Curves is here and Dishes of India is on its way back. Belle View Shopping Center is full once again.
Dishes of India owner Naresh Bhatt said that he was scheduled to open on April 15, but that he's still waiting for inspection. He's now hoping to open on or around April 20.
"I'm waiting for the fire and Fairfax County health inspectors. Once that's done, I'll be able to start moving everything in," said Bhatt. "I can't wait. Customers have been calling, asking When? When [will it open]?"
Everything will be new when Bhatt moves in, all of his furniture, equipment, supplies and food were ruined during Hurricane Isabel last September. New too, will be his flood insurance, something that he didn't have the last go-around.
"It will be fine from the future on," said Bhatt.
A few doors down from Bhatt's restaurant is the new Curves. This new circuit fitness training facility opened its doors Monday morning and they already had more than 50 members. Most of those members had transferred from the Foxchase and Hayfield locations. Rae Burke and Louise Sigety, both teachers at Waynewood Elementary School, were taking advantage of the new facility. Burke said that she and Sigety joined Curves because they wanted to do something [to exercise]. They originally went to the Foxchase location, but then realized that Hayfield was closer. Several other Waynewood teachers have joined as well. Burke likes the fact that it's quick [30 minutes] and that she feels like she's getting some toning.
Sigety said, "I love the speed-30 minutes, you're in and out. There's no weights [it's all hydraulic] and I like the fact that it's all women. I do feel a difference [since I started working out]."
HEATHER SHROUDS, RN AND VERONICA HOWARD are the new owners; they also own the center in Hayfield. Howard said that she heard about the company through her mother, who had learned of it through a friend of hers from Arizona. After being used to working out for an hour and a half at a gym near her house, she didn't quite understand the concept of Curves.
"It doesn't look like an intense workout, but it really is," said Howard. "It's good both psychologically and physically. You're in a good mental state when you're done and you feel like you've accomplished something."
Howard said that they are also looking at another location in Mount Vernon. They had planned to open there first, but then this came available, so they took it.
Shrouds said that they charge a one-time service fee of $149; the first 100 women to join the Belle View location will only have to pay $49. Members then pay $39 a month for one year. The Belle View facility is open Monday through Friday, 8:30-12:30 p.m. and 2:30 -7:30 p.m. They will be getting as many as five more equipment machines as membership grows.
During a member's first visit, they are given a 30-minute figure analysis where consultants discuss health issues, body measurements and fat analysis. The next visit is spent doing the workout with a consultant.
"We're always there to help and be of assistance," said Shrouds. "Every month we measure, and after the first month, we offer nutritional counseling."
Shrouds started doing the workouts herself about two years ago, and said, "I've lost 45 pounds, and feel wonderful. I've made lifestyle changes and have a lot of energy."
Shrouds said their members range in age from 8 to 84, but that they're comfortable with woman of all shapes.
When asked about the viability of the business after the closing of the Women's Fitness Center last year, Shrouds said, "They [WFC] weren't bonded. We're bonded with the State of Virginia and are required to carry liability insurance. Plus, we have over 7,000 locations worldwide."
Kurt Kranz, property manager of the shopping center, said, "We're happy to have Curves here. It's an asset to the shopping center and complements the other businesses."