UNIVERSAL PHYSIQUE TO OPEN SECOND CENTER

Universal Physique Fitness and Racquet Center, 505 S. Mount Auburn Road, is opening a second facility at 24 S. Minnesota, site of the former Body Works Gym.

"The facility will reopen under the name Universal Physique Gym," said co-owner Doug Friese of Cape Girardeau. "We are undergoing some structural and internal changes at the facility. One of the main improvements is adding air conditioning."

Friese and his wife, Lisa, finalized the plans after several months of negotiations on the transaction.

"Body Works closed its doors to their members in June, and the members were allowed to use Universal Physique Fitness Center until an agreement could be met," he said. Friese said John Welch and Jeff Baker, both of Cape Girardeau, owned Body Works.

The former Body Works facility will provide a "hard-core" gym atmosphere for body builders and weightlifters, compared to the fitness center and spa environment at the Mount Auburn site, he said. "This opportunity allows us to offer the public their choice of a training facility," he said.

"We started 10 years ago as a hard-core gym at our first location on Broadway," said Lisa Friese. "It evolved into a family fitness center. We moved to the Mount Auburn location in 1985."

Universal has 30 employees

The new facility opens Aug. 26. It will be available for members from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. Mondays through Fridays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays, and noon to 5 p.m. Sundays. Memberships are available for individuals, couples or families. Special student rates are available.

It will have four employees. Tim Jones of Cape Girardeau is the on-site manager. A grand opening is planned in a few weeks.

The Friese's have two children and live in Cape Girardeau.