gympass and usually go to as many Athletic Club gyms as possible to see which one I like best. BAC is great. It feels a bit smaller compared to the others (but it has three levels). The weight room is great - very lit too. It can get crowded but overall everyone is wearing masks and respects your space/privacy. I haven't taken a class yet here but they are included in the membership so that's a great deal. I usually take them at the Lakeview location - which was great by the way. Generally speaking, this gym has everything you need. Decent weight room, tons of cardio machines, towel service, etc. The one con is paying for parking on North Ave but at least parking has not been an issue right out front when I do go. Worth a visit if you're in the area.

Great location, good amount of equipment, and great classes. The equipment isn't brand spanking new, but well maintained and there's always enough unused machines and weights. It can sometimes get crowded in the weight room 6-7pm on weekdays, but there are always free cardio machines. The classes make the monthly membership a great deal for me, considering it's included in the membership price and group classes are so pricey elsewhere. instructors are also motivating and/or entertaining, which makes time pass quickly.

So I decided to upgrade gyms and I chose the athletic clubs of Chicago! I was greeted with friendly smiles and hellos from the front desk staff! I knew automatically this was off to a great start other gyms aren't usually as nice. My membership advisor was Marianne C! And she was awesome! I toured the gym and it was great! Tons of yoga classes as well as high-intensity classes! Great layout of weights, in the weight room and a lot of cardio equipment! I was sold! Plus I upgraded my membership to use the pool outside at the Lakeview location in the summer! I had a great deal for personal training if I bought a few sessions when I signed and I tots took advantage of that! Watch out for my check-ins!

Some of the trainers are very inconsiderate of the patrons that aren't working out with them. One Saturday morning, I was at squatting rack and the one trainer kept walking around my area (not a big deal), but slammed some plates down near my feet. She just looked absolutely miserable and like I was inconveniencing her. Another time, a trainer had his client come over to where I was and started working out right next to me, as if I was in their way when I had been there first. As someone who's had MANY gym memberships in the city (X-Sport, Planet Fitness, Rockwell Barbell), I'm absolutely annoyed with the blatant disrespect and lack of professionalism the trainers here have. I've had trainers where there is a mutual respect between everyone in the gym and if there's someone in the area they want to work out in, they don't slam plates down near that patron or work out so close to the patron that it eventually makes them move. As far as patronage, I tend to not review places on that, as they can't help what type of morons walk through their door(s), but this place is pretty chill on that part. The place itself is clean, the guest services at front are really nice, one of them actually gave me a hair tie. All-in-all, I will not be sad to end my membership, as my work and apartment building have gyms. However, I hear that's a pain itself, so I'll keep you updated.

I've been working out at CAC gyms for over a year now. In short, the gym and facilities are well kept and machines are extensive, however I've had issues with the staff that have left a bad taste in my mouth. Example: I came back to Chicago, after having paused my membership and forgot to turn it back on. However, for the first week back, for some reason, I was getting into the gym just fine. On the day they realized I hadn't turned it back on I was on my way into a class, which I was almost late for, and they decided to hold me up before the class to get me restarted as a member when I insisted I could just take care of this after the class. I asked multiple times however they insisted that I do it right then. Very frustrating, lacking in empathy, and unnecessary. Also, not cool just removing points without notice. As mentioned by others, it's an example of how bottom line is prioritized over customer loyalty. I've had a few poor customer service experiences at CAC however I am still a member, and that's because the facilities and classes and teachers I've interacted with are solid.

This gym could be fine. It's affordable, it is close to my apartment, and it's right off the train. However: there are just two bench presses. That's ridiculous. There is one guy who sits on the bench for an hour plus with his girlfriend, brings his own chalk, and just takes up space. So there is really one bench. There is also no sauna. This isn't huge, but LPAC has a sauna, and LPAC costs basically the same per month. The staff is indifferent, and the vibe is just a little off. I'm done, will be looking elsewhere.

Disgusting COVID policies. They're charging 1 month + $50 to cancel your membership. Total lack of compassion: they'd rather you get sick than make it easy to be safe. Despicable.

The management of the CAC is shockingly poor. 1) You guys promoted a food delivery service (GOOD EATS) earlier in 2018 that was a complete disaster. A whole box of food was delivered spoiled. Had to beg my awesome personal trainer to get Good Eats to email me back -- which is obviously not her job. Then I waited MONTHS to get my money back. 2) I had almost 1,600 points when management decided to cancel the rewards program with ZERO NOTICE. I've cancelled my membership. For the sake of my fellow Chicagoans who trusted you with their business, I hope the CAC gets it together. Yikes.

I was a members of BAC for around 4 years. I really enjoyed the group fitness classes offered and the instructors were always fantastic. I'm sadly leaving a 1 star review because the cancelation policy ruined my entire experience with this gym. After a family emergency that has led me to move, I was forced to cancel my membership and become a member of a new gym that is closer to my new residency. Well- they are charging me for an additional month - and the lady I spoke with on the phone didn't understand why I was getting so upset with this policy because "I'd have access to the gym during that time I'd be paying membership" ....uhhh...duh. Why am I upset? Because I can't use this gym for this month (it's the beginning of March) which I already paid for- and now next month because they are charging me for an additional month and I DON'T LIVE NEAR THE FACILITY TO USE THE DAMN THING! I'll be spreading this info near and far- not worth signing up. So very disappointed. Do better CAC. You suck

I canceled my account (with email confirmation from their billing people) more than a year ago and I'm still trying to get them to stop charging me monthly... At a certain point the amount they have stolen will be worth paying a lawyer to get it back.

The people who work out here are what make this place so insufferable. Slamming weights, stomping on the cardio equipment, sitting on weight machines while scrolling through their phones.. They appoint two employees to sit at the front entrance but never a single employee to monitor the workout areas. Trainers train their clients with everyone else, no dedicated personal training area. No signs anywhere telling these bros to stop slamming weights, or clean up after themselves. Bad layout, poor management and douchebags. That's an honest review

This gym is interesting. It's kind of like a maze lol it has a good organization, and good amenities. I would have rated it right around the same rank as LVAC. Only came here because our weight floor is being renovated...again lol the flooring they have at this gym is perfect, I just don't understand why they put fake grass turf on everything in lakeview. This location while missing pools and rock climbing, it does have more weight machines and benches which I appreciate. The locker room is a bit small, the locks are not that fun lol it's supposed to feel techy but the way the locks delay on responses actually made it feel a bit tacky. One thing I really really would like to understand is the design of the bathroom. Why is there such a big gap below the door? Lol it's already translucent glass. Like we don't even have that in boys town. Within the small locker room it's like every one can see who's taking a sht Ps. Something else I noticed, now I might be exaggerating a bit, but definitely felt all the UV rays are bouncing right towards me

Pretty dumpy for $78....no pool, no sauna, nothing special at all. The other CAC's are better. Lockers also malfunctioned for me multiple times and I had to wait for someone to help open it. I had multiple treadmills and elipticals where the headphone plug ins would not work. Brought it up to management....and just avoided any machine like that moving forward. The kicker with this place is...when I had finally had enough - I went to cancel, gave them 3 weeks notice, and was told I needed to give 4 and would be responsible for paying the next month. I refused to pay, I had some collections agency call me to try and collect the payment and again - refused. I didn't go to this gym for the 3 weeks after I had canceled or the month after they tried to bill me for, so why on earth would I give them anymore money? They must be struggling if they are trying to recover $78 from someone so bad... You can find a gym for the same price with MUCH better amenities!

Generally nice. Would be better if any of the TVs on the cardio equipment worked. Literally can't find one with a working tv, sound / closed captioning.

I love the CAC!! I've been coming to this club lately because it's more conveniently located to my home. The fitness classes are fantastic (Bodypump!! Spinning!!) and the equipment is in brand new condition. All club access is the way to go-- you'll be able to access all CACs for a nominal fee that pays for itself in convenience and preventing burnout!

When I joined a few years ago, I would have given BAC 4-5 stars. It is spacious, clean, well-maintained, well-equipped, and there are plenty of group-exercise options. The membership rate is not inexpensive but reasonable given the quality of the gym. Recently, BAC has undergone several renovations and added more amenities (e.g., massive pilates studio on the first floor, the equally huge "THRIVE" studio on the second floor, etc.). Although these were built with all membership fees, they are off limits to most members. Management locks up the THRIVE studio. To gain access, you are required to pay additional fees. The actual gym space for regular members, therefore, has shrunk significantly while membership rates have not gone down. And your money is going towards building equipment that you are not permitted to use. BAC - this demonstrates a lack of appreciation for and loyalty towards your membership base. Offering training programs for additional fees is one thing, but not allowing members to use the very equipment and space that their money has paid for is terrible. It shows that you care more about the bottom line than your customers.

BAC used to be a pretty good gym. When I signed up in September of 2015, the gym featured a full floor of cardio equipment, a large weight machine selection, enough bench presses, a dumbbell area, ample stretching space, and a designated free weight area. Furthermore, I was told that a sauna and steam room were in the works. Fast forward 11 months and still no sauna and steam room. On top of that, Thrive training was just announced. What is thrive training? Some fad training gimmick that most likely costs an exorbitant amount of money for a low roi workout. Why is thrive even worth mentioning? Well, the Chicago athletic club folks decided to cut the entire third floor in half to build two dedicated thrive facilities. At this point, the amount of benches and dumbbells remains the same, however, there is absolutely no free stretching space, half of the barbbells are now gone, and the Olympic lifting area has vanished. For what it's worth too, the WiFi is shotty at best, though that's not a legitimate gripe. So after 11 months, the grandious gym I was promised is less than half as good as when I first started. For $70+ a month, this has to be one of the worst deals in the city. If you can, look elsewhere. Unfortunately, many like me are stuck paying too much money for a mediocre gym simply because of the lack of selection in the area.

Nice gym, but not really worth the price since they cut their hours even more. Early closing on Fridays and 6 pm on weekends? Absolutely ridiculous.

Just joined. Really clean space. I wish there were a few more barbell racks but it's not a big deal. Conducive to a very friendly atmosphere. Everyone is respectful and for the most part cleans up after themselves. Lots of class options and for the price you pay it is definitely worth it! Huge upgrade from my last gym.

Fine gym, very confusing layout and they need a map for new members to get the hang of because it's that strange. Or just signage/arrows would be good. Barre classes were so unorganized it was like a childs play studio where the instructor was oblivious that no one was following her. Cycle classes were great but a stuffy room. 1 star because of their cancellation policy/stint. This is their logic: when you join, you will pay us every 30 days. But when you cancel, you need to tell us MORE than one month before the start of your final month, otherwise you will be charged AGAIN for a month that we know you don't need to use the gym for. Such an obvious money grab. Who says to themselves, oh I think I'll quit my gym in 61 days? Nobody.

Aside from the distorting funny mirrors making me look 5 inches shorter and all sorts of wider, this gym is awesome. One, it's ridiculously clean. Dare I even say meticulously cleaned. One of the cleaning ladies today literally rolled out the yoga mats and wiped them down. I go at all hours and I see at least one cleaning person partaking in some cleaning activity. Two, the machines are new. Three, the decor. Being new to the city, I still don't have a life. The colorful, cool, and modern decor makes me feel like I am anywhere but the gym. Four, the classes. Seriously, how many classes are there?! So many. Too many. But I'm not complaining. Five, the hours. they open early and close late. Super convenient.

Gym itself is very average. Nothing special but will probably suit your needs if you are just looking for a standard gym. The reason for 1 star is because it is nearly impossible to cancel your membership. I initially placed my membership on a freeze (still costs $15/mo) then I decided I wanted to fully cancel. Submitted the cancellation request and they are STILL charging my credit card the $69/mo membership fee. ABC Financial, their outsourced membership processing company, is very incompetent and unhelpful. They do not return emails and now I am going to have to cancel my card to avoid them from continuing to change me even though I submitted the originally request in April.

Want to talk beautiful people? Clean. Nice. Good classes. Yoga room was a little awkward, but I liked how clean and not crowded it was.

Have to echo what everyone else is saying. Used to love it here but since the "improvements" made this past summer it has become very difficult to tolerate, much less enjoy, working out here much of the time. They cut the free weight/stretching area down to almost nothing and you are literally crammed in with 20 other people in the tiniest space ever in order to do weight work. The other day when I walked upstairs to do weights and saw the sight of everyone packed in like rats I literally chuckled out loud to myself. When you walk around you can feel how annoyed everyone is at having no space. The staff are always nothing but friendly and helpful, but the physical space itself is extremely problematic. I have started looking elsewhere

I was a member here for a few years. It's a decent Gym, but their lack of clear communication and inflexibility in regards to Covid cancellations is infuriating. I get it everyone is hurting, but I'm not ok with how this was handled.

Eh it's okay. Not the greatest gym I have ever been to, yet it's not the worst. It's meh. The space is constantly getting smaller and smaller each month due to the new construction for personal training. The two level gym is on the smaller side so it's unfortunate that the price does not match what you get for. The new construction is for personal training only, so if you have money to blow on trainers, then this is the spot for you. I am nervous for when January comes and the New Year resolutioners come in. The gym is already pretty packed, so it will be quite the challenge. Also, the front desk staff is NOT friendly. I am surprised how many times I receive the dead silent glare when I come in and when I leave. It's awkward and uncomfortable. I mean REALLLLYYY uncomfortable. The door can't come quick enough sometimes. I find it sad when I have to initiate the greeting and the farewell only to receive a half ass smirk. I received friendlier service going to Xsport and Orange Theory than here. The only reason why I give this gym a three star instead of a two star is that it is pretty clean. Would I recommend this gym, hmmm. I am honestly not sure. I am looking for other gyms to go to at the moment, so does that answer your question?

Avoid this gym. It's not worth the high cost for what you get. It's old and outdated. Not enough equipment, and what is there isn't in the best shape. People have no gym ettiquete and do not re-rack weights. Layout is confusing. Lockers are broken and don't get fixed. Treadmills/ellipticals are okay, but seems a lot of the tv screens are bad quality/dont work and the headphone jacks are janky. The classes are meh. They cancelled the rewards program without no notice, not surprised they got sued for it. I do think the staff is kind and welcoming, and always had a smile on their face, but overall wasn't thrilled by CAC. Forget trying to cancel. When I signed up the manager mentioned it was a year committment, which is fine, but afterwards you can cancel your membership at any time. I confirmed this before signing the contract. Turns out whne you go to cancel you need to give them a 30 day notice... what? How is that the financial company they work with, ABC Financial, has a policy like this and you are not made aware of it while signing up? Why the hell would I pay for another month while I am not using it? Let's not tell the patrons this while signing up so they get hit with more fees. Scammy. I've been a member of Xsport, Cardinal Fitness, LA Fitness, and other chains, never had a problem there, and they were almost half the price if not even less. Just be aware of all the bullshit that will come with it that isn't mentioned to you of course. I'll pay the extra $80, but will never recommend this to someone moving forward, many options out there that aren't as shady.

4 stars for the gym, classes, instructors, etc 1 star for the membership team. These guys change the way you can freeze, change, add to your account regularly, and don't seem to notify their staff at the front desk...ultimately leading to lack of communication to members which leads to unknown fees. To make a long story short, 2 summers ago I broke my ankle, and was unable to use the gym for a good 3 - 4 months. I was told to come in to the gym to put my acct on hold. I did, despite the struggle, especially in the beginning. Fast forward to late 2017, I had been undergoing IVF treatments, and my dr put me on "do not workout" orders. Well, IVF led to pregnancy, and because this is an IVF pregnancy, I couldn't workout for the first trimester. In spite of going to the gym to put the account on hold, no one at the front desk told me that policy had changed. I was not supposed to contact their billing company via email. Because no one informed me of this when I went to the gym to put the acct on hold, I ended up paying in full for 4+ months of non-use. So it's been almost 6 months now, and I'm still fighting with them. They're less than willing to help, have credited me 1 month for their mistake, and are completely unapologetic. I've been a member of this gym for 10 years (various locations), and if it wasn't conveniently located I would cancel out of principle. Enjoy it while you can, but be weary and cover your tracks when trying to handle anything pertaining to your acct.

This review is about my pre-membership experience, not BAC's facility (which appears to be very nice). The first snowstorm of the year hit today, which motivated me to go find a local gym. I had a one-week student pass to BAC and had heard good things, so decided to start there. The website lists conditions for guest passes (24 hour notice, have to meet with membership advisor, etc.) so I called ahead to make sure I could use it on the spot. I was told there were no conditions for my pass- just a photo ID, two minutes to complete a form and I would be ready to go. Perfect. I grabbed my stuff, ran a mile in the snow and arrived about 45 minutes before closing time. The man at the front desk looked at my pass and informed me that unfortunately I had to meet with a membership advisor, that they were all gone for the day and that I would have to come back tomorrow. I informed him that when I had called before coming, his colleague (who I presume was the woman sitting next to him) had told me otherwise. He and she gave each other blank stares, she said she did not speak to anyone. I pulled out my phone: was their number 312-850-9490? Yes, and he apologized that someone had misinformed me. At this point I was disappointed but offered up a solution- could I just get a workout in and come back tomorrow morning to meet with an advisor? He said I was welcome to work out for the next 45 minutes- for a daily fee of $25. Wow. I tried one more time- I ran there in bad weather, my whole reason for calling was to avoid this issue, BAC was the one that got their facts mixed up- he was polite but wouldn't budge. $25 or come back tomorrow. Customer service is about the little things. A first impression goes a long way. Even if they had offered a quick tour, I would have felt better. But essentially nothing was done. I was seriously considering joining BAC but will likely skip my one week trial and find another gym. As a final note, I stopped by a nearby gym on the way home. The guy at the desk welcomed me in, gave me a tour and told me my first workout was on him. I won't name the gym (this is not a promo for them), but that is what it means to put the customer first.

I really wanted to like this gym. It's an attractive, very clean, and conveniently located facility, and the staff is typically quite friendly. But it doesn't have what I need. I really use the gym for two things: lifting weights and spin classes. For the price of membership here, I expect to have access to a wide range of weight machines and free weights and for there to be sufficient equipment available. In addition to having only a small selection of machines for targeting specific muscle groups, BAC's 3 squat racks and 2 benches just aren't enough for all its members. While BAC offers spin classes and the instructors I've had have been good, they don't have any monitors on the bikes to allow you to see watts, RPM, or distance, so it's basically impossible to track your progress. This is the first gym I've ever been to that doesn't have them, so I didn't even think to ask about it when I visited the facility. I'd be curious to hear the rationale for not having the monitors- to save a few bucks? I won't be renewing my membership. Not worth the price for me.

This Chicago Athletic Club franchise's new addition to the family has just about everything you could ask for in a full-service gym. No there's no pool, sauna, or fancy roof top bar, but in terms of classes, cardio, and free weights, this gym has it all! I don't spend much time doing classes, but as far as the free weights and lifting equipment goes they have pretty much everything you could ask for. The machines are evenly spread apart so you don't catch yourself soul-staring into people's eyes while working out. There are mirrors located throughout the gym for those who like to watch themselves while they work up a sweat. I mainly work out late at night or early afternoon, and during these times the gym is NEVER busy or too loud, both huge benefits in my book. One of my favorite features is their lockers, which all have digital locks installed on them, so you never have to remember to bring your own! They also have a pretty cool incentive program which earns you points every time you work out, and you can save them up for different tiers of prizes. Pro tip: go in and work out once, if you like it, sign up in person, you'll likely get a much better deal i.e. no sign-up fee ($150). Oh and they have valet from 4-8 M-F for those who want to stop in for a work-out on their drive home from work.

I really enjoy this gym! Bucktown Athletic club is a nice facility with plenty of machines, it has a variety of classes, it is in a great location, it has nice locker rooms and it's clean. When joining last October, I bought a 2 pack personal training sessions to gain some knowledge about the machines, weight lifting, etc. (Before I joined this gym, I didn't really know anything about working out other than cardio and some light exercises, so I needed some help). I was more than thrilled to be paired with Ruben and have been hooked with personal training ever since! Ruben does such a great job of pushing me past my limits, but at the same time is super encouraging and gives plenty of positive reinforcement. He maintains excellent customer service: 1. He is super organized and always has a plan of action. 2. He goes above and beyond by writing up the workouts and shows me how I am progressing along the way. 3. He even sends very informative and fun emails about health, fitness, diet/recipes, etc. every week as an extra bonus! I feel very fortunate and couldn't have ask for a better trainer and a better experience with Ruben. I have some co-workers who heard me talking about him all of the time, so they joined your gym just so they could take coaching from him!

I would leave 0 starts if I had the option. Be aware of the cancellation policy because if you decide to cancel 27 days before your next billing cycle, this joke of a gym will still charge you in 30 days since its "in the cancellation policy". Do not bother politely reaching out to their shady billing company called "ABC Financial Services", as they will basically just repeat the same thing over and over again about the policy like a broken record. I was at this gym chain for 3 years and evidently paying them thousands of dollars wasn't enough to justify collecting another months dues because of their bogus "cancellation policy". It is 100% a cash grab and when cancelling just remember it is going to cost you 1 months membership dues. BUYER BEWARE.