Blink Fitness Plans to Reopen Gyms in the Long Island, Westchester, Syracuse, Rochester and New York City Markets

Fitness Brand Reopens Gyms with New Social Distancing Guidelines and Enhanced Cleaning Procedures

News provided by

Aug 21, 2020, 15:30 ET

NEW YORK, Aug. 21, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Blink Fitness today announced that, in accordance with local and state reopening guidelines in New York State, Long Island, Westchester, Syracuse, Rochester and New York City gyms will be reopening on the following dates with modified operating hours:

August 24^th: Long Island and Westchester:

Monday-Friday: 5:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Saturday/Sunday: 7:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

August 24^th: Syracuse and Rochester:

Monday-Friday: 6:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Saturday/Sunday: 7:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

September 2^nd: New York City:

Monday-Friday: 6:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Saturday/Sunday: 7:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

These abbreviated hours will allow for thorough cleaning and disinfecting procedures overnight. With the reopening process carefully developed and executed, Blink is excited to welcome members and employees back into the gym.

In accordance with local guidelines, the reopened New York gyms will be operating at 33% capacity on a first come, first served basis. Consistent with CDC and local guidelines, Blink will require all members to wear an acceptable mask that covers their nose and mouth at all times in the gym. If members are unable to wear a mask for medical reasons, they will be required to wear a face shield. All Blink employees will be wearing masks and gloves at all times. Staff will be taking the temperatures of members and employees and confirming responses to a health screening questionnaire as they enter the gym. Per local guidelines, any member or employee with a temperature of 100.4°F or higher will not be given access to the gym. Members and employees may also be denied access based on their health screening questionnaire responses.

Consistent with CDC and local guidelines, Blink has upgraded air filters to MERV-13 or HEPA for greater air filtration efficiency as it relates to COVID-19. In addition, Blink has reorganized gym layouts to further support local guidelines for social distancing. To keep members six feet apart, some cardio machines will be unavailable for use. In accordance with local guidelines, showers and water fountains will be temporarily unavailable for use upon reopening. All further protocols and safety details can be found in our new Blink Promise.

As gyms reopen, all memberships will be unfrozen. Long Island, Westchester, Rochester and Syracuse billing will resume on September 10^th and New York City billing will resume on September 15^th. The October billing cycle will resume on a normal schedule based on individual member agreements. Blink understands that not everybody will be ready to come back to the gym right away, and the company is offering members the option to refreeze their membership for a limited period of time at no cost. More information can be found on our FAQ page.

"We look forward to confidently welcoming our members back," said Blink Fitness CEO, Todd Magazine. "I know I speak for the entire Blink family when I say we're all excited to resume playing a supportive role in the fitness journeys of our members."

Blink is asking members to play their part in helping to keep employees and the larger community safe and healthy by following new gym rules, which can be found in the Blink Responsibly rules and the FAQ page. Building on Blink's already strong cleaning standards and consistent with local guidelines, members are required to disinfect equipment before and after each use.

For specific information regarding the reopening of your gym, please visit the FAQ page.

Connect with Blink:

Instagram: @BlinkFitness
Facebook: BlinkFitness
Twitter: @BlinkFitness

About Blink Fitness

Blink is challenging conventional fitness stereotypes through its revolutionary philosophy of Mood Above Muscle® by celebrating how exercise makes you feel versus how it makes you look. Blink is the first gym to showcase body diversity and engage people who have been disenfranchised by the clichéd advertising images that feature unrealistic and unattainable bodies. Blink Fitness—a premium and affordable fitness brand—celebrates the positive feelings exercise elicits, along with the physical benefits. Blink has 140 locations open or in development throughout New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Michigan, California, Illinois, Florida, Virginia, Massachusetts and Texas. Blink has been ranked on the Inc. 5000 list four times, was recognized as one of the top health clubs by Club Industry, and was selected as the best budget chain by Men's Health.

Blink Fitness has franchise opportunities available nationwide with a focus on the following markets: Charlotte, Dallas-Fort Worth, Phoenix, Raleigh, Las Vegas and Kansas City. For more information about Blink, visit blinkfitness.com. Franchising details are available on blinkfranchising.com.

Contact: [email protected]

SOURCE Blink Fitness