Should fitness studio open at street level in Naperville’s downtown? City panel says ‘yes’

A fitness chain wants to strengthen a pedestrian “dead zone” at the edge of downtown Naperville by opening a boutique workout studio in a long-vacant space on Main Street.

Barry’s, formerly known as Barry's Bootcamp, is seeking to occupy a roughly 4,300-square-foot space within the Main Street Promenade East building, home to the adjacent Evereve boutique and nearby Lululemon store.

The city allows what are called “general services,” including fitness facilities, in the downtown core zoning district. However, their location is restricted to the second floor and above of a building. The property owner, a subsidiary of Kite Realty Group, has asked the city to approve a variance to permit Barry’s to operate on the first floor.

The space has not been leased since the development opened in 2014. The adjacent corner spot, formerly occupied by Michael Graham Salon and Spa, is also vacant.

Naperville’s planning and zoning commission has recommended approval of the request. Both the Downtown Naperville Alliance and the Naperville Development Partnership have expressed their support. The final decision rests with the city council.

“After years of limited leasing success, the opportunity to activate this location with a dynamic brand presents a welcome solution,” Katie Wood, the alliance’s executive director, wrote in a letter to commissioners.

“At a recent broker panel, it was shared that allowing non-retail uses in underperforming spaces not only drives traffic to quieter areas of centers but also increases exposure and sales for surrounding businesses.”

Barry’s offers high-intensity interval training, or HIIT. A Fuel Bar — expected to serve smoothies and other grab-and-go items to members and non-members alike — and a retail component would be located toward the front of the space, “helping to activate Main Street,” said Karen Weber, an attorney who presented the request to Naperville planners.

“The workout studio itself is set back, ensuring that the street edge remains active and retail-oriented,” she said.

Weber said the city's comprehensive plan designates the particular stretch of Main Street as “a pedestrian dead zone, citing storefront gaps and historically low pedestrian flow.”

“Suite 104 lies within this area where foot traffic has long been limited,” she said. “This condition helps explain why the space has remained vacant since 2014.”

The city has granted exceptions before. Pure Barre received a variance to use a first-floor space just a few doors down in the same Promenade. Kristy Gagovski, the owner/operator, expressed concerns in a letter of opposition that another studio conducting classes on the hour would exacerbate ongoing parking challenges.

“Parking alone should not be the issue, and I can tell you for a fact that Naperville is working hard on that parking issue,” Commissioner Tom Castagnoli said at a meeting last week.

Whitney Robbins, chair of the advisory panel, said the request is in line with the spirit of the downtown core district. According to a city staff memo, an objective of the district is to provide opportunities for “retail businesses on the street level that create an active pedestrian realm and shopping destination within a concentrated commercial area.”

“I also think that we have 10-plus years of this spot sitting empty,” Robbins said, “and we don't have anyone else knocking on our door right now.”