Bears Fit - Vernon Hills

The new management is focused solely on cost-cutting measures. They let go of a fantastic team member who consistently delivered exceptional service with a smile and great skill. This was a poor decision!

This gym is not suitable for families with young children. The childcare staff is unlicensed and does not adequately supervise the kids. There's a mix of older children with infants, which can put the smaller ones at risk. One particular boy, who we'll call Tray/Trey, has been allowed to bully and physically intimidate the little ones without any intervention. The atmosphere feels very much like a "man's man" gym where boys seem free to misbehave without consequences. Additionally, the gym is quite unsanitary and lacks proper cleanliness. It’s a cramped space filled with workout equipment, and there are only two powerlifting racks that are frequently occupied. While it might be suitable for high school students, it is not the right place for serious gym-goers or families looking for a fitness environment.

Bears: where they do the bare minimum. The sanitizing stations are frequently empty, and the spray bottles don’t work. The benches are covered in hair products, indicating they weren’t cleaned overnight, and they no longer provide towel service. The front desk staff is rude, and if you ask for a protein shake, expect a sigh and an eye roll from the employees, who seem more interested in TikTok than serving customers.

The bathroom has a persistent unpleasant odor due to a lack of dedicated cleaning staff and insufficient ventilation. The paper towel dispensers and cleaning supplies near the gym are often empty or broken. Half of the machines in the gym are in poor condition. Additionally, the power racks don’t have clips, so you'll have to be concerned about the weights sliding off while you use them. The quality of the punching bags is also lacking, as they are mostly empty on the top half with all the fill settled at the bottom. For $50 a month, I expected much better.

Moreover, he has made threats of physical violence toward previous employees and has warned multiple staff members about termination based on gossip—one of those individuals is still employed there. He has created a culture where no one is allowed to voice their opinions. When I refused to sign his NDA, which seemed to be implemented only to silence employees after word about his behavior spread, he completely ignored me during my final two days. Not a single word was exchanged. I also attempted to reach out to corporate and HR regarding some serious concerns, but I was given wrong email addresses multiple times, despite confirmations from him and another manager. I was told that there was no phone number to contact them, but I later learned that this was a blatant lie. As a former employee, I strongly recommend that you take your business elsewhere. Things are only going to get worse. By the way, there's a reason membership prices are currently at an "ALL TIME LOW."