Maplewood planning and zoning recommends 2 new businesses

Maplewood planning and zoning Monday recommended approval of two new businesses: a fitness studio and a restaurant with simulators to allow golfers to ‘play’ famous courses from around the world.

The fitness studio, Forward Fitness, plans to move into 3111 Sutton Boulevard. The owner, Mike Klaus, and two employees including dietitian, Suzanne Doerries, come from Complete Fitness Results, in Brentwood.

Parking was planning and zoning’s main concern. Klaus said the busiest time would be from 5 to 8:30 a.m. The commission determined that the 18 to 20 cars would be parked on the lot and the street before other businesses open, so it shouldn’t be a problem.

Forward Fitness will be ready for customers Monday morning, Jan. 12, Klaus said.

Tee’s Golf Grill, a restaurant with golf simulators, is moving to the former Monarch location, at Manchester and Sutton, from Chesterfield, where it closed in mid-2012.

Owner Phil Harris said it was hard keeping the Chesterfield spot going in the summer, when golfers prefer to play outside. He said the difference here is that they’re planning to buy the building, so the overhead will be lower.

The four golf simulators will be along the Manchester side of the building. Harris said Pebble Beach and St. Andrews are the most popular courses. Each simulator is a 15 x 20 foot stall, and calculates spin and distance on each ball hit.

The Sutton side of the building will be clean but unused to start out. Harris said a cocktail bar or high-end restaurant are possibilities.

He said the restaurant will open at happy hour Monday through Friday, with longer hours on weekends.

Harris said after the meeting that gift cards from the previous location will be honored at the new one.

Both business will be considered for approval at the next Maplewood City Council meeting.

Dan Noonan was reelected as commission chairman at the end of the meeting.