Fitness 4 U

I was a member of Fitness 4 U back when it was still known as Damascus Health and Fitness in the old location down by Ben Franklin’s, in the old (now demolished) Safeway shopping center.
After they bought the Gold’s Gym franchise, let the name expire, and changed both name and location, I think they have really improved/​expanded in every way but one.
The free weights area is kept clean and orderly, and has the usual selection of weights in pairs from 2.5 lbs up to 120 lbs. The benches are in good shape and generally free of tears or rips. Other lifters are polite and will almost always agree to work in with you if there is only one of something.
They have a very decent selection of machines, generally the yellow Hammer Strength machines and the generic Cybex machines found almost everywhere. Machines are maintained very well, I’ve only seen two of them broken in all the time I was a member there (over five years), and both were fixed very promptly.
The cardio area is a little limited, due to space constraints. They have probably twenty elliptical machines, not the very latest models but not old either. The ellipticals get VERY heavy usage and wear down a lot — they also are maintained frequently, but are still not always in perfect order. Some treadmills and rowing machines are present, and then a row of stationary and recumbent bicycle machines. They keep all the TVs on in this area, and will freely change the channel for you if no one protests (and no one ever has, in my experience).
They also have a couple small exercise rooms with some additional equipment, including spin bikes (which I’ve never used), and a large exercise room which hosts a martial arts academy that has seen vastly increased popularity in the last few years. Strive Karate, maybe?
They also offer a lot of classes and workout regimens free of charge, a real boon for members.
Here are the only pitfalls of Fitness 4 U: the ceiling leaks whenever it rains, specifically by the water fountain on the main floor. They just put out a bucket and call it a day; this may have been fixed since I was there last, but it was like that for months and months.
Second, I really miss the small basketball court they had at the old location. There aren’t any opportunities for athletic activities like basketball, swimming, etc.
Third, the parking is really limited. During peak times, it can be difficult to get a spot and I’ve seen some elderly members have to walk up the steep sidewalk in poor weather — something which shouldn’t happen.
Lastly, the men’s bathroom had constant plumbing problems which never seemed to be permanently fixed.
Still, a strong community gym that is very popular, locally owned, and worth belonging to. The front desk staff and the nursery staff are all very friendly, very talkative, and a great feature.