Crunch

I would have given this gym 4 stars because it’s clean and convenient and used to have 45 minute spin classes at lunch time. But they just reduced classes to half an hour, according to staff to save on budget (not just because it’s summer). All the instructors and class attendees are complaining since this is a significant reduction in services for those of us who belong to the gym to exercise during our lunch hours. If the management returns to regular 45 minute classes I will raise the rating here. The Bliss products and showers are very nice, however!

I always look for a sense of community in my gym, when I have friends to see that ask me why I wasn’t there the day before, it keeps me accountable to get my ass to the gym on the daily! When moving to New York from Chicago I was afraid I would never find that place here because New York (as I have heard) is a massively crowded, lonely place. But I was lucky enough to find my home at Crunch!
I also have been working with personal trainers for years and have never found one I like as much as Allynn. She goes far beyond expectations of a trainer and really cares about her clients and their results. I normally train with men (don’t know why) but Allynn is way harder on me then any other male trainer I have ever had, but she also keeps me inspired and working hard! I am competing in a figure competition in May and know that with Allynn’s help I will be at my tip top self!
And I was shocked to find a killer yoga class at a gym, included with my membership! The Saturday morning Vinyasa class with Justin is one of my favorite yoga classes ever (and I am a yoga snob)
I love this gym, it is well managed, well staffed, clean, and the crowd is manageable even in peak times. Plus they always play fun music!

It has what you need when it comes to equipment and the classes are okay OR great, pending on the instructors.
I just do not understand why they don’t offer REAL barre classes. There is hardly a similarity between Crunch’s Barre class and a typical Barre class at a barre studio (ie FlyBarre, Pop Physique, etc.) except that they do Pilates inspired moves. They don’t use a ball or use the barre — period. lol!
I WISH they would offer authentic barre classes!!! Tons of women love barre (and will spend a pretty penny for a class, $ 32/​class) but this class that Crunch offers is frankly, NOT BARRE.

I’ve been going to Crunch on 23^rd Street and working out with one one of their personal trainers for almost 2 years now so it’s time for a review.
Great gym with lots of new equipment and usually plays good music. It is almost never crowded and locker room is clean and always stocked with towels. Best part has been working out with my trainer Thomas Cracchiolo. He knows about fitness, is always on time, is enthusiastic, and really pushes me without overdoing it. He’s taught me so much about proper form, the importance of diet, and best of all has kept me fit. Really good results with my body because of training with Thomas — friends have commented to me so I know it’s true.
I highly recommend this gym and definitely suggest a personal training session with Thomas C. I’ve made great progress since I started training with him.

Me: Everytime I walk into this Crunch, I just can’t get over how nice it is.
Friend: It used to be a David Barton’s.
Me: Oh… of course it was.
This gym feels like I imagine what Equinox must feel like beyond its imaginary velvet rope. Or its figurative green (back) rope. Beautiful interior — spacious and airy, with lots of equipment which is generally new and well-​organized.
The locker room is wonderful (well, the men’s –I’ve yet to try to sneak into the women’s), with nice towels that I might actually buy for my home (if they weren’t boring and white), as opposed to the generic skin-​shearing crap you typically get at a gym. It’s practically the only gym I’ve been to where I actually don’t mind showering.
There are a couple of drawbacks — the class studio and spin room are both relatively tiny — about 25 – 27 bikes crammed together in the spin room — they feel cramped and get unberably hot when a class is full. And the locker rooms are awkwardly laid out entrance-​wise — every time you walk from the locker area to the showers/​sinks, there’s the remote possibility that a yoga class or someone heading to the ladies’ room will be exiting and watching your (hopefully) towel-​clad self stride by. And finally, there have been times where I’ve walked around here and wondered if the gym were not in fact co-​ed, but was a men’s only facility. But still and all, easily the highest quality Crunch facility I’ve visited (and I’ve been to a mess of ‘em).

I love my gym. I’ve been a member for over a year now, and I love the great team at the front desk, the Personal Trainer I’ve used, Amy (but I am certain they are all good!), the Clean Team that keeps it spic-​and-​span, the class instructors (Carl is my current fave), and the Bliss amenities. Oh, and the purple walls! This club is all about fun and fitness, exemplified by its décor, the wide variety of classes, and the peppy pop and electronic music playing throughout. My favorite thing to do is drop my bag after work, go for a run in Hudson River Park, then either catch a class or do some reps for cross-​training. They really don’t judge, either; they just want you to get yer butt to the gym!

I don’t have a membership to this gym but I do attend classes and gym time through class pass. Yesterday Class Pass had the start time of the class I was going to take listed incorrectly so I missed it. They front desk was nice enough to let me stay for an hour with full use of the facility or take another class starting soon.
I know I was dressed and ready to go but — GOD I wanted to go home. So while I was standing there one of the trainers must have seen me looking from the treads to the front door and contemplating taking off. She walked up to me and said she had a client just cancel so she had 45 min free if I wanted a training session.
She was AMAZING her training was tough but encouraging. That level of service really stuck with me. Zero pressure which made me want to look into joining (I might!). The locker rooms were clean and nice (unlike NYSC).

Signed up with Colin today. He totally hooked me up with my membership and a trainer. I’m getting back into the gym after a year hiatus. At first I wasn’t sure if I needed a trainer, but after Colin showed me some new equipment, talked to me about getting back into my routine and getting results, I decided I def wanted one. Now I’m super excited to get back into the gym and start working out with my trainer. When you stop in to Crunch, ask for Colin, he’s the best!

The new age of a traditional gym. Great heart-​pumping music. Lots of classes. Towel service. I’m in !

I recently had a problem with my membership, they was credit by mistake two membership rather then one, and I had the most amazing customer service ever, their operation manager help me out with courtesy and super faster to solve the problem, I highly recommend this gym!

*** 7 day pass review ***
I signed up for their 7 day free pass. It was easy to register and you receive a pass that can be used up to 7 days. There is a great selection of classes you can sign up for and a ton of equipment. Depending on the time of day, I’m sure it would be packed. But, all the times I arrived, I always found a spot on the elliptical, treadmill, or stair master. Great reception staff. Would highly recommend if you’re looking for a gym and can pay the membership.

Crunch won me over from Equinox. I had been a member of SCLA on the UES, moved downtown, and used their 33^rd street location. While it was fine, $ 170 with zero negotiation when the place was always packed with limited space to begin with was unacceptable. That’s when I turned to Crunch.
For a lot less money, you get a bang for your buck. I understand no one likes how much a gym costs in New York, but that’s just how it goes. Quality is going to be a bit of money. Try this vs. a NYSC and you’ll understand. The locker rooms at Crunch are clean, have nice products, and are well-​maintained. The facility itself is great. Plenty of space to do whatever you’d like, lots of weights, equipment (many things you won’t find in a traditional gym as well!), and fantastic classes. As for management, most people (me included) have had hard times working with gym membership advisers traditionally. At Crunch, they were friendly and didn’t try to pull anything sleazy. Their GM is an honest guy.
My only complaints here are that they don’t have shaving cream or hair gel in the locker rooms. Otherwise the place is one of the best you can get in Manhattan. It’s a cool, fit crowd and my experience here has been nothing short of excellent. If you live in the Chelsea area, I’d recommend it.

Great facility with great reception staff, BUT way way too many personal trainers and people.
1. Members vs.
Personal Trainer Space: «Never on a Monday» should be a motto to stand by at this gym because on Monday nights between the very high number of members and some personal trainers with their trainees asking you to jump in or move out of the machine you just finally were able to get to — it makes the workout experience far too stressful, lengthy & not productive.
2. Get it on Paper Prior to Joining:
Get What you are promised when you signed up in writing — Every detail of their offer, and get written confirmation of extra months, etc.
3. Equipment Maintenance (June 2015):
I can live with the no hot water days, or the fire drill days or the no heater days, BUT I cannot accept poorly maintained simple TVs on their Running Machines. After being away on business for a week, I came back to the same Running Machine to find the TV screen still not working after a week, and after switching to 2 other machines in same row — found the same distortion problem on the screen. This would be ok if it was a low cost gym, this is not and this is Not Acceptable.

No.
Don’t even waste your time. Came here as a guest and didn’t bother signing up.
The equipment layout of this gym is all wrong. Architects shouldn’t be doing equipment layout, trainers and gym professionals should. A nursing home at nap time has more energy than this place at it’s peak time.
The front door staff, calm down, you scan people in, you don’t own the place, lose the attitude.
The trainers are desperate for clients, they’re like bad car salesmen, I even saw one trainer chase a woman out the front door trying to get her to do a training session. AWKWARD!

I stopped by tonight because I had a 1-​time guest pass (you can sign up for one on their homepage). Bring your ID and they’ll keep it safe until you leave.
The gym has many different areas dedicated to different activities (yoga, treadmills, heavy weights, stretching, etc.) I really like how the treadmills are set up (2 rows facing TVs). Everyone there seemed very focused.
The women showers, bathroom, and locker room are pretty clean and very modern. They provide Bliss shampoo, hand wash, lotion, body wash and hair dryers. You can leave your stuff in a locker for the entire day. So if you want to go straight to work after a good gym session, you can! Just make sure you pick up your stuff by the end of the day.
I can see why a gym membership here costs a lot more than a Crunch essential gym in New Jersey.
I spoke with the manager today over the phone and he was very helpful, detailed, friendly, and professional. I really like the friendly staff. I’d definitely recommend this gym to my friends and family.

I come between 9−10am, there’s never a wait for any equipment. People working there seem nice, things seem clean, it’s a really beautiful old space that they converted. For my first gym in 20 years, it’s great!

I love this gym! I love the dimmer lighting and the entire vibe of the gym. I went here when it was David Barton’s as well and Crunch definitely made some improvements. The staff is very friendly and helpful. The gym is VERY clean!
Like I said before, I like the atmosphere as well. The people who work out here are there to work out and not socialize on machines and lolly gag, which is not always the case with other gyms. The locker rooms are huge and you will always be able to find a locker. The showers are nice as well. I love the shampoo and body wash :)
Overall it’s a great gym. A little pricey but remember, you get what you pay for! Here you definitely get a high quality gym.

I recently joined Crunch thanks to an amazing spin instructor that knows how to keep it high-​energy and the heart rate up with a killer playlist to create a truly awesome workout. (Thanks Patrick!) This gym is actually my home location thanks to a great Membership Advisor — Sean Clifford — who made the experience painless. Most MAs are a lot like used car salesman. Sean is not, and was professional and friendly from the moment I visited the club, until almost a month later when I finally decided to join.
Yep, this gym has been thru a lot. David Barton Gym was the most recent tenant — where I was a member for 4 years. Prior to DBG, was the YMCA. And to this day, the YMCA Neon sign is still on the basement level of the gym (weight room), next to the free weights. They have done a bit of updating here — added glass shower doors, changed out all the lockers, and the lighting in the locker room, added in the tradement Bliss shower products in the bathrooms, and otherwise just minor changes around the gym. The most notable were the new Star Trac bikes… but then I speak too soon — because not 3 months after the gym opens with the Star Trac bikes, they are replaced again with brand new Schwinn’s (aka two weeks ago!!!)
All in all, I really think this really is one of the BEST Crunch gyms in the city. Keep rocking it! (Even though I do miss David Barton Gym)

Ok, showers were fixed and I really enjoy the crew… Sure, maybe a bit intimidating at first, but after a couple visits, they start to know your name and even offer free advice whenever around. Nice crew… And actually I have noticed ever since it stopped being David Barton, the guys here come for the workout and not for the show… And People aren’t hanging out in the showers or the lockers… This is a gym! Loving it! good job Crunch crew!

It was a poor management decision to open this location before it was ready.
There are no towels in the (unfinished and also dangerous) locker rooms, no mouthwash, no body lotion, no plastic bags for sweaty gym clothes, only bright work lights are on, benches in the locker room aren’t bolted to the floor (so like… don’t sit on them or try to use them to put your shoes on) and the (co-​ed?) sauna is about 80 degrees.
The spinning studio is small and has terrible lighting. The bikes are crammed in the smallest room they could find in the back of the first floor… and with the skylight, there’s no way to dim the lights or have any lighting effects. It just feels like you, a bunch of sweaty bikers in a small room and garish lighting.
They aren’t going to be opening the steam room that was used by David Barton Gym when it was here. I asked why and the woman who looked like a manager at the front desk said sternly: «we’re just not».
They’ve got a long way to go before they have my loyalty. I’ll be sticking to the 19^th street location until then (and using the steam room at 54^th street… in spite of their inconsistent service).