Acceleration Sports Insitute in Spartanburg closes

A gym and sports training facility in Spartanburg has suddenly closed its doors, leaving customers with unanswered questions and wondering if they'll get their money back. Acceleration Sports Institute in Spartanburg offered specialized athletic training as well as gym facilities. Owned by professional baseball players, it was located in the Steadman-Hawkins sports medicine facility at Mary Black Hospital.

But the gym was facing issues. Acceleration Sports Institute - South Carolina tells us it is filing for bankruptcy. The SC Department of Consumer Affairs tells us the Spartanburg gym was not properly licensed.

Ever since Todd Gullickson's son Justin put on a uniform years ago, he's dreamed of being a professional ball player. Gullickson began sending him to the Acceleration Sports Institute in Spartanburg for Speedflex training. Said Gullickson, "Last summer I could really see the improvement in his ability on the baseball field."

But Gullickson says a few weeks after he says he paid $2600 to renew the membership, the gym suddenly closed. Gullickson reacted, "Honestly when I got that first email, my stomach dropped."

Gullickson says he's been exchanging emails with co-owner Darren Cady, asking for his money back. He showed us emails he's received asking for his patience, but says so far he has not received a refund. Said Gullickson, "No one tells you exactly what's going on. They say he's welcome to go to Simpsonville, which is not an option. He's sixteen years old, he's not the most experienced driver."

We offered Acceleration Sports Institute an opportunity to be interviewed for this story. The company faxed us the following statement: "Acceleration Sports Institute-South Carolina, LLC (ASI-SC, LLC) had an excellent working relationship with former CEO Glenn Robinson and Mary Black Hospital when the hospital was owned by Triad Hospitals. ASI-SC, LLC was recruited by Triad to run a medical fitness operation at Mary Black Hospital and a sport performance business dependent upon all programs related to the Steadman Hawkins Clinic of the Carolinas. When Community Health Systems (CHS) purchased Triad and Mary Black Hospital, the commitment to these programs changed adversely affecting our ability to do business. While trying to renegotiate the lease and payment of back rent, CHS informed ASI-SC, LLC they were to vacate the space, causing the entity to declare bankruptcy. The Cooper Law Firm has been retained to handle this matter. ASI-SC, LLC has contacted Spartanburg Athletic Club to take over existing members."

The South Carolina Department of Consumer Affairs showed us a letter it says it recently sent to Darren Cady saying, "It appears that your former business in Spartanburg as well as your present business locations were/are required to file with the Department of Consumer Affairs for a Physical Fitness Certificate of Authority and post a bond." The letter also says, "Former members who have prepaid should be refunded their money if they do not wish to attend another facility."

We asked Cady about the gym's state licensing. He sent us an email, stating, "We did not receive any request regarding a Certificate of Authority. If a letter was sent, it did not go to the correct mailing address. The only facility that had a gym was the Spartanburg location that we had to close. The other location is just sports training. The mini life center gym there is not ours."

Gullickson was hoping the Acceleration Sports Institure would help his son reach his field of dreams. Said Gullickson, "You think you're getting the best thing you can for your child and it kind of upsets me." Instead he feels like he got left in left field.

If you prepaid for a membership at Acceleration Sports Institute in Spartanburg, the Spartanburg Athletic Club says it is honoring those membership through May and waiving its initiation fee to to become a member after that.

The Cooper Law Firm in Greenville tells us it has been hired to handle the company's bankruptcy. The law firm says pre-paid Spartanburg members will be contacted to file claims against the bankruptcy.

The SC Department of Consumer Affairs says members can also file complaints by calling 1-800-922-1594 or go to

http://www.scconsumer.gov/complaint_services.htm.