Biz briefs: New kettlebells fitness center opens in Oakdale

After working for other local fitness centers, Chris Hesse-Withbroe of Oakdale has opened her own gym.

Tenacity Fitness and Endurance offers classes six days a week, the Lake Elmo resident said. Hesse-Withbroe holds her certification from the National Academy of Sports Medicine and is completing another program to coach running. She works with another fitness instructor to teach kettlebells, TRX training and personal training.

Tenacity Fitness and Endurance is located at 1019 Helmo Av. N. in Oakdale.

Planners OK new pawn shopmaX it PAWN recently earned its first round of approval for its proposed pawn shop in a vacant gas station on the corner of Hwy. 36 and Century Avenue in Oakdale.

City planner Whitney Ridon said the planning commission voted unanimously to recommend that the City Council OK the pawn shop's site plan.

Ridon said at the same time, Oakdale Police are reviewing the owner's application for a pawnbroker's license.

The City Council is expected to review both items at its Feb. 8 meeting.

The applicant, Tiller Corp., would re-open an old gravel pit and mine the aggregate. The application for conditional use was first submitted in November 2008.

City Administrator Anne Hurlburt submitted a timeline for the environmental impact statement, prompted by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency. The timeline includes deadlines for Tiller to provide a range of data, ending with a draft document being presented to the council in late September.

Famous Footwear at Tamarack VillageConstruction began recently in the retail space formerly occupied by Seasonal Concepts in Tamarack Village on Hudson Road and Radio Drive to make way for a Famous Footwear store.

Famous Footwear plans to open in the remodeled space at the end of March, when Nebraska-based Gordmans opens next door, said Hans Rasmussen, president of the Robert Muir company, which owns and manages the Tamarack Village retail center.

The estimated value of the construction project is about $165,000, according to Woodbury commercial building permit applications.