By Pyc Fitness
©2004-2008
The unexpected closure of Extreme Fitness in Two Rivers Center is all about money — or the lack thereof, according to the owner of the business, who community critics say has been lying low since last week.
Bryan Pullin, owner of the 7-year-old fitness gym, told The Leaf-Chronicle Tuesday by telephone he "feels awful for the employees and customers," but had to close because "the money just wasn't there anymore."
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Pullin added that he and his wife have been harassed in the community since the sudden closure late last week, but he loves Clarksville and plans to stay here and "try something else."
"It's a very unfortunate situation, and it really boils down to the fact that the money just wasn't coming in. For the last two months, I've had to cover the rent myself, and it was $11,000 a month.
"I sincerely thank the members, and I feel awful for them, but I just didn't wake up one day and decide I didn't want to go to work. I don't know what I'm going to do now."
Pullin said he's seeking legal counsel and may file bankruptcy. If there's enough money to spread around after that, employees who haven't been paid, and members who have already paid for health club services that haven't been rendered, may be paid back, he said.
"Other members are out a little money, I realize, but I've lost my sole source of income. I didn't realize until this happened how attached some people are to this health club — but you just have to accept that businesses come and go," Pullin added.
"I put my whole life savings into this business, but it was just not working. That building is very old and it's in constant need of repairs," he said.
A big surprise
Others associated with Extreme Fitness, including his former minority partners, James and Robin Hallums, trainer Reggie Wright and beauty shop operator Sharol Milyo, said the way Pullin handled the business closing was almost as distressing as the closure itself.
On Tuesday, they said all they could do is speculate, because he left the announcement of the closing to employees, rather than doing it himself.
"I had gotten a message from one of the other trainers that the gym was closed and that the owner had left it to the other trainers to tell the staff about it, because he was too embarrassed to," Wright said.
"He didn't really discuss it with us, but I do know he had been in court with (the Hallumses) in the past. I had been walking on eggshells as to whether I should be bringing in more clients," Wright added. "I have been re-routing them to other gyms in town, and right now I am on board with two other gyms."
"All I know is that it's a very trying situation for me," said Milyo, "being that the beauty shop there is my sole source of income. Right now, we're just waiting and hoping it can be reopened."
That appears to be the Hallumses' goal. James Hallums said he'd owned 40 percent of the business before one day "asking to see the books" of the company, at which time he said he was removed as a partner. "He (Pullin) obviously didn't want me to see the books."
Who can reopen?
Hallums said he was just as stunned as everyone else to hear of Pullin's decision to close.
"It was totally unexpected. All I know is that one day, Bryan tells a few employees he's closing down, and he leaves," Hallums said. "The employees are owed some money, and some members had just paid up their memberships and have lost money.
"I'm in the process now of trying to put it back together, and reopen it for the benefit of the membership and employees.
"I'm working with the mall owner (In-Rel Management) on that, as well as former employees," he said.
Asked about the Hallumses' hopes, Pullin said, "It's not the Hallumses' business to reopen," adding he's already sold off the equipment inside.
"If he (Hallums) goes and buys all-new equipment, I'd love for him to reopen it," Pullin said.
Hallums has retained local attorney Mark Olson as legal counsel. Olson refrained from extensive comment about the matter Tuesday, but provided The Leaf-Chronicle with some related legal documents, including a court order restraining Pullin and Regions Bank from "further distribution of any funds held by Regions Bank for Bryan Pullin or Extreme Fitness."
The order says that Pullin "is restrained from the sale of any further business assets of any sort or kind of Extreme Fitness, LP, and from disbursing any business funds, money or assets of Extreme Fitness."
The civil action is set for hearing on Oct. 23, according to Olson's documents.
The lease space in Two Rivers housing Extreme Fitness has served as a fitness gym of some sort for at least 14 years. Before Extreme, it was part of the Gold's Gym chain.
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