B&W Gym

This is a real gym. Sweat and iron is the only theme. There is not too much need for upkeep except maybe some new oly platforms and bumper plates but whatever, what they have works.

You know when you’re watching a movie about an athlete and halfway through they suffer from some big defeat and then its the big moment… movie montage… this is the part where they go from zero to hero in a short but awesome 2 min inspirational rock athem. Well ladies and gentlemen, this is the kinda place where that happens.
Its a no frills, kinda grimy, great place to bust your ass.
1. Huge variety of equipment — outdated but still effective
2. Spacious– lots of room for prowler, tire flipping, sledgehammer excersises
3. Never packed
4. No dbags — ladies, no need to worry about being harrassed
I go to xsport if I want to swim, need a sauna, steam room or to get my hair done. I come here to get a true workout.

It’s a gym; it has weights.
Pros:
Cheap, no bullshit. Like 30 deadlift platforms. Honest Native American.
They have heavy shit everywhere. You can even pick it up and move it around if you feel like it, and no one gives you the business or anything.
Front desk girl was super cute. Go in the afternoon if she still works there. She probably squats more than you. Me-​fucking-​gusta.
Meh:
Fewer squat racks than I would have thought — like 5, plus a monolift. 6 or 7 benches, one of which is competition. This is a meh cause there’s virtually never 6 people in the gym at the same time. Unless they are deadlifting. I honestly think that people shell out to come to this place just to deadlift 5 days per week.
Cons:
There’s no shower that I could find. Parking sucks at peak hours. They have a garage but it broke my big ass car. Maybe people from Chicago can figure this 45-​degree-​incline-​narrow-​as-​a-​doorway parking garage shit, but my provincial ass could not.
Everything is old as shit and some of it is a little cheesy.
I didn’t get the free sweatshirt I was supposed to get for signing up.
3.5 if I could, but 4 because it’s a gym more people should go to.

This gym has everything except for BS.

Let me start by saying that its place is called B&W GYM, not B&W Fitness.
This is where you go to get a good workout period. Its never packed and they have everything you need for your bodybuilding needs. They have plenty of benches, squat racks, and many other machines that you simply cannot find at other gyms or fitness centers. I have access to a state of the art gym at my university and I dont even want to go back. I love this place it has some serious character. Members of B&W care about their gym and are very friendly. Also, the staff is great (NO GIMMICKS, NO PRESSURE, NO CONTRACTS) YOU CANNOT BEAT THIS PLACE. CAVEAT: If you looking for a state of the art gym or a fitness gym, this place is not for you.
Oh and did i mention: Members have access to a free covered parking garage directly next to the gym. PERFECT

Simply put, this is the most hardcore gym in Chicago. People train here to get stronger and bigger. This is a no frills gym that is extremely affordable and is one of the best kept secrets for those serious about training.
This is not a place to endlessly cardio while watching TV, hit on people by the juice bar, or lift dumbbells that have neon colors. Hard work and dedication are respected by the regular gym members, not what fancy gym attire you’re wearing.
If you are serious about your training, this is the best investment you will make. But truthfully, this gym is too hardcore for most and most don’t come back. Those that do, come back for the rest of their lives.

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!

I don’t ever write reviews on Unilocal but I feel like B&W deserves it. The place has been here forever, and is famous in the powerlifting circle and has been hosting national competitions longer than I have been alive. Which makes sense because Dennis Brady and his wife are both esteemed powerlifters and have set records in their fields. This is a no BS gym. If you want to go in and get a good hard workout without having to wait for some idiot to finish hovering over the equipment, this is the place for you. I pay to come here over my school gym because this gym is full of great power-​equipment you won’t find at any new age gym. You don’t have to worry about dropping weights or making noise. If you need a spot there’s always a guy there willing to spot you because he might need one too, just don’t expect him to sit there and chat with you. It’s also full of regular people as well as more advanced lifters that are all trying to get their workout in without the added nonsense you find in most gyms. You never have to wait for those two guys who hover over the only two benches even though they just came to talk about what bar they’re going to tonight like at most gyms. No, there isn’t a lot of cardio equipment, there isn’t a lot of cardio equipment on Venice Beach either, that’s not what this gym is about. There is a MMA/​Crossfit kind of room however to get your sweat out. I usually lift for about an hour and then go hit the bag for another 45 minutes and that’s good enough cardio for me other than just running outside. And, they finally have parking in the garage so that is a major plus.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.