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Naperville fitness studio moves up as hair salon moves in

Nearly four years ago, a fitness studio wanted to open on the first floor of a downtown Naperville building, but the request generated some disagreements.

Fitness facilities, and many other types of businesses designated as service uses rather than retail, aren't allowed on the first floor in Naperville's downtown zoning district.

But the fitness studio, called Pure Barre, got in over one council member's disapproval because it also planned to devote a large chunk of space to selling women's workout attire.

Fast forward to this summer, and the business decided to move upstairs after all.

Pure Barre Naperville owner Kristy Gagovski said the shift was in the works before she bought the business in June. She thinks the second-story space at 130 W. Jefferson Ave., suite 212, has a better layout than the lower-level studio, including a more condensed retail space.

Pure Barre offers choreographed classes designed to give a full-body workout without high-impact jumping or running, and Gagovski says it's positively changed her body during the past year and a half.

"It's just a special space where women come together and support each other," Gagovski said about the studio environment. "It's very supportive - it's not competitive in any way."

While Pure Barre is moving upstairs, its former space on the first floor is being taken over by Drybar, a hair salon specializing in blowouts and styling.

Property owner Steve Rubin said the dual move offers Pure Barre a new setup designed specifically as a fitness studio and brings a new draw to the downtown with the services of Drybar.

"We think it fits the culture well," Rubin said about Drybar, which is building out its storefront before opening. "We look at how the tenants that want to move into our buildings complement the downtown."

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  Students take one of the first classes at the new upstairs location of Pure Barre in downtown Naperville. The fitness studio moved to suite 212 of 130 W. Jefferson Ave. this month to make way for a hair salon called Drybar, which is preparing to open in Pure Barre's old space in the same building on the first floor. Daniel White/dwhite@dailyherald.com
  Pure Barre students and lead instructor Lisa Peterson, right, work out Wednesday morning at the downtown Naperville studio's new second-story location. The business received an exception to city zoning rules to open on the first floor nearly four years ago, but this month moved up to the second story after all. Daniel White/dwhite@dailyherald.com
  Kristy Gagovski is the francise owner of Pure Barre, a downtown Naperville fitness studio located on the second floor at the southeast corner of Jefferson Avenue and Webster Street. Daniel White/dwhite@dailyherald.com
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