Got busy and apparently missed all kinds of Decatur business news today. Here’s the first. From COREBODY Decatur’s Facebook page…
Dear COREBODY Community
We are sorry to say that after 13 years, COREBODY will be closing at the end of January. We will operate as usual, regular hours, with classes and training every day until we close at 7pm on Sunday, January 31st, 2016. Many of you have been with us for years! We hope you will support the staff, trainers and instructors by working out at COREBODY until the end on January 31st, so we can all have a joyful holiday and final month at COREBODY.
When we began this journey, we had no idea how many relationships and friendships would develop and grow within the COREBODY community as so many gathered to get or stay fit – and have fun at the same time. COREBODY would not be the place it is without your support.
What does this mean for members?
• If you are a member with dues automatically drafted month to month, your final membership payment for January will be less, as it will be pro-rated depending on your billing date, and will end on January 31. You will not pay for any days beyond January 31. For example, if you are billed on the 17 of the month, on January 17 you will only be billed for the last 14 days of January (31 days minus 17 days = 14 days). So, if your monthly fee is $ 50, it will be $ 22.50 for the last 14 days of January ($ 50 x 14 days divided by 31 days = $22.50). That will happen automatically, and be your last payment.
• Come work out until we close at 7pm on January 31. We will be open regular hours, trainers training clients, instructors teaching classes, operating just as we have until 7pm Sunday January 31.Why is COREBODY Decatur closing?
The business isn’t sustainable going forward at our current location given the limits on space and parking. Those limits made growing the business hard, even though costs kept growing, chiefly related to fixed costs such as the terms of our lease, HVAC, etc. After 13 years at this location, this business model no longer works at this location with the restrictions on parking and space.
Could COREBODY move to another location?
We explored relocating several times in the past 5 years to find a location with more square footage and parking. Unfortunately, of the few locations that might have worked within 2-3 miles, landlords have little interest in independent retailers. Even with a strong reputation, a perfect track record of more than a decade paying rent on time, and loyal customers such as COREBODY, landlords want national franchises. Anyone in the retail business knows how hard it is to be an independent retailer.Is there anything I need to do or can do?
• For the staff, instructors and trainers, the most helpful thing is to show up – to stay fit, help support the staff until their last day, and say thanks to the instructors by attending classes – nothing would make them happier and help keep the staff whole. We are working with staff and trainers to help them find new homes.
• Regarding your bill, per above, it will be pro-rated to reflect only the remaining days in January for your last payment by the billing company in Houston, and then cease, so you don’t need to do anything to close your account.Those of you who take classes may know that many of our instructors also teach at other facilities – in midtown, at the Y in Decatur, in Northlake, etc. For those of you who train with the best personal trainers around, each of them will have different plans which they can tell you about and we will update here in a few days.
We want to thank you again for making COREBODY the vibrant and dynamic community it is today. In the meantime, we invite you to come and get a good start to the New Year, and enjoy COREBODY and the community through January 31st. While COREBODY may be closing, we hope you will use January to start your year off with fitness and ring in the New Year with us through January 31st.
Thank you.
Jason & Mark
COREBODY Decatur
h/t: Decaturish
Photo courtesy of COREBODY Facebook page
Current member. Sorry to see them go. I wonder of LA Fitness in suburban plaza had an impact.
If candler park market still wants to open in Decatur, this would be a great location.
For those of you who will miss yoga at CORE, join me at Decatur Healing Arts in East Decatur Station! I have been teaching at CORE for 13 years and so sad about them closing. But we will continue on, so be sure to follow your favorites teachers/trainers and show them support!
Oh, this is disappointing news. With the “Indiecatur” moniker being proudly advertised, why are we not able to sustain these independent businesses that give our city its character and charm? The trend seems to be cookie-cutter developments with chains lining the ground floor. How can we reverse course?
Decatur has very few “chain’ anything. Those that might be are relatively small local or regional outfits. Do you have some examples? I’m also interested in what you think is “cookie cutter”?
Along the Ponce corridor: Sprint, Jimmy John’s, AT&T, Taco Mac, CVS, Ted’s, Chipotle, Smoothie King, Kaiser and Harken, Starbucks, Fresh 2 Order, American Deli, Great Clips, Subway, J. Christopher’s. Most of those places have seen or will see very little lease turnover.
Granted, things like cell phone stores don’t have a local, independent alternative, but most of those other things do overlap with something more unique to Decatur.
For me, Atlanta originated chains like Taco Mac, Ted’s and Fresh 2 Order (and soon to come Highland Bakery) are a different category than Jimmy Johns, Chipotle and Smoothie King.
I agree, but I still think something is lost when a city’s shops/restaurants start to move from the ‘homegrown’ category to a ‘Best of Atlanta’ franchises category.
Agreed — there are multiple tiers with some worse than others. They’re still not Decatur-based businesses though.
Just cast your gaze at any of the multi-level developments. Coming soon, Orange Theory (competitor of CORE for sure), Taziki, etc.