Fitness News

Craig Ranch Fitness and Spa in McKinney gets lifeline from Life Time

It's getting a multimillion-dollar facelift.

Craig Ranch

A major fitness facility in McKinney has changed hands: Craig Ranch Fitness & Spa, which experienced tough times during the pandemic, has been purchased by Life Time Group Holdings, Inc., the Minnesota-based chain of health clubs, who will open a new 100,000-square-foot Life Time athletic resort destination in its place.

Craig Ranch opened in 2007 as part of the 80-acre mixed-used Craig Ranch development in McKinney, where it served the surrounding residential community. It was a state-of-the-art facility with cedar lockers in the locker room, fresh ice water stations, individual TVs on the cardio machines, a 50-meter heated pool, and even machines that extracted water from your swimsuit.

Like every other health club, it suffered a big downturn during 2020 due to the pandemic, as people fled public spaces. They closed in spring 2020, then reopened in July 2020 but with a smaller base of customers, even after building four new pickleball courts. Fricking Peloton.

Craig Ranch ultimately closed on November 20, which it announced on its website:

We are pleased to share that we have entered into an agreement to sell the property to Life Time, the nation’s premier healthy lifestyle brand, after the club’s operations have been discontinued. That said, we will discontinue operations of Craig Ranch Fitness and Spa effective November 20, 2021.

Life Time plans an extensive multi-million-dollar renovation of this building that will extend into next year, after which it will open as Life Time, an incredible, high-end, luxury resort committed to empowering a healthy, happy life for the entire family.

According to a release, Life Time will enact a multimillion-dollar renovation that includes expanding its footprint from 80,000 square feet to 100,000 square feet.

This will be the 12th Life Time in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, and it will open following the early 2022 opening of Life Time Frisco.

Life Time McKinney at Craig Ranch will offer a Kids Academy and tween programs, studio group exercise classes, group and 1:1 personal training. Highlights include:

Ultimate boutique destination with dedicated studios for barre, cardio and strength group classes, indoor cycling, Pilates and yoga
State-of-the art cardio, strength and functional training equipment
Designated space for Life Time's signature small group training programs—GTX, Alpha and Ultra Fit
Eight pickleball courts and a tennis court
Outdoor resort experience with a 50-meter outdoor pool, lounge seating and more
Full-service LifeCafe and LifeSpa massage services

"Life Time has a 30-year track record of building and operating large-scale wellness destinations including greenfield sites, mall re-developments, and vertical residential projects as well as growth opportunities through strategic acquisitions in highly desirable areas." said Parham Javaheri, Life Time Chief Property Development Officer. "Craig Ranch is a great community and we're excited to expand our Life Time footprint deeper into the McKinney-Allen area and serve even more families on their healthy way of life journeys.

health fitness

Shopping News

Where to shop in Dallas right now: 7 zany new stores to check out

Thrifted Threads

Thrifted Threads chill vibe

With the holidays on the horizon, shopping is on the rise. This November edition of Where to Shop, CultureMap's monthly roundup of new shops, sales, and alternative shopping, has five unique new openings, ranging from fashion to skin care to sports apparel.

The roundup also includes two non-traditional entries, including a new benefits program at an area mall, and a place to get your passport — in case you're planning on shopping abroad.

Here's where to shop in Dallas for November:

Baseballism
Baseball camp that transformed into an off-field baseball clothing brand is now open at Allen Premium Outlets. The store offers baseball-themed clothing, hats, and accessories. Their collection features collaborations with several big league names, including MLB, Babe Ruth, Vin Scully and Field of Dreams. Caps and hoodies are especially popular items, such as the Junior's Silhouette for $36 or the short Sleeve Yankees hoodie for $79.

Firewheel Town Center
Garland shopping center is in the giving spirit with its latest Shop, Dine & Save program. Visitors can shop or dine at select stores, including Buckle, DSW, and Razzoo's, Ferah Tex-Med Kitchen, and receive a $25 Simon giftcard when they spend $150 or more. To get the giftcard, receipts have to be shown at the mall management office and include at least one shop and one restaurant from the same day. The special lasts through November 27.

Hill House
Originally a bedding company that launched in 2016, Hill House has extended their collection to offer home, accessories, baby & kids, bridal, and apparel. They opened a location in NorthPark Center at the end of October — their first in Texas and only their fifth store. Hill House is best known for the "Nap Dress," a flowing dress made for day or night wear. There's also a short version of the dress, such as the Scarlett Long Sleeve Mini, a plaid dress for $188. Just in time for season, they've launched holiday pajamas, featuring pajama sets, robes, and children's sets.

Glossier
Skincare, beauty, and fragrance concept just opened a 1,000 square-foot store at NorthPark Center, featuring its trademark whimsical displays that one might mistake for an art supply or paint store. They sell fragrances, scented skin creams, balms, cleansers, moisturizers, makeup, eyelash curlers, and other beauty products, a little on the pricey side, but they make the shopping experience fun with an immersive shopping experience. That stuff doesn't come for free. This is their 12 location in the U.S., joining Atlanta, Boston, Brooklyn, Chicago, DC, Las Vegas, London, Los Angeles, NYC, Philadelphia, and Seattle.

Rally House
Sports apparel chain opened a location at Rockwall Crossing Shopping Center in Rockwall, with merchandise — headwear, accessories, collectibles — dedicated to Dallas-area teams including Dallas Cowboys, Texas Rangers, Dallas Stars, and college teams like the Texas Longhorns, Texas Tech Red Raiders, and Texas A&M Aggies. They also offer locally-themed apparel and accessories that celebrate Dallas destinations and landmarks, such as an Uscape Pom Mens Knit Hat with a graphic of the Dallas skyline for $30 or a long sleeve Dallas sweatshirt for $42. This is the 22nd location in Dallas-Fort Worth.

Thrifted Threads
Houston-based vintage clothing reseller just made its debut in Deep Ellum at 2646 Main St. #620, next to Vidorra. Thrifted Threads was founded by Laith Awad, who began reselling clothes in 2017, initially as an online store until he opened a location in 2022 in Houston's Montrose District when he was only 18. He opened a second store in College Station in 2023. Deep Ellum is the third. They're known vintage apparel from jerseys to sweatshirts and hats, as well as collections of color-sorted clothes from the 70s to the 2000s. It's more than a store, with arcade games that don't require coins to play, a motorcycle display, and ice cream.

Collin County Passport Office
If you're "shopping" for a passport, a passport office just reopened in the Collin County Courthouse at 2100 Bloomdale Rd., McKinney. The new passport acceptance office will initially be appointment only, with bookings available through the District Clerk's website. Plans are underway to introduce same-day and walkup services in the near future.

openings where to shop