PRIVATE EQUITY OWNED
Anytime Fitness
Includes AnytimeFitness
gym chain · Woodbury, MN
- PE Firm
- Roark Capital →
- Acquirer
- Self Esteem Brands
- Year Acquired
- 2014
Open 24/7. Until your location closes overnight without warning.
What They Did
- Roark Capital invested in 2014, then merged parent with Orangetheory in 2024 into 'Purpose Brands' — a 7,000-location PE mega-entity
- Franchisees report being forced into $60,000 mandatory 'reinvention' upgrades while struggling financially
- Multiple locations closed overnight without warning — every Anytime Fitness in Lincoln, NE shut abruptly, leaving members locked out
- Franchisee and member complaints describe dirty facilities, broken equipment, and aggressive billing, with some locations shutting down entirely
Since the Acquisition
- Cancellation is notoriously difficult — members report being charged for months after requesting to cancel, with some sent to collections for disputing charges
- Equipment broken and unreplaced, facilities poorly maintained — franchise quality varies wildly with no corporate accountability
Sources
- Woman goes to Anytime Fitness, can't believe what she finds — Daily Dot(2024-03-15)
- Anytime Fitness parent merging with Orangetheory — Star Tribune(2024-02-28)
- Anytime Fitness Franchise Complaints — Unhappy Franchisee(2023-01-15)
- Orangetheory, Anytime Fitness Unveil Parent Company, Name New CEO — Athletech News(2024-11-21)