Fitness Studio Halting Decision to Move to Kirkwood

Best Body Fitness, a yoga and fitness studio that has been going through the process to move to Kirkwood, may not be moving to the area after all.

Owner Katie Ronshausen told Patch that they're "trying to decide what's best for the business" after obtaining a special use permit took more time and money than they expected.

"It's cost us a lot of money to go through this process," Ronshausen said. "It's increased the start-up costs by quite a bit and we're trying to figure out what is going to be best for us as we start out."

Ronshausen said Best Body will work one-on-one with clients to train and educate about wellness and nutrition services. They've been holding classes online for the time being.

With plans for Best Body Fitness to move into office space at 214 North Clay Avenue, Ronshausen said she thought the city was comparing their business to that of Peak Physique, a larger fitness facility that closed earlier this year in Kirkwood.

"We're nothing like them, but they put us in the same category," Ronshausen said.

Ronshausen said she was not expecting to have to obtain a special use permit to operate on Clay Avenue, just an occupancy permit. Best Body Fitness has been through council approval and is now waiting on required soundproofing assessments.

"It's been a huge hassle; they've put us through several meetings," Ronshausen said.

Now that the special use permit has been approved and the soundproofing is left, Ronshausen said she's "running out of time and patience" for the business to open in Kirkwood.

"If it can happen in a matter of weeks, then we'll stay in Kirkwood," Ronshausen said. "If we can go somewhere else and open in a month or two, we'll go though."