New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo announced last week that LA Weight Loss Centers Inc. reached a settlement to pay $275,000 in refunds to thousands of New York state customers who paid for but never received services after LA Weight Loss closed its doors in January 2008.
Read more here: LA Weight Loss to Pay Refunds to New York Members
Also Read:  LA WEIGHT LOSS, PURE WEIGHT LOSS

Lesson 1: Think twice before you cross the people who have the long suction cup pole and spare letters to your motel marquis.
The sign at the right was allegedly created by the unhappy and unpaid employees of the DuBois, PA Clarion Inn shortly before they walked off the job and caused franchisee Kronos Hotels to lock the doors.
Tip of the hat to the Kronos Hotels protest site for the story and permission to post the picture.
Lesson 2:  Think twice before you cross franchise owners with access to paper, tape and a Sharpie.
The photo below shows a sign in a closed …read more

According to Butterfly Life CEO Mark Golob, rumors of the women’s fitness chain’s death have been greatly exaggerated.
The rumors had been rampant in recent weeks as emails were not returned, phone lines to the corporate office had been disconnected, and the company website disappeared.
Stuart Goldman, managing editor of Club Industry’s Fitness Business Pro, managed to speak to Mark Golob today about the Butterfly Life mystery.  Golob said that the company was strong, though it had downsized and they had moved to a smaller office in San Ramon.  Golob stated that the website will be back online in the next …read more

(Franchise Pick)  The Marion, IA PizzaWorld franchisees were so enthusiastic, their interview dominates the PizzaWorld’s franchise sales video (they are the couple).  They were enthusiastic about the need for a PizzaWorld in their market, the quality of their products, the diversity of the menu, the family-like culture of the franchise system and their franchisor’s integrity and dedication to their success.
So why did they fail?
In her post (When a Boomer Franchise Fails, Who’s to Blame?), my fellow b5 Business Channel blogger Jean shares her enthusiasm for the Marion, IA PizzaWorld franchise, stating “We found the owners friendly and the food excellent…  …read more

(FranchisePick.Com)  From:  QUIZNOS: Saratoga Franchisees Call it Quits
Thank you to our valued customers, but due to economic hardships beyond our control we are now closed.
The sign was taped to the door Friday after the Saratoga Springs, NY Quiznos served the last customer of its 2 1/2 year run.  The four partners in the franchise venture (Dan Warren and Rob Tecler of Saratoga Springs, Mike Beshara of South Glens Falls and Neil Rinehimer of Jupiter, FL) also abandoned plans to open a Wilton, NY Quiznos to which they also own the franchise rights.
Reasons for their Quiznos franchise failure?  Dan Warren says …read more

For months now, FranchisePick.com readers have been warning that LA Weight Loss Centers will begin closing in the same manner that Pure Weight Loss centers closed before them:  with no warning and leaving members owed hundreds and thousands of dollars in prepaid services likely they’ll never and products they may never get.
Well, here come the closings:
LA WEIGHT LOSS: Multiple Centers Close in KY
LA WEIGHT LOSS: 4 Weight Loss Centers Closing in CO
LA WEIGHT LOSS: Terre Haute, IN Center Closed
LA WEIGHT LOSS: Evansville, IN Center Closes
Recent Postings:
LA Weight Loss Tosses Client Files in Dumpster
LA Weight Loss Center …read more

(FranchisePick.Com)  Also read:
Curves For Women Franchise: 20% of Curves Franchises Closed in MA,
HAS CURVES FOR WOMEN ABANDONED ITS FRANCHISE OWNERS?,
Insider Advice for Curves Resale Franchise Buyers,
200+ comments: Is Curves for Women a Good Franchise Investment?
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In a recent Concord Monitor article, AG bureau looks into gym closings, Kate Davidson reports that 2 more Curves for Women franchises have closed their doors abruptly, leaving their members stranded and their owners’ dreams dashed.  Davidson writes that unhappy members who paid for services they didn’t receive have taken their complaints to the MA Attorney General :
The attorney general’s consumer protection bureau is reviewing …read more