Complaint Review: Lonnie Barclay Main Event Fitness Pro Sport Nutrition Inc - Marietta Georgia

Lonnie Barclay has now moved to Dawsonville. He took control of Bodyplex on Feb 1, 2010. He has since changed the name to Energy Fitness. Lonnie has claimed to be a real estate broker who had the gym dumped on him. He claimed all equipment was repo'd and he brought in old equipment. Lonnie also claimed he had NO EXPERIENCE in running a gym, after reading this page that is a lie! He is not honoring contracts, charging people's credit cards who have not been members in a year and making others pay more. Childcare now costs us  $20 per month and sometimes there is no one to provide the care. In the past week the pool has been closed( the girl behind the counter said the pool cleaner they were using quit, WHAT A JOKE). Now all classes have been because Lonnie has not been paying the new instructors. The gym was packed at peak times, but now there is only ten or so people there.  

AND he never changes clothes. Guess he likes Larry the Cable Guy.

First of all, Lonnie, your grammer is that of a 15 year old.  Please learn when to use the words "where" vs "were" and also the proper English version of "their".  Run on sentences make you sound like a bumbling idiot.  

First of all, Lonnie, your grammer is that of a 15 year old.  Please learn when to use the words "where" vs "were" and also the proper English version of "their".  Run on sentences make you sound like a bumbling idiot.  

Good news to all members of Main Event Fitness! Main Event is now completely closed for business! I will not speculate on this subject with the exception of posting this email recieved last week from the Main Event email chain (see below). Everyone be sure to check your bank accounts for any unauthorized transactions from Main Event. Also be sure to look into the transfer of the gym membership, I am sure you can request to cancel but please check to be sure.

"All members present and past Main Event Fitness is closed forever the new location we moved to 4 months ago did not workout at all. When we had to move the first time 4 months ago the old owners did not pay the rent when I bought the business in Feburary with the money they took from me. They where on the Lease not me. So they got evicted then the rent was not paid the first time we had to move 4 months ago. I should have walked away then, but I was not going to give up and I moved the whole gym in 4 days. What a mess. I am sorry for all the mess our valued members have gone through. Now I will have to have everyone move again. World Fitness will accept all active Main Event memberships. World Fitness is small but it has all the type equipment Main Event is known for having. World Fitness is located at 2451 Cobb Pkwy, Smyrna, Ga 30080 Phone 770-980-1275. past members or there friends will not be charged an enrollment fee if they join before 12/1/09."

Thanks everyone for the posted reports and goodluck with your new gym!

Main Event is dead as of today:

All members present and past Main Event Fitness is closed forever the new location we moved to 4 months ago did not workout at all. When we had to move the first time 4 months ago the old owners did not pay the rent when I bought the business in Feburary with the money they took from me. They where on the Lease not me. So they got evicted then the rent was not paid the first time we had to move 4 months ago. I should have walked away then, but I was not going to give up and I moved the whole gym in 4 days. What a mess. I am sorry for all the mess our valued members have gone through. Now I will have to have everyone move again. World Fitness will accept all active Main Event memberships. World Fitness is small but it has all the type equipment Main Event is known for having. World Fitness is located at 2451 Cobb Pkwy, Smyrna, Ga 30080 Phone 770-980-1275. past members or there friends will not be charged an enrollment fee if they join before 12/1/09. Thank you, Lonnie

Oh well.  At least I got an extra year's reprieve from the previous owners' decision to close the gym...Don't suppose Sting or Lex will save the day by dropping by to re-open it???

...if not,can I have the deadlift platform? : D

If Lonnie saved the gym and did all the wonderful things he claims to have done, the gym would not have been forced to move, not just once, but now also evicted from the current location.  If everything were on the up and up he would be able to have a website for the gym, list a phone number (anywhere), have a published corporate name, and would not be moving into another less than par location and changing the name.  Any good businessman would realize that his patrons do not want to have to guess where their gym is located from month to month.  Furthermore, if you did such an amazing job with the gym, why are you trying to scam your way for money from previous members as stated in this report and not trying to build a solid membership base at an established location?  Basically it can be answered like this, Lonnie is a joke who knows nothing about running a business, ABSOLUTELY nothing about working out, and even less about nutrition (managing a GNC does not count, any 18 year old can get that job).  May everything come back to bite you! Goodbye Main Event! 

It is a shame that anyone can write junk on this web site. The gym was loosing 50k a month and was to be closed 10/1/08. I came in at the last minute and saved the gym. Payroll was 50k+ a month. I cut it to 5K doulbled memberships in 3 months and saved the gym from closing. The employees making 15 to 21 an hour got mad and make-up all this junk when I cut their pay rate.

I am also a victim of fraudulent bank charges. I was a member of Main Event Fitness for 14 years and its a shame what has happened to this Great gym. My contract ended at the end of June and I decided it was best to go elsewere. On 08/10/09 my checking account was charged $70, being that they had my routing # and checking account # there is not much I can do other than get my money from Lonnie directly(fat chance). I decided to do some research and discovered that 1901 Terrill Mill Road Suite # 30 Marietta Ga 30067 is listed as Don't Stop Fitness with a phone # 770-953-0477. The girl who answered the phone said my account has been inactive since June and when I asked to speak to Lonnie she said "He was out of town and didn't know when he would be returning".(imagine that). I hope this information helps anyone else who is having the same problem and I hope we all get our money back.

I think what may need to be done here is you guys get together and contact an attorney for a class action lawsuit. I'm sure there are many that are being fraudulently charged. Thank God my card has changed since I've been there. Anyway, I think most lawyers would jump all over this case and it wouldn't cost you a dime. Once the ball is rolling, Main Event's records will be an open book and this will prevent others from becoming victims while this scumbag will dearly pay for violating all of MEF's once loyal members. That is just my suggestion. I'm not a victim of these charges, so I can't start a case unfortunately. I really do suggest making 1 call to a lawyer to put this to rest.

My contract with MEF ran out in March, and I never renewed. I just saw that my credit card had been charged $70 on August 1st. How convenient that the phone number has been disconnected and the website is no longer there... I wonder how many others are being charged like this? So sad, I loved the gym before it went under new management.

It sucks to read that people are being wrongly charged. Yes, the phone number has changed and the website down, but I believe the gym is still there. You may want to go there in person. if Lonnie isn't in jail again, you may be able to talk to him. Don't know how far that will get you though. What a piece of work. I've heard a few people now mention fraudulent charges. Hope this helps, and good luck. Keep us posted!

Main Event Fitness has recently deducted $178 from my account. My membership had ended in May 2009 - I called to confirm this at the time and it was assured it was closed. No debits had been deducted since then. On 8/2/2009 the $178 was charged, I have attempted to call and visit Main Event's website - neither exist. The number has been disconnected and the website taken down!! Whats amazing to me is that a business which obviously no longer exists can take my money! This is obviously NOT a mistake and is fraudulent activity. I must now wait for the $178 to clear, taken out of my account and then file a report and wait up to two weeks to get the money back! I suggest everyone who has had a membership with Main Event to check your accounts and report any fraudulent activity to your banks!

I was a member of Main Event about a year ago, but didn't go too often. I was looking into renewing my membership, but was on the fence. I got a few emails email from Lonnie about the move, but nothing on their web site about the new location. There is a "blog" and not even mention of changing locations. I guess it's time for me to look for a new gym.

I read the above comments with a very heavy heart. I look back fondly on the days when Nelly or Judy (maybe even "Miss" Elizabeth) would greet you at the front door with a wide smile. Good ole' George and Mark would be bellowing out encouragement to their clients. The pretty nitro girls would be there working out on the stair steppers. I guess the final nail in the coffin is the move to the new location. I have been to many gyms over my 30-plus years in the ATL, and found the old Marietta location to have the most unique and inviting layout of ANY I had the opportunity to visit. That having been said, I recent made the move to (gulp) LA Fitness over in Akers Mill Square. True, it has a number of the "foo foo" amenities, but it actually has really grown on me. Furthermore, I have been seeing a number of the other "long-timers" starting to show up - kinda nice feeling. Just a quick recommendation that any "future-ex" MeF members take a peek at the LaF. It certainly is not like the old MeF...I fear that we didn't know how good it had it back then...but it really is not bad. Good luck to all...

Lonnie, go get help.... everyone knows this is you. Use some common sense please, there are only two good (is that what they would be called?) comments on here, and everyone knows that it is you writing them. It's your charm, intelligence, and respect for people that give you away: "He even went out of his way to introduce me to a hot chick, I have been dating her sinse the middle of March and gettin some! I heard that Efe guy was a real d****e bag anyway......" BTW, anyone who is contemplating joining this gym, the above statement is just a sampling of Lonnie's fine choice of words. Just think, you will pay to get a "whole lot more of this" when you join! But, Lonnie, since you're keeping up with this. Let me tell you that you ruined one of the finest gyms ever; Main Event Fitness was a legacy. It's finished; no more. People who had been members there since its opening, and had considered this a second home have gone. How sad. You bought the name only (if that), and you denigrate it further by placing that name on some run down building in a bad area trying to pawn it off to people as the same Main Event Fitness that Lex began. Have some respect Lonnie, at least, change the name of your dive.

I was fortunate enough to spend a few years at MEF before Lonnie took ownership. I agree with many of the comments others have made above. I will only discuss the issues that I have had personal experience with. - The first sign that things were quickly going down hill was immediately after the change in ownership. Almost all of the staff quit or had been let go. The original staff was educated and took pride in the gym. They were courteous to all members and concious of their personal appearence. Most of the new staff are very unprofessional. Most of them look very sloppy and have not been trained in customer service and/or general knowledge in fitness. - XPE sports either pulled out or was asked to move on. There is a reason why there are very few or no professional athletes attending MEF after the ownership change. The XPE area is now dedicated to MMA, but I have never seen more than one person at a time jumping roap or hitting the punching bag. - I have gone to the gym for an early morning workout and been suprised to find that no one from the staff showed up to open that morning. (see second paragraph) - I do not know Lonnie outside of the hand full of times he has checked me in to the computer, but feels compelled to tell me about the sex he had with his girlfriend the night before. I'm a guy so I'm used to it, but I have a feeling that he probably talks to the female members the same way. I have nothing more tham intuition, but I wouldn't be comfortable with this guy around my GF or wife. - Last, but by far the worst, is the location that we will be moving to. I'm going to go out on a limb here and say that most members have not had a chance to see it yet. You couldn't give me a free membership to workout at this place. This will bring in an entirely different class of people into the gym. I accidentally pulled into the shopping center on the other side of Terell Mill, NO COMMENT. The business directly next door has bars on the windows. My GF will no longer be making trips to the gym by herself at night. All in all, Lonnie being sketchy has nothing to do with me having a quality place to workout. One that corresponds to the area I have chose to live in. However, his management decisions have led to the demise of a legendary health club.

hey.. yeah i haven't been to the gym for about a week and ive been a member there since 2000. i heard from a friend that Lonnie has a contract with the owners until 2012 for around 17k a month for rent.. he's definitely bailing on this and trying to leave asap thats why the new location is not even ready! the new location doesn't have rubber mats, front desk, or locker-rooms ready! i mean come on!! have you guys seen how crappy this new place is!? main event is a legacy and i liked it where it was! im really upset about this and i feel the new location wont be ready for a while. i feel people will still be charged but will have a half fast place to workout at. i dont really have too much to say about lonnie besides the fact that i just started ignoring him about a week after he took over, yes ive heard him bad mouth a few people and i even heard him call a guy a b*tch to his face for dropping a dumbbell. get out of here bro! i dont know what to think but im currently looking at new places to workout at and im pissed because the commute is not convenient! not only that but i love main event! this place has been my home for soo long and im sure as hell going to miss the old location. im sure i will never find another gym like the old main event, the one that lex and sting started.. but we'll see, im going to ride it out for a month before i make any decisions but im almost sure the new location will be crap and i will have to go elsewhere. thank you for your time Jake

This amazes me. I had to jump in on this one after reading it. I am a MEF member. My membership expires in 2 months I believe. No, I will not even consider renewing. Lonnie writing another response to his own criticism under another assumed name just blew me away. lonnie, it isn't the screen name you choose that sets people off, it is your writing style. It is so obvious it is you. But my God, you sound like an 8th grader!! I was in elementary school the last time I misspelled since (sinse) or lighten (liten). You even have spell check! But more importantly, I hope you realize that the problem you have is within yourself. There is a reason that so many people lash out against you. It isn't some conspiracy, it's you. I'll bet if you look back on your life you will see common themes. Business or personal ventures that started great due to your charisma or outer confidence, only deteriorate due to your lies, deception, or lack of people skills. It doesn't take most folks very long to see who you really are. I hope you look at yourself critically some day, and actually fix the problems. Only then will you achieve and maintain success. You've achieved it before, but because of what is within you, you have never maintained it. Ask yourself why. It isn't "everybody else." I have spoken to you and heard you praise an employee one day, only to say how worthless they are once they quit. You don't think we all see this every day??? Look within someday. Wow. Just....wow.

This amazes me. I had to jump in on this one after reading it. I am a MEF member. My membership expires in 2 months I believe. No, I will not even consider renewing. Lonnie writing another response to his own criticism under another assumed name just blew me away. lonnie, it isn't the screen name you choose that sets people off, it is your writing style. It is so obvious it is you. But my God, you sound like an 8th grader!! I was in elementary school the last time I misspelled since (sinse) or lighten (liten). You even have spell check! But more importantly, I hope you realize that the problem you have is within yourself. There is a reason that so many people lash out against you. It isn't some conspiracy, it's you. I'll bet if you look back on your life you will see common themes. Business or personal ventures that started great due to your charisma or outer confidence, only deteriorate due to your lies, deception, or lack of people skills. It doesn't take most folks very long to see who you really are. I hope you look at yourself critically some day, and actually fix the problems. Only then will you achieve and maintain success. You've achieved it before, but because of what is within you, you have never maintained it. Ask yourself why. It isn't "everybody else." I have spoken to you and heard you praise an employee one day, only to say how worthless they are once they quit. You don't think we all see this every day??? Look within someday. Wow. Just....wow.

This amazes me. I had to jump in on this one after reading it. I am a MEF member. My membership expires in 2 months I believe. No, I will not even consider renewing. Lonnie writing another response to his own criticism under another assumed name just blew me away. lonnie, it isn't the screen name you choose that sets people off, it is your writing style. It is so obvious it is you. But my God, you sound like an 8th grader!! I was in elementary school the last time I misspelled since (sinse) or lighten (liten). You even have spell check! But more importantly, I hope you realize that the problem you have is within yourself. There is a reason that so many people lash out against you. It isn't some conspiracy, it's you. I'll bet if you look back on your life you will see common themes. Business or personal ventures that started great due to your charisma or outer confidence, only deteriorate due to your lies, deception, or lack of people skills. It doesn't take most folks very long to see who you really are. I hope you look at yourself critically some day, and actually fix the problems. Only then will you achieve and maintain success. You've achieved it before, but because of what is within you, you have never maintained it. Ask yourself why. It isn't "everybody else." I have spoken to you and heard you praise an employee one day, only to say how worthless they are once they quit. You don't think we all see this every day??? Look within someday. Wow. Just....wow.

This amazes me. I had to jump in on this one after reading it. I am a MEF member. My membership expires in 2 months I believe. No, I will not even consider renewing. Lonnie writing another response to his own criticism under another assumed name just blew me away. lonnie, it isn't the screen name you choose that sets people off, it is your writing style. It is so obvious it is you. But my God, you sound like an 8th grader!! I was in elementary school the last time I misspelled since (sinse) or lighten (liten). You even have spell check! But more importantly, I hope you realize that the problem you have is within yourself. There is a reason that so many people lash out against you. It isn't some conspiracy, it's you. I'll bet if you look back on your life you will see common themes. Business or personal ventures that started great due to your charisma or outer confidence, only deteriorate due to your lies, deception, or lack of people skills. It doesn't take most folks very long to see who you really are. I hope you look at yourself critically some day, and actually fix the problems. Only then will you achieve and maintain success. You've achieved it before, but because of what is within you, you have never maintained it. Ask yourself why. It isn't "everybody else." I have spoken to you and heard you praise an employee one day, only to say how worthless they are once they quit. You don't think we all see this every day??? Look within someday. Wow. Just....wow.

I've been a member now since February and LOVE main event fitness! The people there are awesom, the staff are friendly, and the chicks are hot! I really enjoy all the extra classes that they have for free; spinning, kickboxing, yoga, and tai kuan do, etc. I will admit though, the sauna is my favorite part! The owner is really cool. I really don't understand why you people are bashing him. He even went out of his way to introduce me to a hot chick, I have been dating her sinse the middle of March and gettin some! I heard that Efe guy was a real d****e bag anyway......Furthermore, I happen to know that Lonnie dumped his girlfriend, not the other way around. He is a real Kewl guy, all of you should liten up. Scott Atlanta, Georgia U.S.A.

I just read the 11/16 Rebuttal by Rick of Duluth. Whatever. I agree with the other posts. Lonnie Barclay wrote that. I was there at the gym long before Lonnie came along. Lonnie is a liar. The racist comments are true; he always makes them. He also makes improper comments with sexual innuendos to all the women in the gym. If you don't think this is true, just go, ask anyone that has been there awhile. This was a great gym before Lonnie came along. Lonnie, aka, Rick of Duluth brags about everything he has done for the gym in his post. He gave himself away there. Everything that he wrote, he has said the exact same things to me and everyone else there. As far as Efe goes, Efe was a nice guy. He was always good to members; he kept the fitness machines always running properly (not the case now); he was also cleaning that place constantly. The other employees that are now gone were good people too. So, if you like to be sexually harassed, if you want to hear racist comments continually, and would like to have someone who has a personality disorder hovering around you as you workout, then this is the gym for you. It has become "The Twilight Zone", and a year long contract will make it a nightmare every time you enter that gym and Lonnie is there.

I have been a member at Main Event for awhile. It has everything a bodybuilder needs. I loved this gym, and then, Lonnie Barclay became the proprietor. He talks trash about other members to your face, and he makes sexist and racist remarks continually. Every time I saw him, I would run the other way. This guy is just obnoxious. I tried wearing headphones, I tried ignoring him; he will hunt you down and make your workout miserable. Who am I? I am a regular person. I mind my own business, get my workout in, and get out of the gym. I don't gossip or hang out. My credit card gets charged once a month for my gym membership costs with no problems. Don't think I'm angry because I'm a deadbeat who doesn't pay bills...not the case. Fitness is a part of my life, always will be. I am sad that this great gym has gone to this individual who has no people skills. Members who have been there a long time (including me) are leaving. New members are being pulled in because of the advertising specials. Be a wise consumer, before joining, talk to members who have been there more than a few months. Ask them what they think about the ownership.

Dont do business at mainevent.Lonnie is a slick salesman that will do anything to get you to sign. however he knows nothing about gyms or fitness, and managed to ruin the gym in a few months, all the quality employees have left, members have left. his girlfriend even left him. rumor has it that he is violent to her,wich i wouldnt be surprised if its true.i saw him myslef with my own eyes, beat his son in an unacceptable manner, i dont mean a spank on the wrist , i mean beating.it may have to do with the fact that he is a steriod user if you are black or jewish , you also are not welcome there as he refers to every black person a NI--R, and makes anti semitic and racist remarks all day! i personaly heard him call some one a F'ing JEW. he is a bad business man and reported as one of GA worst unethical realtors ( look it up ) there are plenty of gyms on the area, what ever you do, dont make the mistake of going there.

Dont do business at mainevent.Lonnie is a slick salesman that will do anything to get you to sign. however he knows nothing about gyms or fitness, and managed to ruin the gym in a few months, all the quality employees have left, members have left. his girlfriend even left him. rumor has it that he is violent to her,wich i wouldnt be surprised if its true.i saw him myslef with my own eyes, beat his son in an unacceptable manner, i dont mean a spank on the wrist , i mean beating.it may have to do with the fact that he is a steriod user if you are black or jewish , you also are not welcome there as he refers to every black person a NI--R, and makes anti semitic and racist remarks all day! i personaly heard him call some one a F'ing JEW. he is a bad business man and reported as one of GA worst unethical realtors ( look it up ) there are plenty of gyms on the area, what ever you do, dont make the mistake of going there.

Dont do business at mainevent.Lonnie is a slick salesman that will do anything to get you to sign. however he knows nothing about gyms or fitness, and managed to ruin the gym in a few months, all the quality employees have left, members have left. his girlfriend even left him. rumor has it that he is violent to her,wich i wouldnt be surprised if its true.i saw him myslef with my own eyes, beat his son in an unacceptable manner, i dont mean a spank on the wrist , i mean beating.it may have to do with the fact that he is a steriod user if you are black or jewish , you also are not welcome there as he refers to every black person a NI--R, and makes anti semitic and racist remarks all day! i personaly heard him call some one a F'ing JEW. he is a bad business man and reported as one of GA worst unethical realtors ( look it up ) there are plenty of gyms on the area, what ever you do, dont make the mistake of going there.

I THINK THIS HILARIOUS! THAT IS "SO LIKE LONNIE" TO RAMBLE ABOUT HIMSELF INSTEAD OF BEING A MAN AND RESPONDING AS HIMSELF. COME ON! WHO ARE YOU FOOLING. NO, THIS IS NOT EFE! LOL! YOU MEAN TO TELL ME THAT "LONNIE'S" PLACING CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION ABOUT INCOME, BENEFITS, ETC IN MEMBERS' HANDS? YEAH RIGHT! AND RAMBLING ABOUT YOUR GIRLFRIEND REALLY TOPS IT OFF. PEOPLE THAT DON'T EVEN KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT MAIN EVENT OR LORNIE CAN READ THESE POSTINGS AND DECIDE FOR THEMSELVES. THE TRUTH IS SO OBVIOUS. AND I DO HAPPEN TO KNOW ABOUT EFE, HE WAS NOT FIRED. HE QUIT SOON AFTER LONNIE CAME ON BOARD. I'M NOT THE ONLY MEMBER THAT LEFT OBVIOUSLY AND WON'T BE THE LAST. LONNIE IS TAKING THIS BOAT TO THE BOTTOM OF THE SEA AND FEW ARE LEFT TO SINK WITH HIM.

The original post, Lonnie, if you check the date was written before Efe even left the gym. So it is highly unlikely that he would write a vindictive post (as you claim) before he quit. Yes, I did say quit. Say what you want to feed your ego, but your employees are not being fired as you would want all to believe, they are quitting. Jumping off the Titanic if you will. How dumb do you think people are? And if you do reply, please try to articulate and spell, or let your kids write the response for you. I'm sure they will do a better job than you based on the unintelligible ramblings you posted before.

That's a lot of stats for just a gym member to know. How much the gym was losing, when it was gonna close, employees salaries. So Lonnie, why are you filing a rebuttal under a fake name??? Everything in the first post was true. I have also been a member for years. Hey Lonnie, why don't you at least try to use spell and grammar check when you file bogus responses? No wonder you foreclose on properties and your businesses all fail. I for one will not renew my membership, and most likely won't even go back again. Hmmmm....many employees quitting, gym members not happy......common denominator here Lonnie. What a joke.

Wow Lonnie Barclay has done nothing but help the gym and make it GREAT again. It was losing over 50k a month and the doors where going to be closed Oct 1, 2008. He came in at the last minute when he found out the situation and saved the gym. Who would buy a gym membership without looking at the gym. I have never heard of any spa, sauna or daycare in the gym. Main Event is a real gym not some gym with a sauna or spa what a joke. The members love Lonnie Barclay and what he has done to the gym, more supplements, drinks, a lot cleaner, more members, more energy in the gym, happy people. If you do not believe me go see the gym. Wow you should see his beautiful girl friend and some of the other ladies that are now coming to the gym. Efe the guy that must of wrote the letter was a drunk and never showed up on time to work. He is on anti-depressants and whats to kill himself, he was very moody, I, my friends and other members are afraid to even talk to him. You never knew how he would treat you. You would not see him for hours than he would show up smelling like liquor. He was on of the reasons the gym was going to close, oh and I just found out he was paid $21 an hour plus heath and dental insurance to stand at the front desk and he was paid over $35 an hour just to clean the gum. I want his job. The old owner was nuts to have kept this guy and pay him so much. Lonnie Barclay had to clean house and this guy was some of the trash. When I found out about this report I had to tell the real story about the gym and Lonnie Barclay. Go see the Gym for yourself. He even brought back the old logo, everyone hated the new logo sheild thing. Rick