New Orleans East Business Association

To: N.O. East Business development From: Sandra Wright, Ph.D. Former Instructor at Finales Fitness Express Date: July 20, 2012 Subject: Verbal Abuse, Threats of Physical Violence and Poor Business Management Practices by Louis Hubbard, Owner of Finales Fitness and Co-Owner of the Adjoining Smoothie King franchise I am writing to document the abusive and sexist actions of Louis Hubbard, owner of Finales Fitness Center and co-owner of the adjoining Smoothie King franchise located at 8050 Crowder Blvd., New Orleans, LA 70127 (at Crowder Blvd. and Hayne Blvd). Until Thursday, July 19, 2012, I worked at Finales Fitness Express as an unpaid aerobic dance instructor for the past 2 years. During this time, I and several other female aerobic dance instructors built up a large following of female members, who joined the gym specifically to learn aerobic dance, step and interval training. We began with 3 women in 2009 and expanded our following to 60+ women. Because we enjoyed a great group of women, with a positive dynamic, who loved to dance (and because we wanted to help support a black-owned business), we taught without pay. When I decided that I no longer wanted to teach (free or otherwise), but wished to become a paid member, Mr. Louis Hubbard (the new owner) began trying to intimidate me with threats of physical violence. The threats took the form of repeated statements of "I'll hit a woman" and "I don't mind hitting a woman", while physically demonstrating boxing movements toward me. This happened on more than one occasion. As an educated woman (with a Ph.D) who retired, as Dean, from a local college several years ago, I ignored him. I could see that he was an insecure man and a very weak businessman. The fact that we taught free meant nothing; all he could see was that we did not pay a gym membership. On Wednesday, July 18th, he attempted to intimidate me further by trying to charge me as a client for time that I had taught. I refused to pay such, but I offered to finish the month of July as an instructor and become a paying customer in August. He agreed to this. However, when I returned to the gym on Thursday, July 19th for class, I informed him that I wished to discuss something with him privately. He insisted that I speak to him openly, in the presence of his young daughter and both gym & Smoothie King clients. I told him that he could have handled me in a more professional way, that he could have spoken to me before attempting to charge me for time that I actually worked. At this point, he began to yell that the gym was "his" business and that he didn't have to talk to anyone. Further insulting statements included "the trouble with black people is that they always want something for nothing" and that "finales is not a dance studio" and "I'll cancel all the dance classes". (Let me say that we have never been a "dance studio". We offered a high level of beginners and intermediate aerobic dance, as well as step aerobics and interval training.) Then he started to rant and rave again that he was not afraid to "hit a woman". He told me to leave the gym and never come back, so I did. As I was leaving, he screamed that I brought out the "9th ward" in him and that "the problem with black people is that they always want something for nothing". (This too is insulting to all who live in this area. I was born in the lower 9th ward and still live in the 9th ward -N. O. East- and we are not violent people who beat women. Further, his business is located in the 9th ward, including his Smoothie King franchise.) He did not hesitate to speak loudly and disrespectfully to me in front of his young daughter. But I never raised my voice. At that point I left the gym, but not before telling him that the real problem was that he was too cheap to pay for services provided. As of today, Friday, July 20th, all female aerobic dance instructors have cancelled our classes and left Finales Fitness. However, I am concerned for the lack of regard and the disrespect shown toward the women at Finales Fitness. The man(?) I encountered is an abusive, sexist, egotistical person driven by greed and personal issues (that I cannot comment on). I urge women who love themselves and other women, as well as men who love their mothers/wives/sisters and female friends, to not support someone who hates us or our loved ones (both women and black people). Every statement I have made above can be verified by various members of Finales Fitness Express. At present, many members are terminating membership and we are actively seeking a new location to continue our positive contributions to the community and to minimize the negative experiences at Finales Fitness Express.