Signature Fitness Club closes locations in Schaumburg, Naperville and Yorkville

Despite a sign on the door indicating a legal dispute with the Schaumburg landlord, all three Signature Fitness Club locations in the area will remain closed permanently this week.

In addition, an anonymous handwritten letter on the door on Tuesday questioned the original demands and urged guests to be more vigorous in their efforts to get their money back.

City officials in Schaumburg, Naperville and Yorkville said they did not know the reasons for the closures.

Joe Parrot, senior vice president of retail services at brokerage firm CBRE, said he could not comment on behalf of the owner, Global Net Lease, which did not respond to a request for comment.

The phone numbers listed have been deactivated for the Signature Fitness Club locations at 141 Barrington Road in Schaumburg, 1531 N. Aurora Road in Naperville and 825 Erica Lane in Yorkville.

A phone number for Sheldon Botha, who is listed on the state’s business license, was also disconnected on Tuesday.

A sign on the door of the Schaumburg location dated Monday was repeated in a social media post telling customers the closure was due to “unforeseen legal issues with the mall owner.”

The Signature Fitness Club was located between the two large stores, Kohl’s and At Home, in the Prairie Town Center.

“Despite our efforts to reach agreements on delays and rent reductions, as well as the complexities with the Town of Schaumburg and the ordinance changes, we were unable to reach a resolution,” the company said in the post. “As a result, we only had 48 hours to vacate the site.”

The post goes on to say that the company is willing to overcome the challenges to find a solution, but the owner of the property is not ready. Customers who paid by credit card are asked to dispute them, while refunds for other payment methods will be processed through legal action.

“We deeply apologize for any inconvenience this may cause,” the post concludes. “Our team has worked tirelessly to make a lasting impact on the community’s fitness journey and has remained committed to all challenges.”

But the handwritten note on the outside of the door read: “After consulting with the Town of Schaumburg, this memo is incorrect. The owner of this facility was not making the money he wanted and was closing the Signature Fitness Club location in the Chicago area.”

The statement goes on to say that the club’s practice prior to closure was to require large upfront payments in order to generate immediate revenue.

“Please, please contact your bank and make sure you have all the documentation you can get to ensure you get your money back,” the letter ends.