MEDPL201: Timed Writing Exercise #2 (Mr. Muscles)
“Mr. Muscles” caught members off guard this morning after the health spa chain closed without warning and planned to file for bankruptcy.
The spas normally open at 6 a.m., but today, people found the doors locked, lights out and equipment sitting inside unused. A simple notice taped to the doors told the hundreds of members that showed up to the clubs that they would be “Closed Until Further Notice.”
Although company owner Mike Cantral was unavailable for comment, his attorney Jena Cruz said the business is bankrupt and does not expect to reopen. She plans to file a bankruptcy petition for the spas in federal court early next week.
Some members paid up to $499 yearly for use of the facilities. Others paid for three-, five-year or even lifetime memberships, the final costing $3,999.
Employees are also surprised by the news. They said they did not know the spas were in trouble and about to close. Several mentioned they were worried about whether or not they would be paid for their work during the last two weeks.
Director Kim Eng of the state’s Department of Consumer Affairs, which is investigating the closing, said she did not know if members could get refunds on their memberships. Attorney Cruz said there is no money left to return, as the clubs were losing $3,000 weekly, and that they had not sold enough new memberships to pay off the loans used to build and expand the business, which total well over a million dollars.
The chain's closing is expected to impact at least 12,000 city residents as well as those living in the surrounding area.
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