There's a big "Closed for Remodeling" sign on the Phatty McGee's/Hooky Jack's nightclub at 321 Seventh St. I called co-owner Bob Fuchs to see what's up. He said he and his partners are in talks to possibly sell the club, and they closed it until the deal can be completed. "If it's not sold by September we're going to reopen with a new venue and a new name," he said. The Phatty's staff moved to the other restaurant owned by Fuchs and his partners, Firehouse Brewing Co. "We needed extra staff over here (at the Firehouse), and with the pending sale we decided to do this," he said. Phatty McGee's/Hooky Jacks opened in 2000 in the stately three-story warehouse building. For a long time Phatty's was arguably the hottest night spot in town. On Saturday nights, you actually had to take a number to go upstairs. Fuchs said the club was still popular, but it needed changes. "We'd been open six or seven years, and in the nightclub business every three to five years you need to remodel and start over," he said. I asked if Teddy's Sports Grill, the remodeled and expanded club on Main Street, had cut into Phatty's popularity. "The nightclub business is fickle," he said, "but as soon as you remodel, it's the hot new place again."

SONIC sets sights on June

Yesterday I talked to Bob Brandt, the builder doing the SONIC Drive-In project on Mount Rushmore Road. He thinks it could be done and ready to open as early as mid-June. Bob is building it for QSR Inc., which holds the local franchise rights to SONIC Drive-In. QSR opened a SONIC in Sioux Falls last year. I hear they had cars lined up for more than a block when it opened. I'm guessing that traffic will be heavy here, too. And I wouldn't be surprised to see a second SONIC somewhere in town soon. SONIC is an Oklahoma-based chain of 3,200 retro-styled fast-food eateries that resemble 1950s drive-in restaurants. They even have carhops - often on roller skates.

Studio helps you 'take it off'

Three sisters - twins Ana Robbins and Angelica Wojtanowicz with their sister Teresa Rathbun - have opened a new Pilates and workout studio. It's called Stretch Studio, and it's at 8211/2 Columbus St. They have classes in Pilates, strip cardio, hip-hop cardio, belly-dancing cardio and salsa dancing cardio. Strip cardio? Robbins explained that you don't actually strip off your clothes, but you do a lot of the moves - which can be pretty strenuous. "It's fun and it's a great workout," she said. In fact, I've been told by others that strip cardio is a hot new exercise. There are workout videos and classes in other parts of the country devoted to strip cardio. Salsa cardio, she said, is a way to learn new dance moves and get your heart pumping. The Pilates classes range from beginner to advanced, and all the instructors are certified. For more information, call 391-4211 or 863-1921.

A&A has new home

Gene Jobgen, owner of A&A Restoration, has been in the automotive fabricating and restoration business for 20 years. Most of that time, his shop has been located in various buildings at the corner of Creek Drive and Centre Street. Now he's moved into a brand new 6,000-square-foot building at 2630 Dane Lane. Dane Lane is the new commercial development off Dyess Avenue north of Interstate 90. "This is the first time I actually own my own building. I'm pretty ecstatic," Jobgen said. "I've been planning in my head for some time." The shop builds custom cars, working with sheet metal and mechanical parts - everything but paint and upholstery. He has three guys working for him. Two are graduates of WyoTech, the Laramie, Wyo., technical school that has campuses from Boston to China. A&A will hold an open house on Friday, May 18, beginning at 3 p.m. There will be a number of custom cars on display. For more information, call 343-9452.

Apartments on Jackson

A lot of readers have been asking me about the building project on Jackson Boulevard between Second and Third streets. It's a pair of apartment four-plexes being built by Ronneberg Investments LLC. According to the building permit, one is at 3404 Jackson Blvd. and the other is at 3424 Jackson Blvd. Ron Ronneberg said the project will include four one-bedroom units and four two-bedroom units with garages. One thing that's been getting attention is the Styrofoam-looking walls. They're insulated concrete form blocks, Ronneberg said. The foam is filled with concrete, which becomes a solid, well-insulated, soundproof wall. He hopes to start leasing in early August and moving tenants in by Sept. 1. For more information, call 399-1518 or 348-8556.

Doc Savage buys Yoga Studio

The other day, I had a phone message from Doc Savage. It was pretty exciting to me personally, because when I was a kid I was a huge fan of the Man of Bronze, superhero of about 180 dime novels. The Doc Savage on the phone, it turns out, is William Savage. He and his wife, Donna Savage, recently bought The Yoga Studio in Rapid City. I was surprised anyone other than me had even heard of Doc Savage. "When I was in the Air Force, I played softball with a friend who was a big Doc Savage fan. He pinned that on me," he said. The Savages bought the Yoga Studio, a 6-year-old business started by Mary Hensley and owned recently by Janice Olsson. It's at 2050 W. Main St., in the strip center behind Pauly's Subs. Doc has been practicing yoga for three years, and he's in the process of getting certification through the Yoga Alliance in Salt Lake City. Donna is going for an intensive version of the same training in Bozeman, Mont. Meanwhile, the other instructors on staff are already certified. On Saturday, May 19, they plan a yoga day with free classes all day long. For more information, visit rapidcityyoga.com or call 390-2320.

Vintage Vine closed?

A reader told me the other day that Vintage Vine, the elaborate gift and home furnishings store at 1625 Cambell St., has apparently closed its doors. I wasn't able to get a hold of the owners, so I'm not sure if this is permanent or temporary. I'll let you know if I find out something.

Talking Business appears Thursdays in the Journal. Contact Dan Daly by telephone (394-8421), by fax (394-8463) or by e-mail (dan.daly@rapidcityjournal.com).