Blast Fitness moved into Fort Worth last year after acquiring a number of Bally's gyms in Texas and other states, but abruptly closed the east-side location near Woodhaven on Monday.
When we inquired about how members who paid up to a year in advance could get a refund, we were told to call corporate headquarters in a Boston suburb. But the automatic phone system dumped us in customer service purgatory, which told us: "The mailbox is full."We traversed the Internet until we found another department which turned out to be accounting. A pleasant-sounding man named Tom Moran answered."A letter had gone out saying we will give full refunds," Moran told us, then emailed us a copy. Members have until Jan. 21 to call something called ABC Financial.One of our colleagues did just that. But having joined Bally's more than 20 years in San Antonio, an ABC Financial supervisor named "Cherish" told her there would be no refund since she could use a Blast gym in the Alamo city. That's despite her using the Cowtown location the past four years, which is the only one her husband has ever used. They're out $150.We tried to reach ABC Financial, but one can only penetrate the phone system with a membership code.We don't know how many people are affected by Blast's departure. Moran said he didn't know the number of Fort Worth members. Neither did the manager of another North Texas location, who did tell us Blast suddenly lost its Fort Worth lease.The undated Blast letter addressed to members announced a Dec. 31 closing of the Fort Worth location, but our colleague has yet to receive it. Another customer, unnamed and posting on Yelp, only learned of changes after visiting the location."... They closed this location without ANY notice," the anonymous, would-be gym rat said. "We went there on Dec. 31 and they said they were having NEW hours. Guess what? Jan. 1 rolls around and they are locked up with a 'Go to the Irving location' sign."The nearest location is a 22-mile drive.Refunds not arrivingThelma Cortez of El Paso told us she felt immense relief on Monday when Ronni Sokol, owner of Maximum Sports Connection of Farmers Branch, assured her that a complete refund -- $1,398 for a Dallas Cowboys weekend game package that didn't exist -- was on its way via FedEx.Sokol even said she was looking at the FedEx tracking site as they spoke on the phone and told Cortez the money would arrive at noon Wednesday. Cortez thanked Sokol, and asked her to email her the tracking information.Neither the tracking number nor the check arrived.Several other customers who had bought ticket packages for the Cowboys-Steelers matchup Dec. 16 also were promised to be made whole by Wednesday. Yesterday came and went. And Sokol did not return our phone call and emails seeking an explanation.The game was a retirement gift that Cortez gave herself after toiling at Target for 24 years, and a treat for a niece, also from El Paso, to see her first NFL game. The 64-year-old El Pasoan was so upset when she showed up at the stadium and told that Sokol only had $29 standing-room seats, she had to take blood pressure medicine and walk away to regain her calm.Late Wednesday, Cortez called Maximum Sports and was told by an employee named Jesse that he had only gotten her refund check this morning, she told us. The FedEx tracking number he gave was real, showing an El Paso-bound package shipment had been initiated but as of Wednesday evening, had not been received by the parcel service.New Ashley FurnitureAshley Furniture HomeStore will open its newest location at 10 a.m. Saturday at Alliance Town Center.The 35,000-square-foot store is located next to Sam Moon, said Michael Levitz, Ashley's DFW-El Paso president. It will be the chain's 400th location nationwide."We are excited about our second Fort Worth store serving north Tarrant County in the rapidly expanding Alliance community," Levitz said.The retailer is give away $25,000 in furniture, Norwegian cruises and gift certificates at its seven Metroplex locations during the opening.Gone to TexasTexas was among 10 states that saw more people move into the state than out during 2012, according the latest Atlas Van Lines Migration Patterns study.Last year, Atlas made 7,120 moves to the state, but handled 5,505 moves out of state.The Southwest and the Mid-Atlantic coastal states were among the more popular moving destinations.Sandra Baker, 817-390-7727sabaker@star-telegram.comJim Fuquay, 817-390-7552jfuquay@star-telegram.comBarry Shlachter, 817-390-7718barry@star-telegram.comHave more to add? News tip? Tell us
