By Ian Holmes

Final rep: VI Fitness shuts down, Nanaimo loses third gym in 2 weeks

May 2, 2018 | 12:35 PM

NANAIMO — The sudden closure of VI Fitness Centres signals the latest development in the rapidly changing local gym landscape.

Two Nanaimo locations are among eight on Vancouver Island that greeted gym goers with closed signs Wednesday morning, after the company filed for bankruptcy.

“Effective immediately the bankruptcy of the company automatically terminates all employees. At this time, there are no intentions to continue to operate,” stated a message outside Nanaimo’s Wellington Rd. location.

The company stated on its website its business model was no longer sustainable due to an increasingly competitive landscape and can no longer operate at a loss. Staff and members were reportedly notified of the closure at the same time via email.

Staff working on behalf of an insolvency trustee were coordinating the clean-out of the locked gym as stunned members looked on.

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Marion Swaluk was a new member at VI Fitness Centre, who couldn’t believe her luck when she read the closed sign. She was a longtime member of another Nanaimo gym that recently shut down.

“I’m just shocked because Northridge closed two weeks ago and we signed up here. To have two go in a short period of time is pretty incredible,” Swaluk told NanaimoNewsNOW.

Mark De Leon is in the same boat as Swaluk, also turning to VI Fitness after Northridge Fitness Centre went out of business.

“It feels kind of depressing for an active person like me,” De Leon said.

Fit 4 Less, part of a massive national chain of gyms, entered the Nanaimo market with a vengeance early in 2017. It will soon be joined by another huge corporate operation when Planet Fitness opens in the north end.

Ian@NanaimoNewsNow.com

On Twitter: @reporterholmes