Gold's Gym: A Review of the Lucrative Bodybuilding Franchise

Wikipedia sources say: "Gold's Gym" was founded/started by Joe Gold. Joe Gold had been into bodybuilding since his teenage years; Joe would always head to Santa Monica, CA (Muscle Beach) so he could workout at leisure. Joe's love for the art of bodybuilding would eventually be responsible for him opening the first Gold's Gym in Venice, CA 1965. ("Gold's" because of his last name; there weren't that many gyms in those days, and even though its second name "Gym" sounds cliché/superfluous, it wasn't back in 1965)

The section of Venice, CA the Gym is located at (still there), isn't the most pristine area in Los Angeles, however: Joe's dedication to the art, as well as his devotion to his clients would eventually pay off: making him and the gym one of the great names in the world of bodybuilding. (Joe eventually sold the Gold's Gym franchise in 1970. In 1977, Joe started "World Gym" in Santa Monica, another lucrative name in the world of bodybuilding.)

Arnold Schwarzenegger is to bodybuilding what Porsche is to cars, and The Beatles to music. His friendship with Joe Gold, as well as his frequent usage of the Gym, could have only helped into making Gold's Gym one of the most famous/lucrative/enduring names in the world of exercise and bodybuilding.

In 1977, the movie "Pumping Iron" came out. This is one of the most famous movie ever about the world of bodybuilding; bodybuilding, which at the time wasn't considered hip or cool like today. The movie features famous names such as: Franco Columbu, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Lou Ferrigno, and many others in the world of exercise and fitness....

Jim Morrison of "The Doors" was also a frequent visitor to Gold's Gym.

Today, Gold's Gym has become one of the most (if not the most famous) famous names ever in the world of bodybuilding. With 600 locations in 25 countries; Gold's fame is not only unmatched, but so are its unique training and exercising techniques.

In 2004 (which ironically enough was when Joe Gold died: Joe Gold was born in 1922, and died in 2004.), Gold's was purchased by Robert Rowling's TRT Holdings for 158-million dollars. Its current president/CEO is James Weaver, and its CFO is Randy Schultz.

Gold's Gym has been named one of the two official health clubs of AARP, as well as Blue Cross/Blue Shield Association (health insurance).

Some people have been dissatisfied with Gold's business practices. And according to Wikipedia, some franchises have acted in unscrupulous ways, etc., etc. A Gold's Gym in Provo, Utah was successfully sued for fraud by one of its members in 2006 for changing a contract after it was signed in 1999....