GoGoPing to take over Alexander's Taichung operation

Another local enterprise has agreed to take over the operations of a Taichung outlet previously run by the Alexander Group (亞力山大集團), the owner of the debt-ridden fitness chain said yesterday.

GoGoPing Shop Mall (夠夠拼國際事業), a Taichung-based online shopping mall operator, has agreed to manage Alexander's Taichung outlet, at a price of around NT$600,000 (US$19,500), Candy Tang (唐雅君), chairwoman of the Alexander Group, told the Taipei Times in a telephone interview.

"Aside from the Taichung outlet, GoGoPing also plans to take over two other Alexander outlets, one in Tainan and one in Taipei. The company is now in the process of signing leases with the landlords," Tang said.

"GoGoPing will provide free services to the existing Alexander members for the first year and a NT$600 monthly service fee will be charged the following year," she said, adding that the Taichung outlet would reopen before May at the latest.

Furthermore, Alexander's outlet in Hsinchu, which was originally located in the now closed Windance Shopping Center (風城購物中心), has been taken over by a local swimming pool operator and has relocated to a different location. The firm began reissuing membership cards on Tuesday.

Tang said the new Hsinchu outlet will charge a NT$500 monthly service fee.

Tang also said the Alexander Group would inform its members of the new management teams for their nationwide outlets within a week.

On Dec. 10, Alexander Group shut down all 20 of its outlets because of financial difficulties.