Biz Beat: Pet clinic will take over Eagan spot that used to be Video Update

The longtime site of Video Update in Eagan is getting a new life as a veterinary clinic.

The City Council recently approved plans for the Lexington Pet Clinic to occupy about 2,400 square feet in the 11,000-square-foot mall at Lexington Avenue and Diffley Road.

The clinic currently operates at 4250 Lexington Av., but its operators told the city they wanted to move to have more space. Plans filed with the city don't call for any outdoor runs or exterior changes to the former store space.

The store space has been vacant since September. It was the last outlet of the defunct St. Paul-based video-rental chain, which had gotten its start with a single store in Little Canada 30 years ago. The store closing was a result of the ongoing decline in bricks-and-mortar video rental businesses here and nationwide.

Anytime Fitness recognized

Anytime Fitness based in Hastings recently made the top 25 in Forbes magazine's list of "America's Most Promising Companies."

The magazine said it considered sales and employment growth, quality of the management team and investors, margins, market size and key partnerships in compiling the list of 100 privately held companies.

Anytime Fitness operates about 2,000 franchised 24-hour gyms in 14 countries. Forbes noted that the company cuts costs by bulking up staff only during peak hours. Revenue last year was $484 million.

Minneapolis-based Code 42 Software was the only other company headquartered in Minnesota to make the Forbes list. It ranked 53rd.

Building permits in Lakeville

Residential construction continues to fuel building activity this year in Lakeville. The city has issued building permits valued at $7.4 million in January, up from $6.6 million for the same month last year.

The city issued commercial and industrial permits valued at $202,750 in January compared with $1.6 million during the same period in 2012. The city has also issued permits for 22 single-family homes in January valued at $6.9 million, compared with 13 single-family home permits valued at $4 million for the same month in 2012.

Business assistance program kicks off

Open to Business Dakota County, a new program that provides free one-on-one assistance to small business owners and operators, is officially kicking off with an event from 8 to 9 a.m. Feb. 28 at the Burnsville Performing Arts Center.

The event is free and open to the public, and all area small business owners, entrepreneurs, lenders, business services providers, and local government and educational institution staff working with small businesses are encouraged to attend. Free parking is available in the parking deck next to the performing arts center.

Register by Friday at www. opentobusiness.eventbrite.com or call 651-675-4465.

Open to Business Dakota County clients will receive help in planning and organizing their business ventures, financial management, marketing and regulatory compliance. The program is overseen by the Metropolitan Consortium of Community Developers, a Minneapolis-based nonprofit organization, in partnership with the Dakota County Community Development Agency, and the cities of Apple Valley, Burnsville, Eagan, Farmington, Hastings, Inver Grove Heights, Lakeville, Rosemount, South St. Paul and West St. Paul, as well as the Apple Valley, Burnsville, Lakeville, River Heights, Hastings and Dakota County Regional Chambers of Commerce.

Please send business news to susan.feyder@startribune.com.

Susan Feyder • 952-746-3282