Texas Family Fitness merges with fitness behemoth, prompting uproar among customers

Madyson Jones worked out at her Lakewood gym Monday morning and noticed nothing unusual. Hours later, the 27-year-old received an email from Texas Family Fitness informing customers that it was acquired by a larger franchise, effective immediately.

Jones’ Lakewood gym is one of four locations that closed as part of the merger with Planet Fitness. Locations in Plano, Garland and The Colony also closed.

Customers said they were blindsided by the announcement and frustrated by the lack of notice around the holidays, a time many find exercise particularly important. Some have taken to social media to express their irritation.

“I’m very disappointed and so are a lot of others,” Jones, who lives in North Dallas, told The Dallas Morning News. “It’s crazy not to give people advance notice.”

Texas Family Fitness, which operated 11 gyms in the region, opened in 2003 and drew customers with their affordable rates, friendly atmosphere and child care. Jones, who joined the gym more than two years ago, said she frequently relied on the child care for her 6-year-old son.

On social media, customers lamented that they joined the gym because they wanted to avoid a larger chain. Now, their memberships were automatically transferred to Planet Fitness, a point of anger on Reddit and TikTok.

“Totally unprofessional to give zero notice to members before transferring them,” one thread read. Others recalled difficulties canceling memberships with Planet Fitness in the past.

In a statement posted to its website, Texas Family Fitness encouraged customers to reach out to Planet Fitness with questions.

“We are deeply grateful for your loyalty, support, and the fitness journey we’ve shared over the years,” the company said. “Thank you for being part of our story and for allowing us to serve this amazing community.”

It’s unclear how many, if any, Texas Family Fitness employees lost their jobs. Neither company responded to an email Thursday from The News.

Planet Fitness, based in New Hampshire, owns roughly 2,600 gyms nationwide, including about 60 in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, and is one of the country’s largest fitness franchises. On its website, the company said it is remodeling the remaining fitness centers in Coppell, North Dallas, Plano and Frisco, and adding massage chairs and tanning beds.

“We’re here to bring you even more support in your fitness journey,” the company wrote.

Jones said she decided to give Planet Fitness a chance and worked out this week but decided it’s not for her.

“I felt very homesick the entire time,” she said.