The Assa Sport gym closed its doors without prior notice on Tuesday night, as confirmed by the management of Marina Lanzarote, who state that they are working "intensively" to provide a solution to customers. It was after 11 p.m. when users of this gym, located in the Arrecife marina, received notification of the closure via an SMS on their phone. "On 01/31/2017, the Assa Sport sports center ceases its activity. We will be able to give you more information soon. Thank you," the message simply stated. Some of the clients "have not even received the message" and found out "when they went to the facilities this morning to train and found a sign" on the doors of the gym.
The closure has generated "outrage" among many of its customers. In some cases they had "paid for six-month programs and only enjoyed one", as stated, for example, by a user on the Facebook page they have created to "stay in touch" and share their concerns. The "surprising" closure has also caused other customers "not to have been able to remove personal items from the lockers they had rented".
The Marketing Director of the Puerto Calero group, which manages Marina Lanzarote, Pilar Hernández, explained that they have made themselves "available to users to help them in any way possible". Some of these clients have also contacted La Voz to show their "bewilderment and anger". From Marina Lanzarote "they are already working with another operator who will resume the gym's activity. They will try to respect the fees and services that users had in order to minimize, as far as possible, the damages caused to customers," Hernández said.
Eviction order for breach of contract
Regarding the reasons for the closure, the Marketing Manager of the Puerto Calero group detailed that they had filed "an eviction order" to the gym, "since they had not complied with the contract we signed." At the same time, they were working with the other operator to ensure that after the closure there would be a "continuity", both for clients and workers. "They haven't waited and haven't warned us of anything. Nor have they put in place measures so that the next operator can give continuity. We are working to make it take the minimum amount of time and we will try to make the bureaucracy part minimal," Hernández lamented.
The new operator could be Lude Servicios S.L., as confirmed to La Voz by sources close to this company, who state that it is "in a position to assume the service provided by Assa Sport so that customers can continue to carry out sports activities." However, they clarify that Lude "has no responsibility whatsoever in the situation generated" and also specify that "as of today there is no agreement whatsoever."
Marina Lanzarote has made available to users the email address centrodeportivo@marinalanzarote.com so that they can communicate any doubts they may have regarding the situation. In addition, they have delivered a statement to the users who have attended in which, among other things, it is indicated that "it will be a priority for this shopping center that the new operator of the center respects all the rights they have as users, and in particular the fees that have been paid in advance".
Meanwhile, Assa Sport has not given its version of what happened, despite the fact that La Voz has unsuccessfully tried to contact this company.
