Madison Athletic Club apparently out of business - Chicago News and Weather | FOX 32 News

Gym rats are speechless.  The Madison Athletic Club in Madison Heights appears to be closed for good with no notice, just a sign taped to the front door.

"Got here Wednesday morning and there was a sing on the door saying thank you for 34 years of patronage, we've closed our doors," said Jamie Pepper.   "I think it's awful.  I think it's horrible that they didn't tell anybody that this was going to happen and that they led people to believe they were going to be here for a long time."

As of late Thursday, a Groupon for the gym was still available on sale for $7.  Even worse, some members prepaid for special classes, including Pepper, who just shelled out $100 for her and her husband to join the gym's "Biggest Loser" program.  Now they're both losing out.

"July ninth was our first day.  It was supposed to be a six week program that we paid $50 a piece for, and obviously it's over and we've lost that money now," said Pepper.  "I'm greatly upset that somebody could be dishonest."

Fox 2 tried to contact Madison Athletic Club to get answers for our viewers, but the phone is disconnected.  It seems not even the employees knew what was coming.

"My brother told her, had to break the news to her, and she just couldn't believe it," said Brian Carrell, a trainer with Fitness 19.  "She started crying because she just found out she didn't have a job, so you could tell that none of the employees knew what was going on."

Carrell wasted no time trying to ease the blow to potential new customers, offering a special deal to all former MAC members.

"A lot of people come to a gym, they build a comradery with the other people.  They get to know people.  That's what they're used to.  That's kind of like their second home away from home so to speak, so it is heartbreaking for those people.  I've talked to a lot of people that are really upset about it."