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B&W Gym
Category: Active Life Fitness & Instruction Gyms Gyms [Edit]
5920 N Ridge AveChicago, IL 60660
Neighborhoods: Andersonville, Edgewater
(773) 561-9692
- Hours:
Mon-Thu 6 am - 10 pm
Fri 6 am - 9 pm
Sat 9 am - 5 pm
- Good for Kids:
- No
9 reviews for B&W Gym
9 reviews in English
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Review from Peter N.
Chicago, IL
3/10/2012
Finally worked up enough nerve to come to this gym on what I've read about as "serious saturday". I was greeted with open arms by guys that were very friendly and helped me work on some of my technique problems. Definitely need to come again and work on the atlas stones and the prowler sled!
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Review from Eric S.
Chicago, IL
11/22/2010
I have free access to a $52 million glass-and-steel gym at my university. Every other day, however, I drive past it, opting instead to pay $200 a year to step down into B & W. Its in a basement, it has no gimmicky machines, and its patrons are there to lift. B & W is also never very busy, which is a major plus.
You see, I don't like the mainstream-gym, cardio-machine crowd (gym clothes shouldn't match). Given my prejudices, B & W lets me sleep better with the knowledge that this vainglorious set of A-Type gym-goers would be horrified by the lack of corporate finish, the manly austerity and raw materiality, the simplicity and integrity, that is B & W gym. -
Review from Dan F.
Chicago, IL
1/28/2009
I just moved to the Chicago area and have been looking for a no frills gym to meet my tread mill and lifting needs.
B and W is the place to be. There are enough treadmills to accommodate your need to burn calories. Although they aren't top of the line, I don't really think that's the point. This is an old school lifting facility with adding mass as it's main focus. There are two full sets of free weights, 2-4 squat racks and too many benches to count. Along the top of all the walls are pictures ripped from muscle-building magazines of men and women who have veins popping out of their (wait for it)...veins.
There always seems to be a new membership special going on, and if you get a year-long membership it ends up costing around $20 a month. Not too shabby.
I look forward to making this place my workout home, and hope that you might consider doing the same, just don't hop on my treadmill. -
Review from Mike M.
Park Ridge, IL
7/25/2010
Hands down the best gym in the city. If you are serious about getting strong, go here. I drive 45 mins to get here because other gyms just don't compete.
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Review from Mitch M.
Chicago, IL
10/2/2010
I've started going to B&W this summer after leaving a gym with more amenities. There are some sacrifices in that regard but overshadowed by B&W's assets . It's a real straight forward, no frills gym. The clientele seems to be very focused on why they're there.
It's spacious with lots of weights and machines and is VERY affordable. The rate alone makes it worthwhile. It's a great find. -
Review from Greg M.
Chicago, IL
1/16/2009
This place is fantastic, the only time I experienced a gym close to this was during my stay at NIU. I got a chance to workout in the tower of power which was located in the basement of Grant Towers. Anyways, much like the other review said this is an old school gym also located in the basement. It is littered with all types of machines and weights to ensure the ultimate lifting experience. B & W also has some treadmills and a separate room for combat training. Although it lacks in the cardiovascular workout department, it more than makes up for it with the bodybuilding related equipment. If you are serious about working out then this place is a perfect fit.
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Review from Justin M.
Chicago, IL
1/2/2011
B&W's is now and will be my gym for as long as I reside in the Chicago area. As many have stated, it is a no frills, hardcore, dungeon of a gym. If you're at all familiar of the bodybuilding or powerlifting scene, it is very much reminiscent of other hardcore gyms- metroflex in Arlington texas, and Dorian Yates' Temple Gym. This is a place where guys and a few gals come to lift seriously. There is not much discussion going on. People here understand it's not social hour. Basically it's just a very raw, badass place to work out in, and has more iron than any gym I've ever set foot in. Oh yeah, and the rates are ridiculously cheap. The only cons are that some of machines that are there could use replacement (lat pulldown machines) All in all, awesome place for the serious lifter.
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Review from Richard G.
Chicago, IL
7/27/2008 1 photo
I workout here every once and a while when I need a change in my workout routine or get bored with Bally's. This place has no contracts which is great and have many different rates, daily, monthly, yearly etc and very inexpensive. This is definitely not a fancy gym like a Bally's, Cheetah gym or X-sport. This place is a real old school hardcore gym for power lifters and Olympic style lifting. This gym is not very clean though and they have no lockers or showers but none of that matters. The gym is downstairs in the basement next to some loading dock for a furniture store. Their is no parking and it's also difficult to find on the street so either come by Clark street bus or get off on the red line train and walk up Ridge to Clark st.. The gym is never crowded so you can get a good workout and get out. You can do Olympic style lifting here because they have real Olympic bars that spin so you don't hurt your wrists, foam/ rubber coated plates and platforms to perform clean and jerk lifts, dead lifts or snatch lifts and drop the weights with safety. They have ton's of dumbbell's/plates, benches and squat racks but not a lot of fancy machines or cardio equipment. This place is very good if you are serious about building strength and power. You can grunt and yell all you want without people looking at you funny. This gym is not a meat market and you will not see other cute women here other than the girl at the desk. This place you will only find men with no necks, bad workout attire and chalk dust everywhere. This is a place for people who are really serious about building strength and power. This is the best bargain for you dollar a true old skool gym for real athletes.
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Review from Jason S.
Chicago, IL
10/3/2010
I moved to Chicago in Feb. and was looking for a place to continue my strongman training. B&W let me bring up my equipment like atlas stones and logs and has plenty of room for me to train. Price is the best that you'll find. Pricewise, a year at B&W = about 6 weeks at Quads. It's not fancy or pretentious, but you have a group of serious powerlifters/strongmen/Oly lifters as well as bodybuilders and people just trying to stay in shape. It's a friendly environment with no limitations on certain types of lifts deemed dangerous (by people who have never tried them) like at other gyms. Traffic and parking aren't too bad in the area either.
