Jewish Community Center of Greater Buffalo- Downtown

"Joining a fitness center can be intimidating if you’re not in the best shape or don’t own the latest brand of activewear. Fortunately, that’s not the case at the Jewish Community Center of Greater Buffalo, which has one of the best gyms in Western New York. By “best,” I mean well-equipped, clean and well-organized, and reassuringly down-to-earth. Established in 1948, the JCC has two locations: the Benderson Family Building, about a 20- minute drive from Buffalo, and the Holland Family Building, a 5-minute drive to downtown. The Holland gym has a combination of cardio machines, including ellipticals, stationary bikes, treadmills, and rowing machines, as well as weight machines and free weights. There are also plenty of classes, though I haven’t taken advantage of one yet. The fitness staff are friendly and there to help and encourage you, not browbeat you. You might also experience a laidback camaraderie with your fellow exercisers—people of various ages and walks of life, sweating side-by-side in unspoken solidarity. Most of us aren’t training for the Olympics—we simply want to reclaim muscle tone, maintain a healthy weight, release stress, and maybe add a few years to our lives. If you want to take care of yourself, I encourage you to try the JCC. And if you’re a parent with young kids, check out the preschool. My daughter went through the preK program, and she thrived. She even learned how to swim in the JCC pool as a toddler."

"I just switched here from a big box gym and I love it. Everyone minds their own business but everyone is also super nice. All the equipment is great quality and it’s very clean. Just a great environment overall & it’s a bonus to support a local community center :)"

"Was so excited to come tour the facility today and hopefully get a membership for my daughter & I, she loved the facility! However, they don’t offer one adult/one child. My husband owns a business and does not have the time to accompany us during the week. I asked if they could do anything and they said you have to get a family plan.. Which is $80 a month. I can’t suffice paying for an extra person for nothing. I am right around the corner in the preservation district and do a lot for my community. Thought this would have been a perfect fit. So bummed."

"I really enjoy this gym. It's very clean and the staff is friendly. Would be nice if it was a bit larger and they had more equipment & machines."

"A Very nice club that despite being small has everything you need to get in shape, free weights, machines and plenty of Cardio machines. NEVER too crowded. The main reason I joined is for the STEAMROOM and POOL and Also a nice full court Basketball hoops."