City approves cycling fitness studio for commercial space

A boutique cycling fitness studio is set to be the first business to lease space inside the city’s parking structure attached to City Hall.

City Council last week approved an agreement with SOBBACYCLE to lease the western half of the commercial space. The lease is for a five-year term and is at a rate of $18 per square foot plus the cost of property taxes.

Whitefish siblings Perrey and Walter Sobba are planning to open the business in December. The cycling studio proposes to bring music and movement together to create a high-intensity workout. They also plan to have a retail component to their business offering activewear, studio apparel, small fitness accessories and water bottles.

Perrey Sobba, who is also the owner of Space Pilates studio in Kalispell and a fitness instructor, said boutique fitness is one of the fastest growing sectors in the fitness industry and the business looks to provide a service not currently offered in the Flathead Valley.

“We expect to have a local focus, but also a tourism focus as well,” Perrey said. “The type of facility we are trying to create is sweeping major metropolitan areas and the tourists or second homeowners we see here are used to participating in these activities.”

“We believe our business will help activate First Street in conjunction withe the master plan,” Walter added. “We believe our business will help other local businesses. People will leave hungry after a workout and maybe head over to Montana Coffee Traders.”

SOBBACYCLE is looking to be open seven days per week with weekday hours from 6 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. and shorter hours on the weekends. The space is expected to include the main cycling studio and a small locker changing area.

City Manager Adam Hammatt said there have been several parties interested in renting the commercial space, but the Sobbas have been the first to come to an agreement with the city.

“The Sobbas are young, high energy people who seem capable of accomplishing what they set out to do,” he said in his memo to Council. “They meet all the priorities I believe we were looking for.”

During public comment, Rhonda Fitzgerald cautioned the city to take careful consideration of the proposal.

“Retail on First is an important linkage and this space in the parking structure is designed to be a catalyst for this,” she said.

She noted concerns that the business plan calls for “rolling blackout shades.”

“While this isn’t the classic idea of retail,” Fitzgerald said. “This may be the modern version of things we have downtown, but I’m concerned that the plan calls for blackout shades and that isn’t in keeping with downtown standards.”

The Sobbas said the curtains would allow for blocking out the sun to keep the temperature of the space cool and to modify the space for a different experience for cyclists during a workout, but are not meant to be drawn all day.

“We don’t want to box ourselves into never being able to draw the shades,” Perrey said. “But it’s a huge draw for us to have a lot of openness in that space.”

Councilor Jen Frandsen suggested the Sobbas locate the retail component nearest the street portion of the space so the business still feels open to the public. She also issued a word of caution to the Sobbas.

“You are young and ambitious and I wish you all the success in the world,” she said. “You’re the city’s first tenant, and people will be looking to the city to make sure you follow the rules.”