Work it out

New fitness studio with late-night classes shimmies into spot near SMU

Meet the M3X Megaformer.

Photo courtesy of Lagree

A new fitness studio with cutting-edge equipment and late-night classes will open near Southern Methodist University in early summer. Tight, a Lagree Fitness Studio, is taking a space at 6401 Hillcrest Ave., at the corner of McFarlin and Hillcrest, a hop-skip-and-jump from campus.

Park Cities Pilates devotees get something extra here: Tight will be home to Dallas’ first M3X Megaformer, a patented Pilates-based machine created by fitness visionary Sebastien Lagree. Each 50-minute session will follow The Lagree Method developed by Lagree.

"Popular with celebrities and athletes for rapid results, this high-intensity, low-impact workout stimulates core strength, cardiovascular endurance, balance and flexibility," the company says in a release. "Recommended for all fitness levels, The Method is performed on patented equipment that uses variable resistance and dynamic tension to strengthen, tighten, and tone the body."

Sessions will be offered daily and will even be tailored to accommodate clients with busy schedules, the company says. On select days, classes will take place at 7, 8, and 9 pm.

“Tight is a community vested in each other’s success and joined by a passion to make Park Cities a happier, healthier place," says founder Ginger Appleberry in a release. "It’s an honor to introduce Tight to University Park and serve the community I love."

Clients can expect a studio with a modern, sleek aesthetic, friendly front-desk greeters, and carefully orchestrated music and lighting to help them make the most of their workouts.

"There’ll be no flashy promises or one-size-fits-all attitudes," the company vows. "Instead, Tight offers guests more of what they want and less of what they don’t. And yes, that includes complimentary sticky socks during class, keyless lockers, and generous social spaces."

While an opening date has not been set, grand opening festivities will include a shoe drive for the homeless, with more charitable initiatives on deck, the company says. Visit their website, and subscribe to an email list to receive free classes, updates, and an invite to the VIP grand opening party, where one guest will win one year of unlimited classes.

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RIP Pete

Dallas businessman and former Schepps Dairy owner Pete Schenkel dies

Courtesy photo

Pete Schenkel

Dallas businessman Pete Schenkel, a philanthropist and former owner of Dallas-based Schepps Dairy, passed away at his Highland Park home on November 27 while in hospice care.

Born and raised in South Dallas where he worked on his father's dairy farm, Schenkel worked his way up from a Schepps Dairy deliverer to become an owner of the company in 1987. He went on to serve as President and owner of Southern Foods, which later sold to Suiza Foods and became Dean Foods, for which he also served as president and board member.

A statement from the city of Dallas says that Schenkel "leaves a legacy where he will be remembered for sharing his success with others and for his steadfast commitment to serve with pride and humility. Pete was unwavering in his dedication to making Dallas one of the safest large cities in the United States and was instrumental in promoting our economic growth and social vibrancy. We will strive to carry on his legacy by continuing to make Dallas a better place for all."

Founded by Harmon "Hymie" Schepps in 1942, Schepps Dairy traded hands and emerged from a bankruptcy under the primary ownership of Schenkel, who was Schepps' business partner. In 2000, the company was acquired by Suiza Foods Co., which then merged with Dallas-based Dean Foods the following year.

Schenkel was also involved in Dallas politics from the '80s to the '00s, both with sought-after endorsements as well as working on campaigns for mayoral candidates such as Jack Evans and Ron Natinsky.

In 2017, he was honored with an award from the NFF Gridiron Club for his role in helping bring football back to the Cotton Bowl on New Year's Day. He fought to keep the annual Texas-Oklahoma rivalry game at Cotton Bowl Stadium and has been the key negotiator in keeping the game there ever since.

Schenkel served on many influential boards that helped shape Dallas and North Texas, including chairing the Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport Board of Directors and the Methodist Health Care Foundation. After retiringm he remained active in nonprofit circles, helping direct a charitable fund with his wife, the Pat and Pete Schenkel Charitable Trust. He also served on the board of the Dallas Blue Foundation, which provides financial assistance to families of Dallas police officers killed or wounded in action.

His multiple awards and commendations including receiving the 82nd annual Linz Award for civic service in Dallas in 2011, as well as a Russell H. Perry Award from Dallas Baptist University, which lauded Schenkel for adhering to the highest ethical standards and being loyal to and respectful of friends and customers, as well as his modesty, shying away from the spotlight and shining it on others instead.

He's survived by his wife Pat, three children and seven grandchildren.

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