Mountainside Fitness can’t reopen early, Arizona DHS says

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As of Monday, the Arizona Department of Health Services approved 103 applications and rejected 202, including Mountainside Fitness. (Photo: Mountainside Fitness)

Corrections and Clarifications: A previous version of this article should have included Cochise and La Paz counties among those counties that the Arizona Department of Health Services rates in the yellow, or “moderate” category, of COVID-19 spread.

Arizona health officials on Monday denied an application from Scottsdale-based Mountainside Fitness to reopen even as it gave the green light to a handful more gyms and a bar to reopen with limited capacity.

Mountainside led a lawsuit against Gov. Doug Ducey and the Department of Health Services challenging the June 29 order to close certain businesses to stop the spread of coronavirus.

The judge, in that case, decided that the DHS and governor must give the businesses an opportunity to reopen. DHS did that two weeks ago with a complex set of requirements to reopen, either when their county reaches a certain benchmark for COVID-19 illness or by submitting an application stating they will take extra steps to keep customers and workers safe.

As of Monday, the Department of Health Services approved 103 applications and rejected 202, including Mountainside Fitness.

It was one of two denials issued on Monday, the other being a Jazzercise studio in Flagstaff.

“As we have watched this subjective enforcement continue, along with the loss of tens of thousands of jobs and the lack of opportunities for our mental and physical health, it has been clear to us this process turned political on June 29th,” Mountainside CEO and founder Tom Hatten said in a Tuesday statement.

“Without our lawsuit, there would not have been a process to re-opening and now that ‘pathway’ is simply a guess for all that apply, resulting in an overwhelming amount of denials.”

Hatten said his gyms would reopen Thursday regardless of what the state says.

It’s possible that will be allowed on Thursday anyhow, as the DHS updates its business reopening requirements on Thursdays, and Maricopa County could move into a category allowing gyms to partially reopen.

Among the first businesses to win approval to reopen was EoS Fitness, which also sued the governor and had its case consolidated with Mountainside.

After many businesses closed and reopened once because of the pandemic, Ducey on June 29 specifically ordered bars with certain liquor licenses, indoor gyms and fitness centers, theaters and water parks to close because the state was facing a severe outbreak of the virus. 

DHS has established a complex rating system based on the number of COVID-19 infections and rate of spread in each county to determine when bars, gyms, theaters and water parks closed by the governor’s June 29 executive order can reopen.

But businesses can open before their county reaches the benchmarks in that rating system that allow reopening if they propose policies DHS approves that will limit the spread of COVID-19.

The key to getting approval is reducing the number of people in the business, DHS spokesperson Steve Elliott said last week.

“A common element for approved plans is steps to reduce occupancy — and, in the process, groups congregating — beyond what will be required when a county meets benchmarks for reopening,” Elliott said.

“For instance, some gyms are limiting occupancy to 10%, requiring electronic reservations for all clients and pausing group activities including group fitness, basketball court operations and kids club operations. Because every business is unique, there’s no one size fits all approach.”

Rejected businesses can reapply, appeal the decision, or wait until their county reaches the benchmarks that will allow all similar businesses to reopen.

“If a business’ proposal is denied, ADHS provides recommendations in the event that the business would like to resubmit their application,” Elliott said. “Those that have been denied but do not wish to resubmit an application have the opportunity to request an informal settlement conference with the department.”

About a dozen companies have requested such settlements, he said. 

Few counties meet benchmarks

The DHS approvals are required for most parts of the state, as only Coconino, Greenlee, Cochise, La Paz and Yavapai counties currently have low enough COVID-19 metrics to allow bars that serve food, gyms, theaters or water parks to reopen.

In general, the less COVID-19 is spreading in a county, the more customers those businesses can serve.

DHS tracks three metrics in each county: the number of COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents; the percent of tests that are positive; and hospital visits for COVID-like illnesses.

Depending on those metrics, counties can be ranked as having “substantial,” “moderate,” or “minimal” spread of COVID.

Gyms, bars, theaters and water parks are all closed when a county is in the substantial category.

Once in the moderate category, DHS will allow them to open at partial capacity, except bars without restaurants, which can’t do that until there is less than 3% positivity in the county.

Once a county is in the minimal category, the occupancy restrictions on gyms ease to 50%.

If infections spread and a county rebounds into the substantial category and remain there for two weeks, DHS will consider additional business closures.

“We would look into the specific circumstances in that county and consult with local health officials before making a final decision,” Elliott said.

Who was approved?

As of Monday evening, DHS approved reopening plans for the following businesses (Monday approvals in bold):

Gyms

• Anytime Fitness Chandler Blvd, Chandler.

• Anytime Fitness Scottsdale, Scottsdale.

• Anytime Fitness, Phoenix.

• Arrowhead OTF LLC, Glendale.

• AZ on the Rocks – Indoor Climbing, Inc., Scottsdale.

• Basic Training MedX, Scottsdale.

• Bird Dog Pilates & Fitness, Phoenix.

• Born Ready LLC doing business as Orangetheory Fitness, Phoenix.

• Bump Fitness Club, Chandler.

• Camelback Village Racquet & Health Club, Phoenix.

• Citrus Fitness LLC, Phoenix.

• Club Pilates Chandler, Chandler.

• CrossFit 646 North, Tucson.

• CrossFit 646, Tucson.

• CrossFit Infinite Strength, Scottsdale.

• CrossFit Maricopa, Maricopa.

• DC Ranch Village Health Club and Spa, Scottsdale.

• Desert Ridge OTF LLC, Scottsdale.

• DK Fitness, Phoenix.

• EoS Fitness, Phoenix.

• Firebird CrossFit, Mesa.

• Fit Ready LLC dba Orangetheory Fitness, Phoenix.

• Fitness by Kafora at Goodyear LLC.

• Fitness by Kafora at Moon Valley, Phoenix.

• Fitness by Kafora at Scottsdale LLC, Scottsdale.

• Fitness by Kafora at Surprise LLC, Surprise.

• Fitness by Kafora LLC, Phoenix.

• Flagstaff Climbing, Flagstaff.

• Full Strength LLC SBA CrossFit Full Strength, Phoenix.

• Gainey Village Health Club & Spa, Scottsdale.

• Gainster Fitness LLC, Peoria.

• Gainster Fitness LLC, Peoria.

• Hammer CrossFit, Peoria.

• HITZ FITNESS, Phoenix.

• In Balance Pilates LLC, Tucson.

• IRON Girlz, Peoria.

• KVF Fitness LLC dba Fit Phoenix.

• KYS 1994 LLC dba Club Pilates, Phoenix.

• KYS 1994 LLC dba Club Pilates, Scottsdale.

• KYS 1994 LLC dba Club Pilates, Scottsdale.

• Lake Pleasant OTF LLC, Peoria.

• Live Fit 3 LLC dba Orangetheory Fitness, Phoenix.

• Lucy 7th LLC dba Orangetheory Fitness, Phoenix.

• Martin Pear JCC and Ina Levine Jewish Community Campus, Scottsdale.

• Michelle Davis Pilates, Scottsdale.

• MixFit Phoenix LLC, Phoenix.

• Modern Yoga, Scottsdale.

• NORTH VALLEY OTF LLC (Orangetheory Fitness), Phoenix.

• Ocotillo Village Health Club & Spa, Chandler.

• Orangetheory Fitness, AZOTF 2 LLC, Chandler.

• Orangetheory Fitness, DJL Fit LLC, Chandler.

• Orangetheory Fitness, East Gilbert Fit LLC, Gilbert

• Orangetheory Fitness, East Mesa Fit LLC, Mesa.

• Orangetheory Fitness, EPOC Energy LLC, Chandler.

• Orangetheory Fitness, Flagstaff Fitness Partners LLC, Flagstaff.

• Orangetheory Fitness, Gilbert Fit LLC, Gilbert.

• Orangetheory Fitness, Glendale Fitness Partners LLC, Glendale.

• Orangetheory Fitness, Litchfield Fitness Partners LLC, Goodyear.

• Orangetheory Fitness, North Tempe Fitness Partners LLC, Tempe.

• Orangetheory Fitness, Old Town Scottsdale Fitness Partners LLC, Scottsdale.

• Orangetheory Fitness, OTF 1 LLC, Mesa.

• Orangetheory Fitness, Peoria Fitness Partners LLC, Peoria.

• Orangetheory Fitness, Queen Creek Fit LLC, Queen Creek.

• Orangetheory Fitness, South Mountain Fitness Partners LLC, Phoenix.

• Orangetheory Fitness, Tempe Fitness Partners LLC, Tempe.

• Orangetheory Fitness, Tucson Fit 1 LLC, Tucson.

• Orangetheory Fitness, Tucson Fit 2 LLC, Tucson.

• Orangetheory Fitness, Tucson Fit 3 LLC, Tucson.

• Orangetheory Fitness, Tucson Fit 4 LLC, Tucson.

• Orangetheory Fitness, Tucson Fit 5 LLC, Tucson.

• Phoenix Fitness, Glendale.

• Pima Fitness LLC dba CrossFit North Scottsdale, Scottsdale.

• Prowess Pole Fitness LLC, Tempe.

• Puleo Fitness Inc., dba 9Round, Phoenix

• Pure Barre Tempe, Tempe.

• Raise The Bar Training Studio, Scottsdale.

• Ryder Fitness-Personal Training Studios, Show Low.

• Spark CrossFit, Phoenix.

• Sundance Adult Village Homeowners Association, Buckeye.

• Sweatshop on Central; Sweat Shop Central LLC, Phoenix.

• Tangelo Fitness LLC, Scottsdale.

• The Body Lab, Phoenix.

• The Country Club at DC Ranch, Scottsdale.

• The Pilates Room Arizona, Scottsdale.

• Training for Warriors-Estrella, Goodyear.

• Troon Country Club, Scottsdale.

• TruHit Fitness Central Scottsdale, Scottsdale.

• TruHit Fitness Norterra, Phoenix.

• Yoga Spot LLC, Gilbert

• Zest Fitness LLC, Scottsdale

Bars

• Bisbee Grand Hotel and Bar, Bisbee.

• Chantilly’s Bar, Phoenix.

• Copper City Saloon, Bisbee.

• Eldorado Bar and Grill, Scottsdale.

• Foxs, Parker.

• Gallagher’s, Lake Havasu City.

• Mooney’s Irish Pub, Sedona.

• Third Base, Chandler.

• Toso’s Bar and Grill, Phoenix.

Theaters

• Invisible Theatre, Tucson.
• Alamo Chandler LLC, Chandler.
• Alamo Tempe LLC, Tempe.
• Alamo Gilbert LLC, Gilbert.

Who was denied?

As of Monday evening, DHS denied applications from the following businesses:

Gyms

• 4th Avenue Gym Foothills, Yuma.

• 4th Avenue Gym, Yum.

• A&D Structure LLC dba Knockout Fitness, Surprise.

• Achieve Strength and Fitness, Tucson.

• American Sports Centers-Avondale, Avondale.

• Anarchy Fitness, Scottsdale.

• Anytime Fitness Bull Head City Arizona, Bullhead City.

• Anytime Fitness, Kingman.

• Anytime Fitness, Lake Havasu City.

• Arizona Country Club, Phoenix

• ATF Maricopa LLC dba Anytime Fitness Maricopa, Maricopa.

• BBB NP dba barre3, Peoria.

• Bell Athletic Club LLC, Show Low.

• Big Curve Fitness LLC, Yuma.

• BlakSteel Fitness, Phoenix.

• Body Renew Tempe, Tempe

• Burn Total Body Conditioning, Scottsdale.

• CA Yoga Barre, Scottsdale.

• Centropy Health and Wellness Center, Tucson.

• Club Pilates Oro Valley, Tucson.

• Club Pilates Tucson Foothills, Tucson.

• Cottonwood Palo Verde Fitness Center, Sun Lakes.

• Crunch Fitness – Gilbert, Gilbert.

• CycleBar Gilbert, Gilbert.

• CycleBar McCormick Ranch, Scottsdale.

• CycleBar Scottsdale 101, Phoenix.

• Daddle Fitnees LLC dba UFC Gym, Phoenix.

• Desert Mountain Club, Scottsdale.

• Elev8 Fitness LLC.

• F45 TRAINING EAST POINT 22, Mesa.

• F45 Training Scottsdale Midtown, Scottsdale.

• Factotum Functional Fitness, Tucson.

• Flagstaff Athletic Club, Flagstaff.

• Flagstaff Athletic Club, Flagstaff.

• Funktional Fitness, Gilbert.

• Golden44/jabz Boxing North Phoenix, Phoenix.

• Hayden Park Gym LLC dba Independence Gym, Scottsdale.

• HyTech Fitness dba The Exercise Coach, Glendale.

• Ignite Investments LLC dba Anytime Fitness Mesa, Mesa.

• Jabz Boxing Fitness for Women – Gilbert, Gilbert.

• Jabz Boxing Fitness for Women – Glendale, Glendale.

• Jabz Boxing Fitness for Women – Surprise, Surprise.

• Jabz Boxing Fitness For Women (Happy Valley), Phoenix.

• Jabz Boxing Fitness For Women (Peoria), Peoria.

• Jabz Boxing for Women, Chandler.

• Jabz Boxing for Women, Scottsdale.

• Jabz Boxing, Scottsdale.

• Jabz Boxing, Scottsdale.

• Jazzercize Flagstaff, Flagstaff.

• Jeremy Scott Fitness, Scottsdale.

• Just Be Yoga, Scottsdale.

• Kingman Fitness, Kingman.

• Knockout Fitness, Goodyear.

• Knockout Fitness, Phoenix.

• Kula Yoga, Glendale.

• Lee’s Karate and Cardio Kickboxing LLC, Sierra Vista.

• Marriott Phoenix Chandler, Chandler.

• Maximum Fitness, Scottsdale.

• MegaFit LLC, ChandlerMesa Personal Training, Mesa.

• Mountainside Fitness, Scottsdale.

• Muscle Factory Gym, Tempe.

• NichollsFit LLC dba Anytime Fitness Moon Valley, Phoenix.

• Northington Fitness and Nutrition, Gilbert.

• Off The Grid Fitness LLC, Scottsdale.

• Patagonia Health and Fitness, Patagonia.

• Peaks Athletic Club, Fountain Hills.

• Pima Fitness LLC, Scottsdale.

• Planet Fitness Nogales, Nogales.

• Planet Fitness, Oro Valley.

• Pole Power Fitness, Phoenix.

• Power and Exercise Fitness Center, Tucson.

• Practical Fitness Training by Teresa LLC, Sierra Vista.

• Queen Creek ATF LLC dba ANYTIME FITNESS, San Tan Valley.

• Rocks and Ropes of Tucson, Tucson.

• Rocks and Ropes, the BLOC Inc., Tucson.

• Row House Hilton Village, Scottsdale.

• Saguaro Fitness-Gainey Village LLC dba YogaSix, Scottsdale.

• Saguaro Fitness-Scottsdale Shea LLC dba YogaSix, Scottsdale.

• Smart Gym, Peoria.

• Snap Fitness Buckeye, Mesa.

• Sumits Yoga, Chandler.

• Summit Health and Fitness, Flagstaff.

• Superstition Mountain Golf and Country Club, Gold Canyon.

• The Desert Highlands Association, Scottsdale.

• The Highlands at Dove Mountain, Tucson.

• True Hot Yoga, Glendale.

• True Hot Yoga, Glendale.

• True Hot Yoga, Scottsdale.

• Truehit Fitness North Phoenix, Phoenix.

• TruFusion, Scottsdale.

• Tucson Country Club, Tucson.

• Tucson Jewish Community Center, Tucson.

• Vasa Fitness, Chandler.

• VASA Fitness, Phoenix.

• Vasa Fitness, Phoenix.

• VASA Fitness, Tucson.

• Yoga Pulse Studio, Mesa.

• Yoga Spot LLC, Gilbert.

Bars

• Arizona Wine Collective, Tucson.

• Azool Grill, Phoenix.

• Beverly On Main, Scottsdale.

• Bevvy, Scottsdale.

• bj’s cabana bar, Lake Havasu City

• Boondocks Patio and Grill, Scottsdale.

• Bottled Blonde, Scottsdale.

• Boycott Bar, Phoenix.

• Brennan’s Pub & Grub, Phoenix.

• Brennan’s Pub & Grub, Phoenix.

• Brodie’s Tavern, Tucson.

• Cactus Taproom LLC, Peoria.

• Casa Marana, Marana.

• Casa Video, Tucson.

• Casa, Tempe.

• Charley’s Place, Glendale.

• Chauncey Social, Scottsdale.

• Cheers Tavern, Glendale.

• Christie’s Tucson LLC, Tucson.

• Collins Irish Pub and Grill, Flagstaff.

• Connolly’s Sports Grill, Phoenix.

• Copper Penny Saloon and Grill, Sun City.

• Cross Eyed Cricket, Peoria.

• Devils Advocate Sports Grill, Tempe.

• E-Z Enterprises Ocotillo LLC dba Casual Pint of Ocotillo, Chandler.

• Famous Sams #10, Tucson.

• Famous Sams #17, Oro Valley.

• Funny Farm Lounge, Phoenix.

• GenuWine Arizona, Phoenix.

• Goldwater Brewing Company @ Longbow LLC, Mesa.

• Growler’s Taphouse, INC., Marana.

• Harold’s Cave Creek Corral, Cave Creek.

• Hi Fi Kitchen & Cocktails, Scottsdale.

• Hi Fi Kitchen & Cocktails, Tucson.

• Hoppers Pub, Glendale.

• Irish Wolfhound Restaurant & Pub, Surprise.

• Jewel’s Desert Sand, Casa Grande.

• Jimbo’s Bar & Grill, Glendale.

• Jolie’s Place, Chandler.

• KG Dog Run LLC, Apache Junction.

• Kimmyz on Greenway, Glendale.

• Kimmyz Tatum Point, Phoenix.

• Kjs/cypress lounge LLC, Glendale.

• KKBG LLC Duchess Grille, Mesa/

• Log Cabin Bar, Chino Valley.

• Longbranch Saloon, Tolleson.

• Low Key Piano Bar, Tempe.

• Main Street Billiards, Mesa.

• Mason’s Sports Pub & Grub, Glendale.

• Mesa Drummer Bar & Grill, Mesa.

• Mountain View Pub, Cave Creek.

• Mule Creek Saloon, Surprise.

• Music Box Lounge, Tucson.

• Oasis Crossroads Bar and Grill LLC, Phoenix.

• On The Green Sports Grill, Mesa.

• Paradise Lounge, Phoenix.

• Pigtails Cocktails Desert Ridge, Phoenix.

• Pigtails Cocktails Downtown, Phoenix.

• Player’s Pub, Catalina.

• PNKT Investments LLC dba Clubhouse Grill, Goodyear.

• Pro Clubs Inc. Dba Stadium Club, Chandler.

• Purple Turtle, Phoenix.

• Putney’s Pitstop, Tucson.

• R.T. O’Sullivans, Scottsdale.

• Rewined Beer And Wine Bar, Phoenix.

• Roadrunner Restaurant and Saloon, New River.

• Rockabilly Grill, Tucson.

• Rodeo Lounge in The Best Western, Gold Canyon.

• Sandbar Mexican Grill, Chandler.

• Sandbar Mexican Grill, Gilbert.

• Sandbar Mexican Grill, Phoenix.

• Showcase Sports Bar LLC, Yuma

• Sidecar, Tucson.

• Skip & Jan’s Inc., Gilbert.

• Skylanes LLC, Scottsdale.

• Starlite Lounge, Glendale.

• Sunbar, Tempe.

• Tangee Corporation dba DJ’s of Scottsdale, Scottsdale.

• The 44 Sports Grill, Glendale.

• The Buffalo Chip Saloon & Steakhouse, Cowpunchers Smokehouse LLC, Cave Creek.

• The Last Stop Bar & Grill, Phoenix.

• The Lion’s Den Bar & Grill, Pinetop.

• The Lion’s Den, Pinetop.

• The Moon Saloon, Peoria.

• The Neighborhood LLC, Tucson.

• The Neighborhood LLC, Tucson.

• The Office Cocktail Lounge, Lake Havasu City.

• The Oxbow, Payson.

• The Peacock Wine Bar LLC, Gilbert.

• The Wandering Tortoise, Phoenix.

• The Whining Pig Ahwatukee, Phoenix.

• The Whining Pig Arcadia, Phoenix.

• The Whining Pig Desert Ridge, Phoenix.

• The Whining Pig Downtown, Phoenix.

• The Whining Pig Gilbert, Gilbert.

• The Whining Pig McDowell Mountain, Scottsdale.

• The Whining Pig Phoenix, Phoenix.

• Three Canyon Beer and Wine Garden, Tucson.

• Thunderbird Lounge, Phoenix.

• Times 3 Sports Grille, Glendale.

• TT Roadhouse, Scottsdale.

• Yucca Tap Room, Tempe.

Theaters

Reach reporter Ryan Randazzo at ryan.randazzo@arizonarepublic.com or 602-444-4331. Follow him on Twitter @UtilityReporter.