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Gym Closes Abruptly, Leaving Members In Lurch

BOSTON (CBS) – Members were on the treadmill one day, and the next, the doors were locked.

World Gym in Milford mysteriously shut down at the end of last week, leaving members in the lurch.

Town officials say the business owes about $15,000 in unpaid taxes.

Another Milford gym, Midtown Family Fitness, is honoring those memberships at the request of World Gym's owner.

"As an owner, you don't like to see anybody go out of business," said Midtown Family Fitness owner Maria Clemente.

She says some customers are frustrated.

"You just don't like to see that. You wouldn't want it to happen to your own members. It's tough to be a small business today," said Clemente.

World Gym
The now empty World Gym in Milford. (WBZ-TV)

Records show the company is incorporated under the name Ran, Inc. with the treasurer listed as Andrew Noyes.

WBZ-TV spoke with Noyes after another gym he owned in Bellingham called Workout World closed without warning its members in 2009.

World Gym's owner, Russell Watson, told WBZ he would give members refunds, but some members said he has not done that.

A spokesperson with the Massachusetts Attorney General's office says the state has received complaints, and will help anyone having trouble getting money back.

The owner of the property says he plans to open a car dealership in the space where the gym was.

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