Sault businesses reach out to jilted Lifeforia Wellness Club clients

A number of local fitness facilities are offering free memberships to locked-out members of Lifeforia Wellness Club.

Algoma University's George Leach Centre, Sault Ste. Marie YMCA, Bar1s Urban Fitness, Jade Wellness Studio and Mane Street Salon and Spa have all reached out to Lifeforia customers, using their websites and social media to extend time-limited free membership offers.

Since the weekend, Lifeforia's building at 681 Pine Street has been locked up tighter than its clients' abs. 

The business's clients and employees are caught in a bitter landlord-tenant dispute between current business owner Patricia Vecchio and building owners Tina and Vince Colizza, who founded Lifeforia and sold it to Vecchio last December.

Both Vecchio and the Colizzas issued statements yesterday blaming each other for the fitness club's demise.

"Shockingly on Friday, June 9 at 10 p.m., I received a phone call at home while I was in bed that the locks were in the process of being changed," Vecchio said.

"Clients with Saturday spa appointments were left stranded, employees left without jobs, people with gift certificates were left bewildered and members with fitness memberships concerned about dues," she said.

Tina and Vince Colizza say that since Dec. 1 they've had nothing to do with the Lifeforia Wellness Club in Sault Ste. Marie except as landlords trying to collect rent.

"Given that we could not resolve these matters after a long five months of financial and mental stress, we were forced to make this difficult decision," the Colizzas said. "We also knew that this decision to lock out the owner of Lifeforia Wellness Club would cause irreparable damage to the Lifeforia brand; however, the financial hardship was becoming unbearable."

Vecchio acknowledges buying the business without receiving audited financials.

She says her revenues from Lifeforia turned out to be less than she expected and she was forced to honour "what seemed to be an endless stream of gift certificates and, unbeknownst to me, coupons for free services."

Sault Ste. Marie YMCA at 235 McNabb Street has reached out to locked-out Lifeforia clients, offering anyone with current Lifeforia memberships access to its health clubs, facility and fitness classes for the remainder of June, all of July and August.

The George Leach Centre will provide free access to its group fitness calendar, weight room, aerobic studios, field house, indoor track, outdoor tennis courts and change rooms to anyone presenting a valid Lifeforia membership until Monday, July 31.

Bar1s Urban Fitness at 677 Great Northern Road is offering a complimentary 15-day membership to anyone showing a Lifeforia key fob or membership card.

Jade Wellness Studio at 677 Queen St. East is offering a sampler package allowing Lifeforia members to try out three group classes, such as Pilates or yoga or treatment from a registered massage therapist.

At 626 Queen Street East, Mane Street Salon and Spa's wellness centre (affiliated with Achieve Fitness for Women) is offering free access for Lifeforia members to its weight circuits, cardio, sauna and classes until the end of the month.

"As we all do not know full details of both sides of this issue, please keep in mind that Lifeforia has many employees and clients who are affected," Mane Street posted on its Facebook page.

"As a fellow business, we ask that you please give them a little bit of time to determine their course of action. We will continue to assist in any way that we can. We are a tight community and we can all work together to find solutions. Please give Lifeforia some time to work things out."

Even one private citizen is offering to help.

"After hearing about the closing of Lifeforia Wellness Clubs and Retreats, all I can think about is the girls who were depending on getting their makeup done for prom," Iesha Godbout wrote on her personal Facebook page.

"If anyone is having a hard time finding someone, I am willing to do it free of charge," Godbout said.

"I am no makeup artist but I'm willing to meet for a practice run to ensure you like the way I do it. Don't worry about bringing makeup I will use my own products, except for foundation because everyone has different undertones/depth and I do not have a large shade range."

"I do work a full time job, but I am willing to do makeup during my lunch break or right after work on the day of prom," Godbout said.