Equinox Group
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Fitness, wellness, hospitality |
| Founded | September 23, 1991 in New York City, New York, United States |
| Founder | Danny Errico, Vito Errico, Lavinia Errico |
| Headquarters | New York City , United States |
Area served | United States, United Kingdom (London), Canada (Toronto, Vancouver) |
Key people | Harvey Spevak (Executive Chairman and Managing Partner) |
| Products | Fitness clubs, digital fitness app (Equinox+), hotels, lifestyle brands including Pure Yoga, Blink Fitness, SoulCycle |
| Owner | Harvey Spevak, The Related Companies principals |
| Website | www |
Equinox Holdings, Inc. is a premier American fitness and wellness enterprise headquartered in New York City, New York. The company oversees more than 300 clubs across key metropolitan areas in the United States, as well as locations in London, Toronto, and Vancouver. Its offerings include the Equinox+ App, a digital platform delivering virtual fitness classes. Ownership includes executive chairman Harvey Spevak alongside key figures from The Related Companies. Equinox's portfolio encompasses multiple lifestyle brands such as Equinox, Equinox Hotels, Precision Run, Project by Equinox, Equinox Explore, Equinox Media, Pure Yoga, Blink Fitness, and SoulCycle.
History
Founded by the Errico family—Danny, Vito, and Lavinia—Equinox launched its inaugural club on September 23, 1991, in Manhattan’s Upper West Side. In 2000, Harvey Spevak spearheaded a management buyout supported by private equity investors North Castle Partners and J.W. Childs. By 2006, Spevak collaborated with principals from Related Companies to obtain majority ownership and later secured a minority stake investment from L Catterton in 2017.
The company’s growth strategy involved acquisitions and new brand introductions: Pure Yoga was brought to the U.S. market in 2008; Blink Fitness was introduced in 2011; SoulCycle was acquired that same year; and in 2019, Equinox ventured into hospitality with the opening of Equinox Hotels at Hudson Yards in Manhattan. In January 2023, the company enacted a controversial policy prohibiting new membership enrollments on New Year’s Day to discourage short-lived fitness commitments.
Difficult cancellation policies
Both Equinox and SoulCycle have been criticized for implementing subscription cancellation procedures that customers found challenging. In 2025, Equinox agreed to pay $600,000 to settle claims brought by New York state concerning these practices, which had repercussions for customer trust and brand reputation.
Labor conditions
A 2019 report by The New York Times revealed that trainers frequently worked up to 80 hours per week and sometimes resorted to sleeping in locker rooms or vehicles due to demanding work hours. Employees also described intense pressure to recruit and retain members, highlighting workforce management difficulties. Additionally, in 2013 Equinox resolved two lawsuits filed in California related to unpaid overtime for trainers, emphasizing ongoing labor compliance challenges.
Fundraising controversy
Equinox and SoulCycle faced boycotts and protests following a fundraising event hosted by Stephen Ross—the founder of The Related Companies—for then-president Donald Trump. Both companies publicly distanced themselves from Ross’s political activities by describing him as a "passive investor" and denying any endorsement of the fundraiser. This incident underscores how leadership affiliations can affect public perception and customer loyalty.
Blink Fitness bankruptcy
On August 12, 2024, Blink Fitness filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection due to sluggish sales impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and escalating operational expenses. The company announced plans to shutter certain locations while exploring opportunities for sale.
Harvey Spevak
Harvey Spevak serves as Executive Chairman and Managing Partner of Equinox Group. He assumed the role of CEO in 1999 and led a management buyout in 2000 with backing from private equity firms North Castle Partners and J.W. Childs. In 2006, he formed a partnership with Related Companies principals and later facilitated a minority investment from consumer-focused private equity firm L Catterton in 2017.
Under Spevak’s strategic direction, Equinox acquired SoulCycle in 2011. By 2019, he expanded the brand’s footprint with the opening of its 100th club situated at Hudson Yards in Manhattan while simultaneously launching the company’s first hotel and coworking space—Industrious at Equinox—broadening its offerings within wellness and hospitality sectors.