Tony Calhoun wants you to know that he is not a prude. The fitness industry veteran and owner of AC4 Fitness explains that the reason his clubs have a dress code is so new members who aren’t in the best of shape won’t feel intimidated by the sight of someone else’s six-pack abs or massive pecs. All AC4 Fitness members, regardless of gender, must wear a shirt — not just a string tank or sports bra, please.
Recently, in this space, I wrote about a gym that offered group fitness exclusively. In the spirit of all those trainers who advise you to vary your workouts for optimal fitness, I’m switching things up to share my experience at AC4 Fitness, a gym based on the “key club” model. AC4 Fitness members swipe an electronic fob to gain entry to its two locations (Goleta and La Cumbre), which can be accessed 24 hours a day.
Calhoun, who used to own the three local Gold’s Gym locations, wanted to operate a simpler business after his experience as a corporate franchisee. Keeping it simple means AC4 Fitness doesn’t sell any merchandise or provide towel service — and it doesn’t offer any group fitness classes.