Anytime Fitness moving into mall

Published 9:55 am Thursday, February 12, 2009

The last business seeking relocation in the jail and justice center acquisition process has found a new home.

Anytime Fitness, at 202 Fourth Ave. N.E., will move into the Oak Park Mall before March 1, when it is are required to be out of its current location before demolition.

“We are going to be a work in progress here,” said manager Sue Goodnature, explaining that the mall was one of the only properties in Austin that could accommodate their size.

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Owner Jim Struyk signed a one-year lease Wednesday afternoon for the vacant space next to Shopko, the former On Cue business site. Goodnature said she does not know how long the club will remain at the mall after the lease expires.

The location — just less than 6,000 square feet — is slightly smaller than their current 7,000-square-foot building. However, Austin’s Anytime Fitness is still nearly twice as large as the average-size gym in the franchise.

“We compete with Mankato (in size),” said Goodnature, the only paid staff person at the club.

Anytime Fitness, a 24-hour, 365-days-a-year co-ed facility, opened in Austin on May 15, 2006. It has more than 725 members.

Goodnature said the new location will have the same amenities, including three restrooms, showers, tanning and cardio and weight equipment as well as a certified personal trainer, orientations and exercise classes for members during the winter.

Members will still be able to use their key cards to access the club, which will have at least one entry from inside the mall, and possibly an outside door as well, Goodnature said.

Despite being located in the mall, which has seen several businesses close in the past couple years, Goodnature said there are positives about the location, like easy access to Hy-Vee, Wal-Mart and other neighboring businesses, and “much more parking.”

“I’m happy to be moving on,” said Goodnature, who expects very little downtime during the moving process. Members will be notified when that is determined.

For more information, call 437-2921 or visit www.anytimefitness.com.