Upon filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy last month, Boston Sports Clubs’ owner said that members “will not recognize a break in service.”

But for many members, that turned out to be untrue.

The gym chain, which used to have more than 30 locations in Massachusetts and Rhode Island, abruptly announced the permanent closure of at least a half-dozen gyms this week — surprising members and staff alike — in the fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic, a source told Boston.com.

And the future of other locations are in doubt.

In total, at least seven BSC locations in Massachusetts will not reopen; the company has permanently closed its gyms in Bradford, Canton, Newton, Watertown, and West Newton, as well its Newbury Street location and Summer Street racquet club in Boston. Its gym in Providence is also slated to close, the source said. And the Salisbury location has been removed from BSC’s website — which now lists 22 gyms in Massachusetts — but isn’t necessarily closed for good.

While some locations — like Newton and Watertown — never reopened this summer after being required to close due to COVID-19, the closure announcements caught other club members off guard, as WCVB reported Thursday.

“Thank you for your commitment to health and fitness at our club,” read an email to members of the gym’s Canton location obtained by WCVB. “Unfortunately, our time at BSC Canton will conclude on September 30th 2020.”

BSC’s website also lists six clubs as “temporarily” closed: Lexington, Lynnfield, Medford, Methuen, Peabody, and the Westboro Tennis and Swim Club.

It’s unclear what will happen with those locations; BSC is in the midst of the bankruptcy process to “engage in further discussions with their landlords and other creditors to successfully restructure their debts.”

BSC has said bankruptcy is its best option to respond to COVID-19, which has had crippling effects across the gym and fitness industry. However, BSC’s parent company, Town Sports International, was dealing with steep financial challenges well before the pandemic and remains on the hook for the vast majority of a $193 million loan next month (the company also runs gym chains in the New York, Philadelphia, and Washington, D.C., areas).

Shortly after the onset of the pandemic, BSC and Towns Sports also came under scrutiny from members — and the Massachusetts attorney general — for continuing to charge monthly membership fees after abruptly closing its gyms and laying off the vast majority of its employees.

According to the company’s website, Town Sports is still hoping to “emerge as a thriving powerhouse in the fitness industry.”