Atlanta Barbell

Fantastic experience: Highly, highly recommended. I started lifting 2 years ago, and this is the first gym I joined and I am thankful I did. This place is both welcoming and a place to get your lifting work done. Every person I've met has been focused and yet friendly and encouraging regardless of background or experience level. Plenty of equipment and stations; in two years, I've never had to wait for a rack. While not required, the coaching is top tier; I've learned so much from Coach Alex Kennedy. In both the coaching and the gym rules, safety is a clear and top priority.

Fantastic experience: Great gym. Staff is always there to help. You will see all types of ppl in this gym. Big, small, young and old. If you want to get strong, this is the place to be.

Fantastic experience: Great gym. Huge space. Tons of equipment and weights. Nice clean facilities and equipment is all in great working order. It is mostly unstaffed, but the few interactions I have had with ownership have been great. It is pricey, but there are zero fees or contracts and its worth it if you are looking for a nice quiet place to lift.

Negative experience: Racist! I wish I could give this gym 0 stars. The owner racially profiled my siblings and I today and assumed we hadn’t scanned into the gym. We ALL paid for 7 day passes and ALL scanned into the gym. Nonetheless, he claims that only my brother scanned despite him being the last one to enter the gym. I personally scanned first and the door opened for me, so his story makes no sense. Additionally, this gym is FILTHY. They do not have disinfectant spray available for patrons, so the equipment is NEVER cleaned. We were trying out this gym to see if we wanted to become members, but obviously that won’t be happening. It is a HORRIBLE and DEMEANING experience to be accused of stealing when you know you’ve done nothing wrong just because of the color of your skin. I hope the owner reflects on his business practices moving forward and finds a way to figure out who has not scanned into the gym without racially profiling people.

Fantastic experience: A well-equipped, no nonsense facility built for hard work. The people here are focused but friendly.

Positive experience: I did not meet any of the staff in person, but the gym itself is rundown in my opinion.

Negative experience: Had to leave after watching cockroaches all over the facility.

Fantastic experience: Best no pressure, exactly what you need, family orientated, black iron barbell gym I’ve ever been to. I work out here with my 10 year old son and 12 year old daughter, and GF at least once a week. It’s been a game changer for my family :)

Fantastic experience: The clinging of the weights. The racks. The grunts and yells. Felt like I was home again. People go in, mind their business, put in some work, Lift some s#!+ And leave. Tanner's cool, helpful dude.

Fantastic experience: Got a weekend pass here while I was traveling through. Really cool gym, great equipment, and plenty of it. They had some cool personalized stuff like a belt wall and a wall of lifting shoes (I'm assuming they belong to regulars, but it was a cool aesthetic.) Definitely check this gym out.

Fantastic experience: I have been a member here since July 2022 and have had a great experience so far. I would consider this gym more so for people who enjoy powerlifting rather than bodybuilding exercises, although there are dumbbells, a cable machine, leg press, and leg curl/extension machine for accessory movements. What initially drew my to this gym is the amount of squat racks and the spaces to deadlift. I never, ever have to wait, unlike most commercial gyms. The variety of bars and plates is nice. The people here are so nice and considerate, too. I appreciate the feminine products in the women's restroom as well. It's those small things that people notice and make a good impression. As long as I'm living in Decatur, I don't see myself going anywhere else to train. The only suggestion is sometimes the scanner at the door is difficult to deal with. I've noticed with myself and other members have trouble with it.

Negative experience: Deceptive business practices. After joining back in the beginning of February I learned pretty quick this gym did not offer what they advertised or what I was looking for. I emailed the owner two weeks later, stating that I wanted my membership cancelled after my first month and got no response. There is never anyone there during the times I was training to tell in person and they have no phone number so this seemed to be my only option. After I got no response I called my bank stating my concerns that this business was going to continue to charge me after trying to cancel it. At their suggestion I froze my card and sure enough they attempted to charge my card three times after I told them I was no longer training there and would be taking my business elsewhere. I finally received an email stating my membership was suspended indefinitely unless I rectify my payment method. I thought I was finally clear and unfroze my card. Little did I know they were just waiting it out to try and charge me again after a few weeks. I noticed today I was charged for both April and May over two months after I told them I no longer wanted a membership there. Thank god I have a good bank. I already disputed these charges and received my money back. I wasn’t going to leave any sort of review about this gym in spite of the fact they advertised things they do not have and the overall state of the gym but this experience has compelled me to write and honest review of what you can expect. So here’s my honest opinion of Atlanta Barbell: Joined back in the beginning of February after searching for a new powerlifting gym closer to where I had moved to. After watching the carefully choreographed tour video on their website I thought I’d found what I was looking for after putting faith in what I was seeing was an accurate representation of what the gym was like and joined immediately. First mistake. After joining I quickly realized that what was shown and what the reality is are two totally different things. What you see on the video is an organized, clean gym that seemingly caters to any weightlifter regardless as to what your goals are and what/ how you like to train. My first impression was that while they did offer a lot of what they advertised they lacked in several key areas which include advertising a variety of specialty bars. They don’t. They have an assortment of 45lbs barbells and that’s about it. And one worn out SSB and one worn out trap bar. That’s it. No cambered bar, no multi bar, no olympic bar, no Buffalo bar, no 55lbs bars. Saying they have an assortment of bars is an absolute lie. The gym itself is also filthy. I have pretty low expectations when it comes to a gym that specializes in this type of lifting but this place didn’t even meet that. Gym is dirty, bathrooms disgusting, no mopping or sweeping ever takes place here. It’s nasty. They offer no chains at all. And the bands they have are mismatched and beyond worn out. Their kettle bell selection is garbage. They do have some pluses: To their credit, they do have a good amount of racks. Their free weight selection is adequate though not having any dumbbells in excess of 100lbs is a huge drawback. They do have one of the best reverse hyper machines I’ve ever used. But all of this is completely over shadowed by their business practices. Stay away from this gym. There’s far better powerlifting gyms in the metro area for far less offering far more. If you do decide to join here, caveat emptor.

Fantastic experience: Great gym atmosphere and friendly staff. Had an inconvenience but they were prompt and managed to rectify it

Fantastic experience: Been working with Alex for several months now, and I've made more progress than I would have thought possible. I've recommended this place to several people I know and will continue to do so. If you want to get stronger, this is the place.

Fantastic experience: Great hole in the wall gym for weightlifting purists. Olympics lifts, power lifting, belts for use, non conventional equipment that for a full bodied (pun intended) exercise routine. Great place to be and super friendly and focused atmosphere.

Fantastic experience: It's a barbell gym. So there's plenty of squat racks, platforms, and of course bars. They've got dumbells, a set of cables, Olympic and deadlift platforms, and one of those big crossfit rectangle things. Most of their weights are in standard pounds, but they do have a kg set. Powerlifter/weightlifter Nirvana, plenty of chairs for setting down after a sick, spine-crushing, low-bar squat where you can wait the 30 minutes between sets that you'll need, without being bothered for requests to work in or to know how many sets you have left.

Fantastic experience: I just started working with Dana and she's amazing. It's great to see all types of people come here to work out. There are young and old, all genders, and many body types. It's truly a supportive environment to get in shape.

Positive experience: Pretty cool spot. Lots of racks and decent selection of bars. Very limited machines but does have cables. Saw only a few members but they mostly left me be.

Fantastic experience: Hands down best gym in Atlanta area.

Fantastic experience: Best gym in the city. Just a big building with 20 power racks in it

Fantastic experience: Amazing barbell training center.

Negative experience: says open, not a single soul. very heartening for somebody who is 7 weeks out from a meet and drove 2hrs to get to a gym.

Fantastic experience: Easy to access location. Has the proper equipment I need. No issues

Fantastic experience: Excellent gym for power and Olympic lifting. Rarely full, great cleaning procedures, all types of people and levels of strength present. Reasonable rates, easy entry, and a smattering of equipment besides the traditional (and best) barbell.

Fantastic experience: Atlanta barbell is the best gym I’ve ever trained at! I can’t recommend it enough. They have so many racks and equipment, you will never have to wait for anything!

Fantastic experience: Easy to access location. Has the proper equipment I need. No issues

Fantastic experience: Best gym I've ever been to. Tons of equipment and weights. Very spacious with areas for all types of workouts!

Fantastic experience: Great place to lift.

Fantastic experience: Great gym, great staff. Unfortunately it is a bit far from me, but don't let that stop you if you are close by. I would highly recommend it to anyone who asked about it.

Fantastic experience: The powerlifting movements, coached at this facility, by these coaches, are the most valuable exerices, by far, that anyone can do, to improve their quality of life. And if you have spinal pain, I highly encourage improved strength, via this method of training, as an essential approach to long-term improvement. I hope to refer many patients here for the benefits that are unique to weight training exercise.

Fantastic experience: Atlanta Barbell is the real deal. Other reviewers appropriately reviewed the facility - it's a weightlifter's dream - so I won't touch on that here. I found Atlanta Barbell when I was seeking to safely learn the big compound lifts from a professional. Whether you're completely new to weightlifting, or you're experienced and want to take your training to a more advanced level, this gym and its team of trainers are unmatched anywhere else in ATL. I've "lifted" since college but it wasn't until I trained with Alex here that I learned real, confident, safe technique. In a mere few months, Alex's knowledge of anatomy and physiology changed the way I understood the big compound movements. He is extremely educated in his domain and has an excellent one-on-one coaching ability. And on a personal note, Alex immediately comes off as a genuine, honest, good dude. I've never been more happy with a decision than I was when I decided to join Atlanta Barbell, and I will forever evangelize for this gym among friends and acquaintances. Thank you!

Fantastic experience: This is THE spot for weight training in the ATL. Alex and co. run an amazing gym with everything you could want. Great for beginners, and highly recommend the coaching.

Fantastic experience: This is a top notch facility for Olympic lifting. Legit bars. Legit plates. Platforms. No pushy coaches acting like they know everything. Very chill and great place to train. This facility has assisted me in my goal to get back to qualifying for the American Open. The schedule is by far the greatest thing about this gym. Open gym everyday. Thank you for letting me train here. I can’t tell you how hard it is to find a facility like this with open gym everyday all day. Extremely reasonably priced as well for the amount of Olympic lifting and powerlifting setups you have access to which is A LOT.

Fantastic experience: The coaches are fantastic and are super knowledgeable and friendly. There are soo many squat racks, so you'll never be waiting on equipment. Alex runs a fantastic women's barbell club, and the community there is great. I gain leaps and bounds on my strength training working with her.

Fantastic experience: My previous gym closed & this has been an excellent replacement. The owners are responsive & signing up was a breeze. Plenty of powerlifting equipment, great ours, & even at busier times I'm never held up. The members are great & Covid guidelines are followed as close as I've seen any gym do. I havent signed up with a coach, but their clients definitely look satisfied. For anyone on the fence, I highly recommend this gym!

Fantastic experience: Excellent facility, nice staff, and solid place to train. I've trained here while on business in Atlanta and it was worth the drive to get here and do my powerlifting session here. They have great equipment, weights, and accessories to get your training done right. Easy parking, locker room, and pretty good size place. Recommended.

Fantastic experience: Super friendly staff and good equipment. If you only plan on visiting, bring cash or use PayPal for a day pass.

Fantastic experience: Excellent gym to get stronger using the barbell lifts. I would recommend Alex to anyone.

Fantastic experience: This is the best place for weightlifting in the area. No need to try and parasitize a crossfit location.

Fantastic experience: Fantastic gym with unbeatable equipment. Used the gym while attending a Starting Strength Seminar and the staff were of much help with navigating nearby hotspots!

Fantastic experience: I've trained and competed at this gym and I love it. Always full of the most helpful and welcoming people, even if you're not a "gym" person. Highly recommend training here.

Fantastic experience: Lots of good people, great equipment selection, decently priced as well.

Fantastic experience: The only starting strength gym in Atlanta.Great people.

Fantastic experience: This place is home. Plenty of equipment that is well maintained and great people.

Positive experience: Nice gym! Did a powerlifting meet here a while back. No foo foo equipment, just squat racks and deadlift platforms, just how I like it.

Fantastic experience: Great gym, lots of plates and bars. Great for people of all experience levels.

Fantastic experience: Fantastic facility with all you need for a serious workout. The best drop-in rates I've come across as well.

Fantastic experience: Amazing gym! Owners and staff are very helpful and wonderful people!

Fantastic experience: I really like this gym. Decent hours and has necessary equipment for powerlifting. I did a lifting session with Alex and he was easy to understand and get along with. I will be back for more.

Fantastic experience: Atlanta Barbell has solid equipment in a decent-sized space with plenty of parking, professional and knowledgeable staff in a well-run facility. I love this place!

Positive experience: Bare bones gym focusing on weightlifting, but has some cardio equipment, too. They say the rates are reasonable. You can either become a member or just drop in. Weightlifters are friendly, even though they look hardcore. Lots of trainers around to help or answer questions.

Fantastic experience: I really like Atlanta Barbell (and I'm picky as Hell about gyms). Its a great place for serious training. Its clean, has lots of cages/platforms, enough parking and a friendly, yet "down-to-business" atmosphere.

Fantastic experience: Great atmosphere if your into working out and getting after it. Love the Co-ed heavy training. Everyone comes in serious; male or female. Plenty of racks, plenty of weight...i just feel stronger when I walk in the place.

Fantastic experience: I've been training here for just shy of a year, under Dee Fordella's instruction. As a middle-aged, novice trainee serious about improving strength, I have found Atlanta Barbell to be an incredible resource. There's no better equipped barbell gym anywhere. The coaches are knowledgeable, friendly, and serious about strength training in safe and productive manner. Trainees of all levels of advancement train here, and I've seen folks make almost unbelievable progress (including yours truly). I'll add that Dee is also training an elderly family member with serious mobility impairment. TL;DR: The best gym in Atlanta for strength training no matter level of lifter's experience.

Fantastic experience: This review is long overdue. I have been a member for over a year now. I joined because I wanted to prepare for my first powerlifting contest, also held at Atlanta Barbell. Before joining, I trained in my garage, and felt it might be impractical to travel so far to train there on a long term basis (over 30 miles one way). Guess what? I haven't looked back since. I realized my core reasons for staying included perspective and the availability of quality coaching. Regarding perspective, I might pat myself on the back for squatting 225 in my garage, or even a globo gym like Lifetime. But as I look around Atlanta Barbell when I train, I see that members set the bar high (see what I did there?) Regarding coaching, Atlanta Barbell has several coaches with the Starting Strength certification, which is very rigorous. Anytime I need a tweak to technique or programming, or even a major overhaul, I know trustworthy coaching is right there. That could be a focused, one on one session, or it could be a simple comment, in passing ("Your elbows are flaring"). This is timely: don't get it twisted: this is NOT that other barbell gym, in East Atlanta Village, that bans police and active duty military. It so happens that I have felt very pleased when I have seen LEO vehicles in the parking lot, because they were training inside. And my son the Marine has trained there and gotten coaching, when he's been home on leave, and proudly wears his Atlanta Barbell T shirt wherever else he's trained, around the world.

Fantastic experience: Fantastic gym for strength training. Equipment is in great shape. Staff is friendly and helpful. Members take care of what they use and return things to their proper places. No waiting in line for a rack. No hex plates. No issues with parking.

Fantastic experience: Been a member a little over a month and have loved every second of it. This is not a gym that people join don't get stronger. First of all it takes commitment, but if you're willing to put in the work (3x/week), use the occasional coaching session, ask questions, be open and listen to feedback, take care of your body, and so on, you will become stronger. I knew from my first workout at Atlanta Barbell that it was special and that I was going to love exercising there. I decided to completely commit from day one. And you know what? It's working! Only 1 month in and I'm already making strides like I've never made before! I've gained 7 pounds and added 25 pounds to my squat! In one month! Working out at Atlanta Barbell has become my favorite hobby. I love the facility, the coaches are knowledgeable, friendly, and very helpful, and the community is welcoming and caring. I can't wait to spend many more months getting strong at Atlanta Barbell!

Fantastic experience: tremendous

Fantastic experience: I did a drop in here and this place is the most legit gym in atlanta!!

Fantastic experience: Huge facility! Great equipment and a very knowledgeable staff - all Starting Strength Coaches. One of the best places in Atlanta I've lifted.

Fantastic experience: This is a great place to train. Great coaches, great equipment and an encouraging community. If you understand how important it is to be strong, this is the place to be in Decatur.

Fantastic experience: Best place to train in Atlanta. Expert coaches, top of the line equipment, beautiful facility, friendly staff and members.

Fantastic experience: I started playing sports as a child. When I began to play football in 7th grade our Coach Alred introduced us to strength training in the gym. There was no flash or shine, it smelled like hard work, and the "good" pain was weakness leaving the body. Serious people with goals to achieve. If you want to get strong without interruption with your own plans or you need help from a highly qualified trainer this is where you go. The owners and members are great people too.

Fantastic experience: Great space and wonderful coaches. The atmosphere is welcoming and far from intimidating. I've been working with Alex for more than a year and I can honestly say I would have never made so much progress without his guidance. If you can no longer hold a squat on the toilet and decide to do something about it, this is the place to be. Also, this is not a ZOO. People actually put plates/bars away and there will be no shirtless grunting or flexing in front of the mirror (there are actually no mirrors).

Fantastic experience: I've been lifting at Atlanta Barbell for about 15 months now - needless to say, I think I've found a "home" that meets my wants and needs for a gym. I've personally received training from Alex, Dee, and Niki - they have been able to correct longstanding bad habits with my form and training regimen that I've learned through years of uncoached training. In addition, my wife began lifting for the first time 15 months ago and has also trained with Alex, Dee, and Niki. She has seen steady progress with her form and strength throughout our time here and continues to excel under the watchful eyes of the coaching staff. Their new facility on Sams Street exceeds my expectations of a strength training gym and I look forward to training there for many years to come.

Fantastic experience: Atlanta Barbell is THE place to go for no-nonsense strength training. It is a very clean, organized, and professional environment that will welcome you with a smile and an open squat rack. This gym is nothing like the "bro" health clubs where people are often found throwing weights around with a rude pretension and grunting as if they are impersonating zoo animals. The sense of community between the members seems to be very strong and welcoming. Upon my first visit I was treated like a regular. It does not matter if you have been lifting weights for 50 years or zero years; the coaches here will turn you into a pipe-swinging, red meat eating beast. Highly recommended. I don't know what the deal is with the one star reviewers. They can go kick rocks, respectively.

Negative experience: After my lift this weekend, one of the owners (Alex Kennedy) told my boyfriend while I was in the bathroom that I wasn't welcome to return because my squat was not deep enough... I'm a new lifter, building not only my strength but also my confidence. I know I have a lot to learn. I didn't expect to get banned from the gym because I'm trying to get better. It says a lot that Alex couldn't tell me this personally. Unless you have perfect form, I advise you look elsewhere.

Fantastic experience: The trainers at this gym are all incredibly nice people and are 100% serious about their craft and your safety. You don't have to get training but if you're a complete beginner like I was, you're definitely gonna want it. I did a package of 4 with Alex and he was excellent. Not everyone at the gym follows the Starting Strength program (and you absolutely wont look weird if you dont) but most did including myself. I enjoyed it for its simplicity, effectiveness, and the ability to visibly see linear gains every time I worked out. Its the first time I actually gained significant progress in weight lifting. The equipment is of extremely high quality as well. Nothing in the Atlanta area compares to the size of this place or its community. Whether you're a complete beginner or veteran training to compete, this is a great place to be.

Fantastic experience: Alex is a great trainer. Understands the technicalities of each lift and more importantly is able to effectively communicate and instruct how to lift properly; able to discern whether you're lifting properly and provide advice on how and what to adjust to improve your form; and has a very deep understanding of muscles, tendons, ligaments and their connection to each lift. The unique thing about this gym is that there're lots of female members, rather uncommon for a lifting gym. It's a very comfortable and welcoming environment for women.

Fantastic experience: There's nowhere better than Atlanta Barbell if you want to get strong. They have top-notch equipment, extremely knowledgeable staff, and a low-key, friendly atmosphere. It really doesn't get any better than this, folks. Did I mention the extremely knowledgeable staff? You certainly don't have to hire Alex, Dee, Niki, or Cassi for coaching, but you'll be doing yourself a favor if you do. Also plenty of space and equipment for Olympic lifting or Crossfit-style workouts. I can't imagine training anywhere else. (And by the way, this is NOT a meathead gym. I'm a 47-year-old mother of three, and I'm completely comfortable at Atlanta Barbell.)

Fantastic experience: New Location! Ample parking, 11 barbell racks, three platforms, full set of dumbbells, indoor prowler track, full bathrooms with showers, training room, mobility space. Best gym for strength training in Atlanta. Not a cross fit gym. Great community, excellent trainers. Air conditioning!

Fantastic experience: I've enjoyed being around other lifters that are focused on Starting Strength and basic/Olympic barbell lifts. I've been doing the program almost a year and have made excellent improvements in my lifts following the advice I received from trainer/owner Alex Kennedy. My typical routine involves morning workouts and I'm so glad that there are always plenty of open squat racks available. No waiting for racks here. Actually, the gym has plenty of space to add squat racks should they be required to do so. The only other employee I've met is co-owner Dee that opens the gym before I wake up. She's typically working as a trainer at by the time I arrive. Preaching squat depths and hip thrusts. Both are extremely approachable. The place is not some fancy spa or globo gym, however it is always clean and organized. Everybody knows to put the weights and bars back in place. They even have a place to keep your lifting shoes and belt if you don't want to take them home. The best part is they have coffee, good music and plenty of chalk.

Fantastic experience: Nice equipment. Great coaches

Fantastic experience: Best gym in Atlanta, GA.