This is a sprawling, 450,000-square-foot complex of healthy living, a fitness factory that meets members' every imaginable need. It came into existence just as fitness clubs started popping up everywhere, preceding and perpetuating the '80s fitness crazy. It catalyzed Chicago's own club fever and catapulting it into what exists today: a Crunch on the corner, a Multiplex down the block, and an independent gym across the street. Now East Bank reigns supreme over Chicago's fitness screen. From the massive pro shop that sells everything from jewelry to walkmans, to the four parking lots that'll wash and wax your wheels while you work out, there's really no reason to leave here. Ever. But if you do have to get home, a cab stand is always populated with taxis for a quick getaway.
The main restaurant serves an exquisite lunch and dinner menu along with a decadent Sunday brunch, perfect for impressing clients, feeding families and celebrating workout goals with friends. The Grill is a smaller, more casual restaurant for mingling with other members and is open for breakfast, lunch, dinner and every time in between. There are rooms for families with kids so you don’t have to worry about being disturbed by a rowdy brood. A gourmet deli provides freshly prepared dishes to go, convenience items and its own brand of coffee. The Sun Deck Café is open in the summer months and serves guests salads, sandwiches, beverages and frozen drinks on the massive sundeck. A Juice Bar wraps up your sustenance needs. Everything is done in house by EBC’s own chefs in their kitchens, nothing is contracted out. If you’re a huge fan, they’ll do your catering. There are even catering facilities on the premises, where you can plan weddings, receptions, banquets and meetings for up to 700 friends in rooms with riverside views. If you have a party on the outdoor terrace, your guests can pull up their boats and doc on the river.
The Classes: The fitness-class standards are all here, but you can also try out interesting classes like tap and Caribbean rhythm. Since you can be a member at any age, there classes that cater to everyone, from infant massage to hip-hop dancing for teens.
The Equipment: The facilities are nothing short of mind-boggling: 20,000-square-foot cardiovascular workout room, indoor track, 2 gyms with regulation-sized volleyball and basketball courts, four swimming pools (2 indoor, 2 outdoor) and an indoor driving range. And that’s just for starters.
The Extras: The wellness center staffs a full-time nutritionist and many services, from weight management counseling to flu shots to osteoporosis screening. In addition to the more than 35 personal trainers, there's a fitness staff available without the extra fee to help you use machines properly or stretch you out after your run. Evenings and lunch hours are popular for pick-up games of basketball, especially amongst traders and executives from the loop looking to blow off steam. Leagues are also run for more organized play.
If your workout, dinner, manicure and massage wore you out, there are private quite rooms where you can lay down and take a cat nap. There’s also the quiet River Lounge, which overlooks the river and one of the outdoor pools. It features WiFi access and plenty of silence if you think of a brilliant idea to e-mail your office while exercising on the elliptical.
You have the option of charging everything to your membership account, from meals to dry cleaning. Just beware that when the bill comes each month, it’ll reflect your lavish lifestyle.
Even with all these amenities, one of the main reasons people enjoy their membership is the social atmosphere. Mingling in the restaurant or lounge is a great way to meet and get to know other members, plus the management holds social events (everything from dueling piano night to Super Bowl parties) that entice members to take off their iPods, hop off their treadmills.
There are never discounts or specials on membership, so it doesn’t really matter when you join. You can cancel your membership at any time, but think hard first, because you won’t be allowed to join again for nine months.
Centerstage Reviewer: Lauren Ziel
