100 signatures reached
To: Onelife Fitness
URGENT: Save Our Crunch Gym!
Crunch Gym at 5100 Wisconsin Avenue, NW, has served DC's Upper Northwest since January 2011. It's a tightknit community, a home away from home for many of us. We love the staff, the trainers, the teachers and the classes.
But Crunch no longer fits within the business model of its parent corporation, Onelife Fitness, so the company will not renew Crunch's lease and will close the gym April 15, even though the gym is doing well and continues to attract new members.
Many of us were blindsided on Monday, March 16, when Crunch Fitness announced it will close in just 30 days. Even the gym’s own manager didn’t know until corporate representatives arrived unannounced and delivered the news in person.
But Crunch no longer fits within the business model of its parent corporation, Onelife Fitness, so the company will not renew Crunch's lease and will close the gym April 15, even though the gym is doing well and continues to attract new members.
Many of us were blindsided on Monday, March 16, when Crunch Fitness announced it will close in just 30 days. Even the gym’s own manager didn’t know until corporate representatives arrived unannounced and delivered the news in person.
This isn’t just a gym closing. Crunch is a community — and a rare one. The regional manager admits that this location consistently receives the highest ratings of any in their network for friendliness and cleanliness.
Crunch is smaller than the typical corporate gym, and that’s precisely why it works: you know the staff, you know your classmates, you feel at home. It's especially welcoming to older exercisers who might not feel comfortable in other settings. For many of us, it’s become an anchor in our daily lives.
Crunch is smaller than the typical corporate gym, and that’s precisely why it works: you know the staff, you know your classmates, you feel at home. It's especially welcoming to older exercisers who might not feel comfortable in other settings. For many of us, it’s become an anchor in our daily lives.
The closure appears to stem from two factors:
1) A failure to reach a new lease agreement with the building's landlord, Donohoe.
2) A corporate decision by Onelife that a smaller Crunch franchise — situated relatively close to two of their larger standard gyms — no longer fits their business model.
Onelife isn't struggling.
In fact, it is actively expanding along the East Coast, opening four new clubs in January 2026 alone.
Crunch is conveniently located a block from Friendship Heights, making it easily reachable by driving, walking and public transit. And it's next door to Rodman's, so members can shop before or after their workout.
We appeal to Onelife to keep Crunch open and thriving!
1) A failure to reach a new lease agreement with the building's landlord, Donohoe.
2) A corporate decision by Onelife that a smaller Crunch franchise — situated relatively close to two of their larger standard gyms — no longer fits their business model.
Onelife isn't struggling.
In fact, it is actively expanding along the East Coast, opening four new clubs in January 2026 alone.
Crunch is conveniently located a block from Friendship Heights, making it easily reachable by driving, walking and public transit. And it's next door to Rodman's, so members can shop before or after their workout.
We appeal to Onelife to keep Crunch open and thriving!
Why is this important?
Community is hard to come by and more important than ever in this day and age.
If Crunch was losing members and failing financially, we could understand a decision to close it.
But it's not.
The last year has been one of Crunch's best, thanks to its caring and engaged staff and membership growth.
We members involved in the effort to keep Crunch open, know the closure may be a done deal.
But so what?
It's worth a try to save it.
Our Crunch community is worth fighting for.
So we're standing up for Crunch over corporate models.
We're standing up for older members who may not feel comfortable in a big gym.
We're standing up for devoted staff, trainers and teachers.
We're standing up for our community.
Please join us.
And write [email protected] for more information.
Thanks for your support!
If Crunch was losing members and failing financially, we could understand a decision to close it.
But it's not.
The last year has been one of Crunch's best, thanks to its caring and engaged staff and membership growth.
We members involved in the effort to keep Crunch open, know the closure may be a done deal.
But so what?
It's worth a try to save it.
Our Crunch community is worth fighting for.
So we're standing up for Crunch over corporate models.
We're standing up for older members who may not feel comfortable in a big gym.
We're standing up for devoted staff, trainers and teachers.
We're standing up for our community.
Please join us.
And write [email protected] for more information.
Thanks for your support!