A $1.7 million health club is under construction on U.S. 2 West in Kalispell near the Gateway Community Center.

Fuel Fitness, a 24-hour fitness center, is expected to open Jan. 1, according to Kevin Tikka, president of AMI Development, the contractor for the 13,734-square-foot facility. Bridgewater is the real estate development company that put the deal together, Tikka said.

Fuel Fitness is a Montana fitness chain owned by Craig Vukasin of Bozeman and his business partner Michael Burks of Missoula. They operate similar Fuel Fitness centers in Billings, Bozeman, Butte and Helena. A fifth fitness facility will open Oct. 1 in Missoula.

Two of the biggest drawing cards for the Fuel Fitness chain are the 24-hour, seven-day-a-week access and inexpensive $29 per month membership fee. Fuel Fitness also offers its members unlimited child care for children 6 months and older for $10 a month.

“What we do that differentiates us from the norm is our customer service and cleanliness,” Vukasin said. “We’re a large facility. We’ll have the biggest selection of weights and cardio equipment [in Kalispell]. We pride ourselves on equipment.”

Group exercise classes will be offered, and there will be a juice bar and high-end tanning equipment.

“It’s a one-stop shop,” he said. “We will sell supplements, too.”

Fuel Fitness doesn’t offer some amenities featured at other health facilities, such as swimming, basketball or racquetball, because of the big focus on weights and cardio workout, Vukasin said.

The owners expect the Kalispell facility to employ about 40 people, ranging from child-care employees to front-desk receptionists and personal trainers.

“We’re very excited. This is our sixth location,” Vukasin said, adding that one membership allows access to all Fuel Fitness centers in Montana.

Vukasin and Burks started Fuel Fitness in Helena about 10 years ago, then built similar health clubs in Butte and Bozeman. After a few years they began the next round of growth. The Billings Fuel Fitness opened six months ago, and Missoula and Kalispell facilities are underway.

“We’re a couple of Montana guys” with a passion for fitness, Vukasin said.

For more information about Fuel Fitness, go online to www.clubfuelfitness.com or call 406-880-FUEL.

Features editor Lynnette Hintze may be reached at 758-4421 or by email at lhintze@dailyinterlake.com.