Biz beat: Apple Valley dance school sets expansion plan

Article by: SUSAN FEYDER , Star Tribune
Updated: July 27, 2012 - 6:20 PM

Heartbeat Studios' owners hope to add space for more dance, singing and acting programs.

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It's been almost 15 years since Deborah Lysholm and Kristin Freya opened their performing arts school in Apple Valley, an ambition so keen they sold their home to purchase the school's site.

Now the mother and daughter are getting ready to expand their school, Heartbeat Studios, which offers classes in ballet, tap, hip-hop and flamenco dancing as well as acting and singing classes. The school has an enrollment of about 250 children and adults, Lysholm said.

The expansion will be either one or two stories and add about 2,000 square feet to the 5,500-square-foot facility. "We currently only have two studio rooms, which limits the number of classes we can have going on at the same time," Lysholm said. She said the addition also will provide more space for singing and acting programs and movement classes designed for older children and adults with autism.

Lysholm said she's having the project re-bid, a step that became necessary because of changes in the addition's sprinkler system required by the city. She said she hopes to finance the expansion by refinancing the existing school building.

Eagan gets new restaurant

The owner of the former Joe Senser's in Eagan is wrapping up an extensive makeover of the restaurant, with plans to re-open it under a different name and format Aug. 6.

Joel Lehman said the new establishment, the Lone Oak Grill, will focus on "American comfort food" with a focus on burgers, smoked meats and salads. The bar will feature more than 30 craft beers on tap plus several small-batch bourbons.

Lehman, who also owns and operates Trattoria da Vinci in St. Paul, said he spent about $1.2 million gutting and renovating the building. Part of the project involved adding to outdoor seating and installing bocce ball courts.

Lehman said the restaurant operated for more than 13 years as a Joe Senser's before closing last October. He said he considered offers from several other restaurant operators before deciding to proceed with his own venture earlier this year.

CATCO outlets change hands

Texas-based FleetPride Inc., the nation's largest retailer of heavy-duty truck and trailer parts, recently acquired Clutch and Transmission Service Inc., (CATCO) including outlets in Burnsville and Eagan.

Terms of the acquisition, which included 18 locations in five states, were not disclosed. CATCO's other Minnesota outlets are in Bemidji, Brainerd, Mankato, Rochester, Roseville, St. Cloud, St. Paul and Willmar.

Award for Apple Valley firm

Closets For Life, a custom-storage business in Apple Valley, recently received a service award from the Minnesota Chapter of the National Association of the Remodeling Industry, a not-for-profit trade association.

The award recognized the company for product quality, responsiveness, meeting deadlines, professionalism, and communication with customers.

Closets For Life designs closets, wine cellars, offices, pantries, Murphy beds and garages for residential clients as well as designers, builders and architects.

Please send your Dakota County business news to susan.feyder@startribune.com.