Essentia Health is investing $15 million in the purchase and remodeling of the 145,000-square-foot former Younkers department store at Miller Hill Mall in Duluth. The Essentia Health Fitness & Therapy Center will move into the first floor this fall. Plans are being developed for the rest of the building and will be announced when they are finalized.
A news release from Essentia notes a benefit of the Miller Hill Mall location is “acres of free parking.” Moving some patients and staff to the mall location could also open more parking spots in Downtown Duluth.
The new Essentia Health Fitness & Therapy Center will fill half of the former department store’s first floor. It will offer a larger exercise area, more equipment and larger locker rooms. There will be a therapy pool, but no lap pool. The staff of trainers, teachers and therapists will stay the same.
The center offers patients and fitness members a place to exercise that’s staffed by medically trained professionals.
