Barton battle over big gym

GYM titan David Barton and TSI are in a buff battle over a TMPL gym on West 49th Street in Hell’s Kitchen. Barton owned and operated the gym for a year before selling it to New York Sports Club parent company, TSI, in 2017. TSI has since been embroiled in bankruptcy and, according to court papers filed last Thursday, owes more than $1.5 million in rent since closing the TMPL location’s doors in March due to the pandemic.

But the landlord is looking to Barton for some of the unpaid rent. Barton’s lawyer, Tom Shanahan, explained that $675,000 of Barton’s money was held by the landlord pending receipt of a temporary certificate of occupancy, which was obtained in late September. But team Barton learned that the gym was in default when they went to get their money back in October. They are now suing both TSI and the landlord, with an eye toward getting the location back.

“This is why David is now in litigation with TSI and the landlord: We have $675,000 being held in escrow. We’re jointly liable on the lease, so the landlord is saying, ‘We’re not returning your money because you’re liable with TSI, and they owe us $1.5 million.’ They haven’t paid a dime in rent,” Shanahan told Page Six.

Barton opened TMPL (temple without the vowels) with a wild opening hosted by ex-wife Susanne Bartsch in 2016.

“The business was thriving . . . they bought not only what was a profitable business, but it was a cool gym. It was a great business. I was building my babies,” Barton told us. “Once they took it over, it hasn’t been the same. They immediately lost half their members and staff left. I gave them a good start, and they could’ve at least kept it going.”

Shanahan said, “We want to look at the books and records. If the landlord is not going to return our money — if we’re going to be stuck — we want the gym back to be run properly. It’s a highly profitable gym and could be again.”

A hearing is expected this week. A rep for TSI could not be reached.