New gym to open in old Foodland building
By Barb McKay
After sitting vacant for seven months, the former Foodland building will soon have a new tenant.
The building’s owner, Bob Krupp, told The Independent Monday that he has signed a lease agreement for half of the 18,000-square foot building with the owner of a new gym. Cody Owens, owner of Magnum Personal Fitness, will relocate to the
“We had a lot of people say a gym there would be great,” said Krupp, who has been looking for a suitable tenant for the building since Sobeys announced it was shutting the downtown grocery store one year ago.
“I know it’s a good business plan and I think it will do well.”
Owens, a certified personal trainer, is expanding his business.
“We’re opening up a full gym with a full weight room with top of the line equipment,” he said. “All 2013 equipment; the best we can get.”
The gym will also offer personal training.
“It’s exciting,” Owens said. “It’s something I’ve thought about for awhile now. Bob let us know the space was available and we decided to jump on it.”
Krupp said a fair amount of work needs to be completed on the building before the gym moves in. He noted that engineers are ready to move forward and compile a list of things that need to be done. One project will be replacing the roof.
“The goal is to get them (gym) in as early as possible,” he said.
Krupp said having a tenant in the building will be good for the other businesses in the north end of the downtown core. Now, he said, he can focus on filling the rest of the space.
“I have a solid tenant for half of the building, so I can be a little more selective,” he said. “I want to put a business in that makes sense and will work there.”