BUSHWICK — Crunch Bushwick has finally opened for business — nearly two years after it said it would.
The fitness chain's 785 Flushing Ave. location started signing people up with early bird memberships as far back as spring 2013, saying it would be open shortly.
But months and thousands of membership dollars later, Crunch still hadn't opened.
The spot started allowing members to work out on Friday, according to general manager Ronald Blake.
Blake said he wasn't sure why opening the gym took so long. The corporate side of Crunch dealt with the issues surrounding the opening, he said.
The company did not immediately respond to a request for comment, but previously cited landlord and permitting issues. As those issues continued to delay the opening, members complained that they weren't getting any answers on why the gym still wasn't ready.
More than 2,000 people are signed up for the location, Blake said, and they were emailed about the opening last week.
"We're excited to finally get all the red tape out of the way and get people working out," Blake said.
Members will not be charged again until May, he said. Fitness classes such as Zumba and Belly, Butt and Thighs Bootcamp will start this week, and a full schedule of classes will start next week, he said.
A basic monthly membership with access to dozens of treadmills, ellipticals, weight machines and other equipment costs $9.95. A monthly membership that also includes group fitness classes, tanning and hydromassage costs $19.95.
On Monday afternoon, just more than a handful of people were working out in the gym.
"People are coming in with smiles," Blake said.
Resident Christian Cox, who signed up for Crunch in 2013 and was flabbergasted by its long delay, said he will probably check out the facility now that it has opened.
It's good news that the gym is finally open, he said, but added that he only found out about it when contacted by DNAinfo New York — not via an email from Crunch itself.
"Glad they worked it out," he said, "though not getting an email makes me think they still aren't great communicators."
