Michelle Heines Converts the Kress Department Store Into an Exercise and Dance Studio - Jan 22, 2005 By GREG JUNEK (Business Editor) A Tyler real estate investor and manager and his wife said they will convert the building that once housed the Kress Department Store, 116 W. Erwin St., in Tyler, into an exercise and dance studio. Michelle Heines, wife of Martin Heines and owner of Contemporary Dance Techniques and Studio @ 107 Pilates, said she will move those businesses, now in separate spaces, into the old store building, which, according to building plans, was called the S.H. Kress building. CDT is now at 119 E. Erwin St. and the Pilates studio is at 107 E. Erwin St. The building, which totals slightly more than 10,000 square feet, will be renamed Balance Inc., Mrs. Heines said. The dance and Pilates studios will initially retain their current names, but Mrs. Heines said she will probably phase those names out throughout their first year of operation in the new location. Heines said the building will look different, but he, his wife and architects from Houston have not settled on an exterior design. “We hope to get started within the next several months on the interior remodeling, but we won’t get started until we know we have absolutely the best design,” he said. After construction starts, it will probably take four to five month to complete the building. Heines said he hopes to have the businesses in and open in November 2005. “Her businesses will take up about 8,000 square feet,” he said. “it’s going to be a very impressive dance studio and Pilates studio.” Heines said he will eventually move his office into the building, Heines purchased the building from Rick Eltife for an undisclosed amount around the third quarter of last year. Although he had no history on the building and the structure’s plans did not list a construction date, Heines said he knew it has not been occupied for at least 20 years. The roof had a bad leak, but the building was constructed on a steel frame so there was no wood rot, he said. “I’m just very excited about it and I think it will continue to add to the renovation of downtown, which has come so far,” Heines said. “We are in the design process right now.” He declined to be specific about the investment in renovating the building’s exterior and interior, only saying it would be “significant.” “I started these businesses nine years ago, “she said, “Basically, they’ve been separate for many years now. It’s a studio where a lot of needs will be filled. Pilates is getting pretty popular. It’s more for the masses now than it used to be. It use to be more for dancers.” In the new location, the Pilates studio will be on the bottom floor and the CDT on the top floor, she said. The building will have a hot tub, a dry sauna, therapy rooms for massage, a juice bar and a elevator. It might look different and have more amenities, but Mrs. Heines said the same certified Pilates instructor and the same certified dace instructors. Business growth in the new building will lead to the hiring of more instructors. Business Editor Greg Junek may be reached at (903) 596-6280 or by e-mail at business@tylerpaper.com Written in the Tyler Courier-Times Telegraph. << Archive