The redevelopment of the former Klein Department Store building in Highland Park is nearing completion, and the last commercial tenant lease has been signed, said Chloe Bratvold, who along with her husband, Tim, own the 120-year-old building.

The tenant, Jeremy Toland, president and field operations manager for JC Toland Painting, will take occupancy on Sept. 1 and hopes to open his new business, Highland Park Fitness and Nutrition, in December.

Toland said he’s excited to open a new business in the neighborhood where he grew up and where his mother still lives.

“It means the world to me,” he said. “It’s huge. It’s outside of my norm of what I usually do. I’m excited. My mom still lives just down the road. I’m just ecstatic to be part of it.”

The Bratvolds, operating as 36th on Sixth LLC, purchased the building at 3614 Sixth Ave.,  in 2022 for $400,000.

Today, with the help of historic tax credits and a grayfield tax credit, they have redeveloped the building and are preparing for the opening of the speakeasy-style Highland Underground in August, which will be located in the building’s basement. Upstairs, on the second floor, are three apartments, which are completed except for what Bratvold described as a few “punch-list” items. One apartment is already leased.

Toland’s business will occupy the entire ground floor of the building with the nutrition store being located on the north end.

Bratvold said she believes it’s a good fit for the neighborhood and fills a gap in those services in the area.

“The one thing we’re lacking in North Des Moines is fitness related, and that is great,” she said. “It’s a locally owned business who operates here and it’s a good use of the space. It’s a concept that isn’t competing with any of the other small businesses on Sixth Avenue.

“I think it’s a best case scenario for us,” Bratvold said.

The building will retain the Klein name, she said.

“That’s what it was when it was in its historically significant era, so it will stay the Klein building,” Bratvold said.

Toland, who attended nearby Harding Middle School, opened his painting business in 2005. The business also does construction work such as drywall and metal framing.

He said he’s always wanted to open a gym.

Toland said he’s visited several area gyms or fitness centers over the years, and takes his sons, ages 12 and 14, to various gyms and wants to offer something to the Highland Park neighborhood and the community that is more community-based and personalized than what he feels other centers offer.

“I want to target a lot of local people, the everyday person, and help them have a healthier lifestyle,” Toland said.

He’s been impressed with the revitalization of the neighborhood and when he learned about the Klein building redevelopment, he knew it would be perfect for his vision.

“There’s been a lot of investment in the area and I was impressed with the traffic in the area,” Toland said. “I just thought it was a good fit.”