By Azra Baig, Special Writer
The New York Sports Club (NYSC) Princeton North, located at 4250 Route 1 in Monmouth Junction will soon be closing, according to a letter sent to members earlier this month.
Members were sent a letter in the beginning of July notifying them that after nine years, the NYSC Princeton North facility would be permanently closing at the end of the month.
"After nine years of helping members enjoy the benefits of regular exercise, we regret to inform you that the New York Sports Clubs’ Princeton North location will close permanently on July 31, 2014," the letter stated. "We’re committed to providing the highest quality member experience, but recent events have made this difficult to deliver at the Princeton North location. Please accept our apology for any inconvenience this may cause."
Members of the NYSC said they were shocked and sad to learn of the news.
"It’s the end of an era. I’ve been here 15 years, since it was taken over by NYSC and before hand (Gold’s Gym)," NYSC member and instructor Giancarla Pozzo, 38, of Monmouth Junction said. "I have been through everything from engagement, to my wedding, to having my children with the people that are in my classes. So it is the end of an era. It is sad, it is devastating for a lot of people, and I do not know if we will ever come together again. I’m going to miss everybody."
The letter from NYSC also stated that, "All Core memberships are being upgraded to a Passport membership at their current monthly rate."
The Passport membership allows members unlimited access to more than 100 NYSC clubs with the nearest facility located in Princeton, eight miles away, on North Harrison Street.
Another member and instructor, Tracey Crowley, 53, of Kendall Park, expressed her feelings on the news of the closing.
"I felt that they (NYSC) are just giving up on us and we have to travel now down to Princeton or up to East Brunswick to get classes," she said. "It’s the only option we have. It’s just a big disappointment."
She said the NYSC was like her home and that she has known and worked out with some NYSC members for 18 years and "not to see everyone everyday is sad. It’s a sad time here."
Many NYSC members said they were torn with the decision of what their next option should be.
They said they have to come up with the decision to either continue their membership with NYSC or to cancel it and join one of the many local gyms or health centers, such as the Princeton Fitness and Wellness Center, Crunch, Retro Fitness, Club Metro and or Fitness 19.
Several attempts for comment were made to NYSC management with no response.

