By Gary Lloyd
Some Trussville fitness club owners are upset over the Trussville City Council approving incentives and leases for two businesses — including 24e Fitness — to occupy the former Food World on Main Street.
As part of the approval, the city will spend $912,000 to divide the former Food World into two spaces. The city council also approved abating a portion of the sales tax as an incentive for the Triple N Enterprises, a grocery store, which amounts to $800,000 over a four-year period.
Anytime Fitness owner Rick Plourde said he had a letter from his attorney, Donald Brockway, saying he reviewed the legality of the leases. The letter stated that the approval promotes the interests of a select number of private citizens while violating, selectively, the rights of others. He asked the city council to table the decision until at least its next meeting.
Performance Fitness Center and Trussville Rehab owners Chris and Robbie Lynch also expressed concerns at Tuesday’s meeting. Robbie Lynch said the decision is “very disheartening.”
“We don’t have enough members to share,” she said.
Chris Lynch said he didn’t understand why it would cost up to $471,000 for the city to handle buildout and construction costs related to dividing the building for the fitness center. He called it an “exorbitant amount.”
“It’s what we’re responsible to do to get them in there,” said Councilman Buddy Choat.
Chris Lynch said another fitness center will hurt his business, and others, that have been in Trussville for a number of years.
“This is our livelihood,” he said.
Contact Gary Lloyd at news@trussvilletribune.com and follow him on Twitter @GaryALloyd.