Work is nearing completion on a new medical clinic and fitness center Kalispell Regional Medical Center and The Summit are planning to open in Lakeside.

The 2,931-square-foot Westshore Medical Clinic on the first floor of an existing building in Lakeside will employ one full-time physician, Jon Rubright, as well as a weekly visit from another, Mona Cuthbert.

“It will be a typical doctor’s office,” said Jim Oliverson, vice president of KRMC. “I was told there will be normal support staff.”

The clinic will have a soft opening Dec. 2 at its 306 Stoner Loop Road location, and will use the two weeks until its grand opening Dec. 16 to iron out any wrinkles in the operation of the facility.

Scheduled clinic hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Atop the doctor’s office, The Summit Medical Fitness Center is opening a 4,063-square-foot gym, replacing Lakeside Gym and Fitness, which occupied the same space until The Summit bought it Oct. 1.

The Westshore Medical Fitness Center powered by The Summit will have cardio equipment, free weights, locker rooms and a studio floor.

Bob Norwood, manager of health and fitness operations at The Summit, said original plans were to buy out Lakeside Gym and Fitness and not put the squeeze on gym owners.

“We got to negotiating and they decided to sell,” he said. 

Much of the equipment will come from the Summit in Kalispell, with some select equipment from the existing facility in Lakeside.

Norwood said the need was evident in Lakeside and West Shore residents will be able to head to the gym after Jan. 2, 2014.

It will run on a card-swipe system and will employ just one person to clean and supervise during daylight hours. Costs for membership are $39 a month, and it will be open from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. on weekdays, 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturday and 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sundays.

Reporter Ryan Murray may be reached at 758-4436 or by email at rmurray@dailyinterlake.com.