A former Kowalski’s store that was once slated to become a church is now being transformed into a 24/7 fitness center.
Crunch Fitness expects to open at 1646 Diffley Road in Eagan sometime next year.
The Eagan Planning Commission unanimously approved a conditional use permit for Crunch Fitness on Tuesday. The proposal is scheduled to go before the City Council next Monday.
The Undefeated Tribe, a Texas-based Crunch Fitness franchisee, plans to lease the property where it will operate the new gym, according to a city planning report. Minnesota will be the fifth state that the company has expanded to.
Crunch Fitness currently has three other locations across Minnesota, in Blaine, Maple Grove and St. Cloud. Two of those gyms are being purchased by Undefeated Tribe, a company representative said during the planning commission meeting.
Crunch Fitness is similar to Planet Fitness in their missions to operate “judgement-free” gyms, with memberships for both as low as $10 a month.
Crunch Fitness at 12420 Aberdeen St. NE in Blaine.Crunch Fitness (Blaine) | Facebook
Kowalski’s closed its 16-year-old Eagan store in early 2024.
Several months later, River Valley Church planned to relocate to the site, but the church ultimately did not move there despite receiving unanimous approval from the Eagan City Council last June.
“For reasons not disclosed to the City, the church did not occupy the space, and the property remained vacant,” reads a planning report for Crunch Fitness.
River Valley Church did not immediately respond to Bring Me The News.
This story was originally reported by Bring Me The News on Oct 29, 2025, where it first appeared in the MN Lifestyle section. Add Bring Me The News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.