“I’m not superstitious,” said Barry Tedlund as he described how he started Fitness Crossroad on April Fools’ Day, 2001. “We opened on July 13. It was a Friday. We were open two months, then 9/11 hit. We weathered it.”
Not only “weathered,” but survived and thrived, until 2021. After 21 years in business at 2912 Pentagon Drive, St. Anthony, COVID-19 forced Tedlund out of business. With members in lockdown during 2020 and remaining cautious in 2021, “This one took us down,” he said at a farewell party Jan. 2. “Our landlord helped us through it for a year, but he has to make money, too. It’s been a lot of fun.”
“Fun” and “community” were two words heard often in the parking lot outside the gym, where members gathered around fire pits in the subzero sunshine with hot cocoa and cookies. Magda Wojtczak was a Fitness Crossroad regular for 20 years. “It’s a very unique place,” she said. “So friendly. Coming to the gym, it was like my second home.”
Unlike many fitness centers, which tend to target young adults, Fitness Crossroad served a wide demographic of families, students and seniors, all focused on staying physically active. “It was built to accommodate a variety of ages. That’s what made it fun,” Tedlund said.
“It was kind of like the ‘Cheers’ of gyms,” said Dave Stark, one of two members who are working on organizing a fitness cooperative that has members buzzing. Although he said the co-op is “not my idea,” he said the spark came over a cup of coffee at The Coffee Shop NE on Johnson Street. Another member, Mick Conlin, is an attorney who has set up several co-ops.
The group has a “core” of 40 members who are setting things in motion. Some are working on marketing, sending out flyers and surveys.
Others are focused on finances. “We’ll charge a nominal buy-in fee, plus a monthly membership fee,” Stark said. Those numbers have yet to be determined, as the group searches for the capital to get started. Stark figures they’ll need 300 members to make a go of it; an email update sent Jan. 10 to former Fitness Crossroad members said 350 have indicated a willingness to sign up.
Stark said they hoped to be able to accept people whose health care plans include the Silver Sneakers program.
The group has located a prospective space – between Papa Murphy’s and the St. Anthony branch of the Hennepin County Library – in the same shopping center. “It won’t be as big as Fitness Crossroad,” Stark said. The group is working with the landlord on an agreement to pay upfront remodeling costs with their rent.
The tentative name for the cooperative is The Fitness Co-op; there’s some discussion as to whether the hyphen in co-op will be in or out. “It says who we are,” said Stark.
Tedlund has said he’ll donate some of his fitness equipment to the group to help them get started.
Asked what he’ll do next, Tedlund said, “Take a deep breath. My kids are growing up. I want to spend time with them before they move out.” He said he’ll work part time in his family’s business as he considers his options.
After he and his staff popped bottles of champagne, he addressed the crowd. “Thanks for all the heartfelt sentiments and strong friendships,” he said. “You guys keep it going, all around the community.”
Below: Barry Tedlund, Stacey Stark, Tara Halverson and Randy Witthus watched as Tedlund popped the cork on a bottle of champagne and it flew skyward during a closing celebration at Fitness Crossroad, St. Anthony. Members of the 21-year-old fitness club gathered in the parking lot to say goodbye to the business, another victim of the coronavirus pandemic. Members are discussion about organizing a fitness cooperative to take its place. Fitness Crossroad members gathered in the parking lot for a farewell party. (Photos by Cynthia Sowden)