Business & Tech
'Flexologists' Likely Coming To La Grange
A village panel approved zoning for a fitness center downtown. The center will draw "fairly affluent" customers, the owner said.
LA GRANGE, IL – The plan for a downtown La Grange fitness center that focuses on stretching cleared a key hurdle Tuesday.
At a meeting, the Plan Commission approved the zoning for StretchLab at 4 W. Calendar Ave. The Village Board makes the final call.
Western Springs resident Jay Aldrich, who proposed the La Grange center, told the commission that he already owns StretchLab franchises in Elmhurst and Willowbrook. The California-based StretchLab chain consists of more than 400 locations across the country.
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Aldrich opened the Willowbrook franchise three years ago and Elmhurst's a little more than a year ago
Willowbrook and Elmhurst are, respectively, the second and third highest income-generating locations in Illinois, Aldrich said. Willowbrook was No. 1 for a long time until one in Chicago's West Loop claimed the spot, he said.
Find out what's happening in La Grangefor free with the latest updates from Patch.
StretchLab calls its employees "Flexologists," who are advertised as giving customers "a deeper stretch than you could ever achieve on your own."
Aldrich said the service is especially helpful to "executive types who sit in chairs all day."
"The clients we have are fairly affluent," he said. "This is not a cheap thing."
He said such customers often visit nearby businesses to shop or dine, which could benefit La Grange's downtown.
La Grange's code includes detailed regulations for fitness centers downtown. One of the rules is that such businesses use the first 25 feet from the front for retail. But Aldrich asked to waive the rule, saying he would have some retail, but not that much. He needs room for 10 benches.
Members of the Plan Commission favored removing the 25-foot rule for StretchLab and similar businesses.
Commission member Peter O'Connor said StretchLab would add to the diversity of options downtown.
"This is good for our village," he said.
Member Suzanne Mosher agreed.
"I think activities brought to the village of La Grange, the new energy and fresh perspectives, are a good thing," she said.
The commission was unanimous in its decision for StretchLab.
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