Finney and Marilyn Robbins, owners of downtown’s Midwest Carpet Center, purchased the former bowling alley last Thursday.

Their son-in-law, Rob Schuck, 24, a new graduate of Cleveland Chiropractic College in Kansas City, Mo., hopes to open Tonganoxie Wellness Center by March. His wife, Megan, will handle massage therapy.

Soon after, the Robbins’ 25-year-old son, Jeremy, will open Tonganoxie Fitness Center in the structure. And the 11,000-square-foot building will be home to J.A. Custom Computer, which now is at 616 E. Fourth in downtown Tonganoxie.

Palace Bowl closed on Aug. 31. Its computerized score-keeping system wore out, and the alley’s owners decided to close the business rather than face the $115,000 to $140,000 in replacement costs, according to the manager of the alley.

On Monday, Finney Robbins and Rob Schuck roamed through the former bowling alley, discussing plans.

“It’s a good location for what it’s going to be,” Robbins said.

Remodeling work on the building can begin in earnest, Robbins said, once the 12 wooden bowling lanes are removed, along with ball-handling and pin-setting equipment. Plus, drop ceilings must be removed to reveal the extent of duct work and electrical lines running through the building.

Generally, the east side of the building will be devoted to Schuck’s practice, massage therapy and the computer firm. The fitness center will occupy the west side of the building.

Jeremy Robbins said he’s believed for several years that Tonganoxie would benefit from a fitness center.

“Whenever I was in high school, there wasn’t anything like that offered, and I was really interested in it,” he said.

He said he’s not settled on all plans for the fitness center. It will offer aerobics classes, and possibly dance, karate and yoga classes. A weight room will be constructed. And he’d like to install a racquetball/handball court, if space is available.

Jeremy Robbins works for Kansas Center of Athletic Medicine in Lawrence now, and is head trainer at Free State High School.

It’s likely a rehabilitation clinic will become part of the plan for the new business, which would mean area residents wouldn’t have to leave town to receive services, Robbins said.

“I want to apply some of the things I’ve learned here,” he said.

Finney Robbins said he believes the new businesses will satisfy a need in the community both for fitness classes and for rehabilitation and additional chiropractic services.

“There have been a lot of people around here talk that they wished they had something closer,” Finney Robbins said. “It’s going to be a place the community is going to have a place to come.”