David Barton Gym’s parent company, Club Ventures, is to file today for Chapter 11 bankruptcy to restructure its debt and leases, and is forging a “strategic alliance” with Meridian Sports Clubs/Bodies in Motion, sources tell us. David Barton operates three gyms in New York, with celebrity clients such as Marc Jacobs, Zac Efron and Renee Zellweger, as well as clubs in Miami, Chicago and Seattle. It spent a fortune opening a lavish, 40,000- square-foot Astor Place location in 2009. The chain founded by David Barton also planned to open in the former Tower Records building in Los Angeles, but hasn’t begun construction. Barton is now partnering with Meridian to rebrand two of Meridian’s LA locations and open a new Barton gym in Las Vegas. Meridian CEO Chuck Grieve will become chairman of David Barton Gyms, though Barton him self will remain CEO. Barton insiders insist no jobs will be lost or gyms closed.