A beleaguered Avenue N fitness center closed two weeks ago, following years of unpaid city fines for violating occupancy rules.
Studio 54 Health Club, near E. 54th Street, has received $32,000 in fines since 2001, for several permit violations including failing to obtain a valid certificate of occupancy, a document verifying that the building complies with the plans approved by the Department of Buildings, according to a city spokeswoman.
As of now, Tristate Holding, the corporation that was issued the fines, and which was listed on the Department of Buildings’ website as owning the gym, has only paid $3,000 of the total fines.
It is unclear whether the business folded under the mounting fines, or whether it was closed for other reasons.
Calls to Tristate Holding were not returned.
Gym members said they were reimbursed for their unused time at the gym, although the sudden closing came as a surprise.
“It was all very sudden,” said a nearby resident. “It caught my friend by surprise, he was all ready with his workout gear and there was the sign for reimbursement. There was no advanced notice it was closing.”
Reach reporter Colin MIxson at [email protected] or by calling (718) 260-4514.
