Charlotte Athletic Club Review

Undoubtedly best in Charlotte. Positive atmosphere. Never gets packed up full. Shower service is great. Kinda makes my soul happy everytime I visit there

Transferred to CAC from Golds .... Nice facility and I love the functional training space upstairs. I have been working out in the (early) mornings with Diara (trainer) ..... she is knowledgeable and tough; combines cardio with strength training and keeps you moving and doing things you never knew you could do.

I've been going to CAC for about 3 or 4 years now and am so pleased with my experience. First off, it is a high quality facility with two convenient locations in uptown. They have great equipment in good working order, lots of different types of spaces, incl TRX, spin, yoga, turf, basketball court, strength, etc. There are plenty of cardio machines and it is rare to ever have to wait for anything. The clients are friendly and well mannered. The lockers rooms are clean and well appointed. They even have Restore services like massage, cryo, and IV services on-site. The thing that really brings it over the top for me though is the staff. Front desk staff are welcoming and professional. The owner arranges social activities, christmas parties, and interesting exercise programming. Trainers though do an extraordinary job and have really made it feel like a family to me. There is a great schedule of group fitness classes and the trainers design excellent fun programming so spin, boot camps, yoga, trx, hiit, etc all feel new and different and interesting every day. Amongst my favorites are Kate Kovats, Tara Kimball, and Hilary Heath. All make you feel welcome and connect with you and make you feel accountable, energized and part of a team that is interested in your welfare. My biggest kudos go to Britney Greenwood who I do personal training with. I met her as an excellent instructor for group fitness. She is a knowledgeable trainer with a keen eye for proper form and corrective actions. She has really helped improve my strength and cares deeply about providing a high level of training and of your success. She also manages to do this while being a funny and engaging person that is just plain enjoyable to spend time with. I have enjoyed working with her so much that my wife started working with her recently and she raves about her. Spend the couple of extra bucks to come to a good reliable club and be satisfied with somewhere you can stay long term. I've been to the Y, and done ClassPass adventures to about every fitness concept in Charlotte available. They are mostly all great and have something good to offer, but CAC is a home.

CAC has been great for me for many years. I have especially enjoyed the classes with Michelle and Chaz and I have worked now for several years with Britney Greenwood as my trainer. All of them have been excellent, and I would not trade the experience for anything. The facilities there are great. I have never had a problem with crowding. I think I will be a faithful attendee when they have to wheel me in. The trainers and the staff are really special, and I would encourage everyone to visit.

I ve been a fitness instructor/trainer at this Amazing club for 10 years. It s always clean and the staff is super. Come check it out you will be so glad you did.

Best staff, trainers and instructors around! Beautiful club with amazing amenities!

Needs to fix a few of the shower heads/controls in the men s locker room, but great otherwise. Fantastic staff.

Great gym and fantastic staff. Very clean and well-maintained, with a nice variety of equipment. Have also worked out with trainer Diara Hester who is amazing! She's very energetic, knowledgeable, and can help you work around any injuries that you may have.

Dee is a great trainer. She knows what I can do and what I can t do. I had back surgery 10 months ago. And has helped me greatly.

Gym is nice but the main reason i go is because of my trainer diara. She helped me get in shape for my wedding and is helping me stay in shape through my pregnancy. She pushes you and genuinely cares about how youre doing. Shes the best!

Michelle is the best!!! Always upbeat and very motivating. Love her and her classes!!! If you haven t been to one check her out!

Excellent place to workout. My son, daughter and I have been clients of personal trainer TJ Milewski for a year now with excellent results. I highly recommend him to anyone for what every your goals are.

The gym is very clean and spacious. The staff is also very welcoming and courteous. Diara is a very special personal trainer as well. Not only does she genuinely challenge you during the workouts, she takes time to understand your end goal and tells you exactly what to do. I myself lost 50 pounds over the course of 6 months with Diara. She carefully adjusted my calorie intake every week as my body transformed and now I am on the path to building mass. She s the real deal. I highly recommend CAC.

My friend and I have been using the gym through ClassPass and we typically use the machines for 30-45 min and than leave the gym. I noticed today that the pass is no longer available through ClassPass and I m wondering why that option was taken away from us!?!? Is this temporary or for the long run?

July 2019 Update: They merged this with Golds gym that closed and it has completely gone down hill. Super crowded and busy. The layout has also changed is over-packed.

Previous review: It might be a little pricey. But I would 100% say it's worth it. The workers were super nice and this gym has it all! I only visited from out of town, but if I lived here, this would be my gym!

Great vibe and staff. Always very accommodating with a friendly smile. Cleanest facility around CLT

I have trained with Brittney Greenwood for over a year now. She is the absolute best!! I recently got married and she helped me get in the best shape of my life! I really enjoy the way she challenges me from week to week, giving me the most intense workout each time! Her positive energy and attitude helps keep me motivated. If you are looking for an amazing trainer I highly recommend Brittney Greenwood at the Charlotte Athletic Club!!

I trained with Diara for the past 2 years and she's fantastic. She helped me gain lean muscle and learn proper techniques so that I can get the most out of my workout when I'm on my own. Highly recommend her for whatever fitness goals you want to achieve.

I ve belonged to a few different gyms in the Charlotte, NC area, including the Dowd YMCA, 2 LifeTime locations and now Charlotte Athletics Club which is my favorite thus far. I think having this gym downtown and so close to my office is a huge plus. Even when it is most crowded you don t have to wait too long for a machine, if you even have to wait at all. The staff is also great, especially the Sale Director Derrick who made signing up super easy and has been there to answer my random one off questions. Charlotte Athletics Club has a relaxed and inviting atmosphere which isn t intimidating like some other gyms can be.

Great event, I had a blast, I could do without all the drunks though. I only did 10 minute miles because so many people were in my way I had to keep slowing down. Next time I will get there much earlier and register earlier.

All hail Diara!! She is an amazing trainer. She truly cares about her clients and their goals. She provides an individualized holistic approach with her knowledgeable experience and she puts in the time to research clients specific needs. She worked with me all through my pregnancy and helped make sure I stayed healthy and didn t gain any unnecessary weight. She s pushes me even when I m complaining or trying to get away with doing less and she s become a real friend. Book her!!

Diara is the Best Trainer I've ever had. She genuinely cares about the physical and mental well being of her clients and in the year I've worked with her she has never done the same workout twice. She's knowledgeable and always available when I call or texts about workout or meal prep questions......

The staff at this gym have been great and very accommodating. The amenities are great! Also, the personal training is with it! Diara really kicks your butt but you feel more and more growth each session!

Knowledgeable staff, premium amenities and equipment really set this gym apart. I especially enjoy the motivation and experience I get with my trainer Brittany Greenwood. She creates customized workout routines that really help me maximize my time at the gym. She tailors each workout to meet the needs of my daily life for whole body wellness and helps push me to do more.

I joined Gold's Gym in June. One week later the gym closed without warning and Charlotte Athletic Club will not let me cancel my membership. I was told I could cancel, but now they are stating that I am bound to the terms of my original contract. This is robbery and should be reported to the Better Business Bureau.

My complaint is with the way they do business. I have never stepped foot in this place, but feel very strongly about this review. I was an active member at Gold's gym. That gym closed without notice, and I was notified that my membership was transferred to Charlotte Athletic Club. I called CAC to tell them that I was not interested in moving, and I was informed that I had to give 30 days notice to cancel my membership. Remember, I was never a member of CAC, and the gym I did join closed without notice. CAC then attempted to charge my credit card for the next 3 months. When I called to complain, they told me, "We don't handle billing, you have to call ABC Financial." When I called ABC Financial, they told me, "We are not affiliated with the gym, we just handle billing. If you want to cancel you have to do that with the gym." I can not get anyone at Charlotte Athletic Club to address this issue, but they keep trying to bill my credit card. Just not the way to do business.

CAC is fantastic. They have a wide selection of well-maintained equipment and the staff and clientele are great people. I m not one to use a personal trainer or attend group classes, so can t speak to that perspective, but if you re looking for a good workout from a clean gym with a variety of free weights and machines (plus a nice locker room with steam and sauna facilities), look no further. Uptown location is excellent as well if you live or work near Tryon St.

great place to workout very clean and very helpful i would recommend this place to everyone

Very nice club. The variety of equipment they have is amazing. The front desk associates are amazing. They always welcomed me in with a smile. The price of this gym was the reason I cancelled. And the management made no efforts to keep me. When I signed up I was actually offered a cancellation form that day as if they have people cancel left and right. If not for the high cost I would definitely still be a member. You pay for privacy and convenience. The gym is never overly busy and the locker rooms have everything you could ever need.

Trainer Diara at CAC is awesome! She is actually the fifth trainer I have worked with over the last few years and is second to none. She recognizes and works with me on my weaknesses while pushing me to achieve results that I did not think possible.

I ve been going to CAC for 2 months now. I train with D and she is by far the best trainer I ve ever had. She always pushes me to my limit to help me reach my goals. I ve learned so much from her in such a short period of time. Would definitely recommend D as a trainer no matter what your goals are!

I have been a member at CAC from its inception. The quality of service provided by the club is superior. The staff is exceptional. I have been a regular participant of the group fitness classes offered by Michelle, Tara and Sydney who makes the classes impactful and fun. As a busy professional working uptown this club has been a great fit for me.

Clean bathroom. Has all essentials. Good space for a workout. Great workout classes for the lunch timeframe.

Visiting from Denver, needed a gym to do a single workout and called they have option for day pass! when i got their the lady was very kind welcome to charlotte and discounted me the day pass! very nice, very clean, if i was a local...this would 100% be my gym. they have all aspects of workouts styles from olympic, traditional, crossfit, spinning, classes, ropes,etc....

CAC has been an important part of my weight loss journey! My trainer, Michelle Bennet really helped me to transform my mind and body. I have lost over 60 pounds with the help of her expertise and passion for fitness! I love her!

CAC has a great facility and wonderful amenities, but the true benefit of membership comes from their training program. The trainers on staff are helpful and professional. Dee, the trainer I work with continues to push me further than I think possible and show me how to do more, even when it feels like I've got no more to give. She's stood by me through my health journey and give 100% of herself to the training process. If you're going to work with anyone, work with Dee. She'll help you get where you need to be.

Very unprofessional staff and their management has no interest in addressing these issues. Will never join this gym.

Great atmosphere with a variety of classes taught by the best instructors!

I was a member of Golds (Epicenter), which was acquired by the Charlotte Athletic Club. This was a *fantastic* change and a huge step up for Golds members. Although CAC's equipment is much older and pretty outdated, they have everything you need to workout. More importantly, the overall club is much higher quality and the staff is amazing - as in amazing. For example, I reached out to their club manager, Derick, because I had left my favorite water bottle. (I could not reach the club by phone so I texted Derick.) I was FLOORED when he quickly texted back and told me he was on vacation in Cancun but had called the club to ask a staff member to keep an eye out for it! Are you kidding me?? Attending to a water bottle while on vacation out of the country?? (Talk about going above and beyond!) All I can say is they take AMAZING care of their members and I'm grateful to be there.

CAC is great! I especially love taking Chas's class!

Diara offers the full package for personal training. Her professionalism, knowledge of fitness and nutrition, tailored approach and encouragement are exemplary. Could not ask for a better resource on my fitness journey!

Been with CAC for approximately 2 months and I appreciate the friendly staff and amenities, but Personal Trainer, Diara Hester, is the main reason I look forward to going every day! She holds me accountable with my personal goals in mind, using a wholistic approach of diet, cardiovascular workouts and strength training. I truly look forward to our sessions, and because of her motivation and planned workouts, I am beginning to see results, both mentally and physically. Thank you D! And thank you CAC!

Extreme Bootcamp and HIIT classes never disappoint and the instructors Tara and Sydney bring it every morning with a unique and challenging workout. Thanks for driving me to be better every day!

Great place to workout with a lot of state of art equipments. I train with Dee and she is by far the most incredible trainer I have come across. Lost 25 pounds in 6 months with a severe back injury. She made sure I loose weight while strengthening my back. Anyone looking for a trainer should surely go with her - simply the best!

Not a fan of this gym. It s small and prices are outrageous. My membership got bought out by them and now I can t cancel. This is not the membership I signed up for. It s like your stuck in a lifelong contract.

Michelle is the best trainer ever! She s motivating and just tough enough so that I don t give up! Love her!

Gym staff is great. They have all of the necessary equipment. Parking is a breeze. Access to the rooftop pool is a nice perk.

Very good customer service and understanding staff.

Friendly Staff, super clean facilities, great amenities, and location make this the best gym in Charlotte for me. I've been going there about 1.5 years and can't imagine switching to another Gym. I do not do personal training but the trainers all seem very nice and definitely seem to give their clients a good workout (wish I was pushing myself that hard every workout). I would definitely recommend this gym to friend.

I love this gym! I've been an active member for years. I love the fact that I can come in and workout without having to wait for available equipment. The staff are friendly and provide great customer service and Cycle Barre with Michelle is my go to! Starting my day off with her class at 6am not only provides a great physical workout but her positivity keeps me anchored throughout the day! This is a great gym for those who want to workout and unwind.

This gym is awesome. It seems like every other gym in Charlotte is so crowded that you never actually get to do the workout you came to do. CAC always has plenty of equipment available. They also have fantastic free weight, turf, trx, and crossfit areas. I feel like I can truly get in any workout type that I need.

I ve had an enjoyable experience with Charlotte Athletic Club. When Gold s gym gave sudden notification they were closing I was worried I was going to no longer be able to see my personal trainer D. Luckily she was one of the staff that moved over to CAC from Gold s. D has been a fantastic trainer. She truly cares about her clients and bettering their lives. She wants to make a difference and she makes sure that she puts in the work to motivate you and get you moving. CAC is a great fit for her and I m so glad I m able to continue my sessions with her in this facility.

Michelle Bennett is the BEST personal trainer. She puts YOU before herself and completely serves YOU!!
She is patient, understanding and a wonderful motivator.
Michelle s optimism and energy is contagious. All of this rolls on to you as the client making you want to reach your goals.
#KEEP IT MOVING

Avoid this gym at all costs! My membership was automatically converted over from Golds. I never wanted to go here and when I tried to cancel they gave me the hardest time refusing to do so. Ended up having to put a block on my bank account. In what world is it sound business practice to try and force people to use a membership they don t want and never agreed to at your gym?!

Called twice, emailed multiple times - can't get anyone to actually cancel my membership as I won't be traveling to Charlotte anymore. I have two months of additional charges on my account and its getting to be ridiculous

I ve never been a gym kind of girl. I prefer the outdoors and the freedom I feel in nature and on the trails. But training for my first 100K proved I needed more strength, more power. Walking into Charlotte Athletic Club, I immediately felt at home. I toured the facility and the first person to greet me was Carey Long. After sharing my goals, he immediately set up an appointment with me to complete an assessment. And the rest is history. Not only has my physical body completely transformed through our consistent weekly workouts, but every other aspect of my life has transformed as well. Carey is extremely easy to talk to and connect with and his extensive knowledge of the human movement system is absolutely next level. But what has been most powerful is the inner transformation and metamorphosis that I ve experienced through our weekly conversations, as he seems to have a secret superpower: to create the space for transformation to occur from the inside out. His passion for personal growth and development, ability to bring out the best in people, and his heart of gold are what set him apart in a world full of coaches, trainers and experts. I highly recommend Carey, and I highly recommend becoming a member of CAC. Everyone who works and trains at CAC is top-notch, super kind, and incredibly helpful. The club is a tight-knit community, and I always feel I am coming home when I walk through the front door. Also, for those who pop in to lift or do cardio and then head back to work, you know the locker rooms are always stocked with everything that would make a girl feel so beautiful, strong and empowered. Walking back into the world brand new and ready for whatever comes our way! Thank you CAC for my home away from home. Now I look forward gym days, all because of YOU! Tons of love and gratitude, Micah

This past year, Gold's Gym shut its doors, and the members were transitioned to the Charlotte Athletic Club. The CAC team was very welcoming during the transition, even while experiencing some expected growing pains. Since then (about six months), the gym seems to have found its rhythm. Members seem quite focused on improving while still exchanging pleasantries. The equipment is sufficient and well kept, though everyone has an opinion on the "one piece of equipment that's missing" :) Perhaps inviting members to submit an equipment suggestion might be of value to CAC. The amenities, including steam and sauna, are excellent, except for some of the men's showers, which are still not functioning consistently. Most of the staff is very friendly and helpful. The front desk makes you feel welcomed every day, and the custodial staff is pleasant and always go the extra mile. The trainers are cordial and accommodating to all. For all that is good with CAC, it is somewhat surprising that the management vibes are pretty inconsistent; never know if you get a smile or blank stare. Location is convenient to all of the downtown workplaces, and pricing is very fair. Lastly, I have never been to a gym where everything is on point, but CAC is solid.

The staff at CAC is extremely nice especially the front desk. I attend the 7 am High Intensity classes and they really push and motivate you! I highly recommend the morning classes!

I am very happy with my CAC membership and Carey Long is an incredible trainer who has helped me consistently get in 3 to 4 really good workouts a week over the last year.

My switch over to CAC has been nothing but a positive experience. The facility is great and the staff is very friendly. I have also been working with Diara Hester one on one with personal training and she is fantastic! She pushes me and motivates me as well as holds me accountable with my eating habits and work outs outside of our time together. Starting to see results and feeling stronger week by week. Highly recommend working with Diara if you re looking to get back on track with fitness and overall living a healthy lifestyle.

I ve started my fitness journey 2 years ago and I could not have done it without Diara. Even when I wanted to give up she pushed me to be better. Instead of just collecting a session pay she goes above and beyond to make sure I am eating a proper diet, have a workout regime while I m traveling for work, and constantly sends me motivational texts. I ve lost 40 pounds and am healthier/happier because of her. She cares even when I haven t.

Very laid back gym and a little more than I m willing to pay. The main reason I would say it s worth the money is if you book Diara Dee as a trainer. I ve been with her for a while now and she really has pushed me and really cares about her clients as a whole. She s the best!

This club charges exorbitant fees for their membership for a mediocre facility at best.

Great gym in a great location! Being so close to work means you can stop by before or after work and work out, shower, and get going with your day. Laundry service is prompt - they definitely stick to the three hour window. Gym format is also nice, as there are lots of machines and many different areas to work. Finally, there are multiple classes every day with great instructors! Would highly recommend!!

I ve been training with Diara for over a year and she is hands down the best trainer I ve ever had. She is so knowledgeable and good at what she does, I can t imagine training with anyone else. She pushes me to be the best version of myself and I am grateful for her!

I also transferred from Gold's Gym without warning or agreement after they apparently bought out their contracts. I tried going for a couple of months before deciding to cancel my membership because it was not worth it to me. Half the nights I tried to go there was zero parking. Front desk people rarely acknowledged people coming or leaving. Also covid hit and really limited gym use anyways. Fast forward SEVEN months after cancelling and I receive another bill for a months membership. On a credit card I no longer use and happened to randomly check luckily. Emailed their billing company and got a couple responses until they just stopped responding.

Great facility located uptown! Very loyal and knowledgeable trainers! TJ and Michelle are great!

I trained with Diara and she really kicked me into motivating myself! I never thought I had the time to go workout after work but I started to really see how out of shape I was with her training. She helped me get over feeling bad about myself and start to think positively to achieve my healthy weight goal. I highly recommend anyone to train with her because she gives you the tough love and recommends anything you need for a healthy and happy lifestyle!

Love the gym and its great team of trainers. If you get a chance, highly recommend taking TRX and Bootcamp classes.

I trained with Britney Greenwood for 3 years at CAC and she is THE BEST!! She got me in shape for my wedding and for my first full marathon. I learned so much from her - everything from proper form to nutrition and I owe her for kick-starting my love for a healthy and balanced lifestyle into my 40s. If you are looking for great training that s also fun definitely train with Britney!!!

ALERT!
Somebody broke my lock and stole my wallet from the Men's locker. The thiefs seemed to know what they were doing. Used the credit cards within 20 minutes of the incident. The report is filed with Charlotte Mcklenburg. If I am right this is systematic and people should be on alert.

CAC does not have any protocol to deal with this. And if they do, the staff is very unprepared.

Clean, and up to date gym. They make you *want* to work out.

I have tried a few different Trainers in the past, but very little results. The past year with Diara has me in the best shape I ve been since my early twenties. She does a great job of mixing up workouts and holding me accountable. Her energy is there every day. Worth every penny when it comes to health. Also, shout out to Earl and Leta always friendly and keeping things running smoothly since joining CAC.

Excellent Club and Great Location. The main reason I go is to see Diara, my personal trainer. If you are serious about reaching your personal fitness goals, Diara is the trainer for you. Have been a client for more than one year and she has not only changed my body, she has changed my life. Stop making excuses and start doing something for you! Diara won't let you down!

Diara is the best! I normally do not enjoy working out with trainers but Di is the best. Do worked me out more than I would do myself, but didn't work me out to the point I dressed going back. I highly recommend Di as a personal trainer!

Plenty of different classes included in the monthly rate, staff are super friendly, place is clean, plenty of weights, machines and cardio; and conveniently located!

I have been a member of Charlotte Athletic Club for over ten years (maybe more, I just cannot remember when I joined.) I use my lunch hour for self care and can honestly say that CAC is a non-negotiable part of my day. Their staff makes it easy for me to get, and remain strong. They offer a litany of classes for whatever it is I am looking to improve including TRX Boot Camp, Power X and yoga. Both Tara Kimbell and Michelle Bennett have been active and extraordinary participants in providing the framework for my wellness planning. As far as yoga is concerned, CAC has a robust offering with fantastic teachers. Ian Grosh is phenomenal and I rarely miss his Friday Power Vinyasa. As far as logistics are concerned, the laundry and locker services make it so easy and I never have to worry about forgetting a gym bag at home. An easy to use class-booking app sends me reminders about my programming for the week which is nice with my crazy schedule. They provide literally everything you need to become a healthier and more active version of yourself. All you have to do is show up!

Trainers are great! Also one of the cleanest gyms I ve ever been in.

This is by far the best gym that I've ever been to. The staff is wonderful, the classes are incredible and the gym itself is fantastic.

Came over from Golds. Was out of town so I was unaware of the change. I do not like this gym and it s crowded. Not happy how golds and Charlotte athletic club treated its members.

This is a great gym. The location is perfectly centered in Uptown, the equipment is up to date and extensive, and the staff is friendly. But the BEST part of this gym is my personal trainer - Diara aka "Dee". I've trained with Dee for a couple of years now and she is by far the BEST trainer I've worked with. She pushes me, she sets firm goals, but she also really cares about her clients. She cares about what's going on in my life and how that may be affecting the weight loss goals I've set for myself. I switched gyms for Dee (I'd follow her anywhere)!

The only minor criticism I have of the CAC is the size of the locker rooms - it is sometimes crowded in the section where my locker is, and the locker sizes are smaller than my previous gym. Also, it just feels like an older locker room - the actual toilet area needs to be updated to include a bit more privacy.