Comfort Castle Announces Temporary Closure Amid Business Reorganization

Comfort Castle, a popular fitness chain company, has announced that it will be temporarily closing all operations starting from September 6, 2024. This decision comes after four years of navigating the challenges posed by the COVID-19 epidemic and the resulting economic environment in Hong Kong.

According to a notice posted on Comfort Castle’s official website, the company’s owners have been struggling with high rents for some of their branches. Despite the gradual improvement in Hong Kong’s economic environment, the company has been left with no choice but to temporarily cease all operations pending business reorganization.

However, Comfort Castle has assured its customers that a new investor has promised to provide all remaining fitness cards, personal trainer classes, and beauty treatment services free of charge. The new company is currently in negotiations with the owner to rent the original location, and once a consensus is reached, the relevant branch will reopen immediately to provide services to customers.

Many customers have expressed their concerns and hopes for recovering their losses. Some have taken to social media to share their experiences, with some having recently renewed their membership or purchased services that they may not be able to use. Others have expressed their desire to form a collective alliance to pursue the case and seek compensation.

Comfort Castle’s financial situation has been under scrutiny in recent months, with the company having closed several branches. The MPFA recently revealed that Comfort Castle had failed to pay MPF contributions and surcharges for June and July, affecting approximately 740 employees and totaling around $3 million. The founders of Comfort Castle, Luk Yi-keung and his wife, have also been reported to have sold off multiple private units, cashing out NT$26.85 million.

Comfort Castle’s decision to temporarily close all operations has left many customers uncertain about their future services. However, with the promise of a new investor providing remaining services, customers can hold on to hope that they will be able to continue using their fitness cards and beauty treatment services in the near future.