Crunch Fitness Is Coming to Eagan — And It's Taking Over the Old Kowalski's on Diffley
TLDR
Crunch Fitness is converting the former Kowalski's at 1646 Diffley Road in Eagan into a 24/7 gym
Eagan's Planning Commission and City Council approved the project via conditional use permit in late 2025
Memberships start at $9.99/month with full amenities including group fitness, hot yoga, HydroMassage, and Kids Crunch babysitting
The same franchise group — The Undefeated Tribe — is also opening Crunch locations in Burnsville and Apple Valley
The site sat vacant since Kowalski's closed in early 2024 after a church deal fell through
If you've driven past the old Kowalski's on Diffley Road in Eagan and wondered when something was finally going in there — you've got your answer.
Crunch Fitness is converting the long-vacant grocery space at 1646 Diffley Road into a full-service 24/7 gym, with a 2026 opening on the way.
From Grocery Store to Gym — Here's the Backstory
Kowalski's closed its Eagan location in early 2024 after 16 years on Diffley Road. After that, River Valley Church received unanimous city approval to move into the space — but for undisclosed reasons, they never did.
So the building sat empty. Then Crunch came along.
Eagan's Planning Commission unanimously approved a conditional use permit for Crunch Fitness in late October 2025, and the City Council signed off shortly after. The Undefeated Tribe — a Texas-based Crunch franchisee — will lease the property and operate the gym. Here's more on what's happening across Eagan.
For a space that's been vacant for over a year, this is a solid outcome. A large anchor spot like that going dark hurts the whole corridor. A 24/7 gym with foot traffic morning, noon, and night is about as good a replacement as you're going to find.
What Crunch Eagan Will Offer
This is a full-service Crunch — not a bare-bones setup. Here's what's coming to 1646 Diffley:
Open 24/7 with locker rooms and showers
"Miles of cardio" — treadmills, ellipticals, stair climbers, rowers, and more
Strength area with free weights, machines, Power Half Hour circuit training, and resistance equipment
HIITZone turf area for high-intensity team-based classes
Group fitness classes including dance, strength, and cardio formats
Hot yoga studio and Ride cycling classes
Relax & Recover area with HydroMassage beds and tanning
CrunchONE Kickoff orientation session for new members
Online nutrition tools and bring-a-friend perks on higher tiers
Personal training available
Memberships start at $9.99/month. Higher tiers unlock group fitness, yoga, HIITZone access, and recovery amenities.
To put that in perspective — it's Planet Fitness pricing with a lot more under the roof.
Who's Opening It
The Eagan location is part of a bigger South Metro push by The Undefeated Tribe, the same franchise group behind the new Crunch coming to Burnsville on Nicollet Ave and another location going up in Apple Valley.
Founded in 2018 by Tony Hartl, The Undefeated Tribe was named Crunch's Franchise of the Year and currently has around 60 gyms open or under development. They're aiming for 100 locations across Texas, Oklahoma, Minnesota, New Mexico, and Missouri by 2028.
Minnesota is a newer market for them — and the South Metro is clearly where they're focusing first. Between Eagan, Burnsville, and Apple Valley, that's three new locations in the same general area. They're betting on this market.
The Bottom Line
No firm opening date has been announced yet, but the city approvals are done and the lease is in place. Based on late-2025 planning reports, the target is sometime in 2026.
If you want to stay in the loop on timing or check out their membership tiers in the meantime, you can find the Eagan location at crunch.com/locations/eagan. You can also reach the club directly at manager@cruncheagan.com or 651-237-6915.
Keep an eye on South Metro Scoop's Eagan page as the opening gets closer.
FAQ
When is Crunch Eagan opening?
No exact date yet — the target is 2026 based on city planning documents from late 2025. The city approval is done, so it's a matter of build-out timing.
Where is Crunch Eagan located?
At 1646 Diffley Road in Eagan — the former Kowalski's Market that closed in early 2024.
How much does a membership cost?
Memberships start at $9.99/month. Higher tiers add group fitness classes, hot yoga, HIITZone access, HydroMassage, tanning, and more.
Who is opening this Crunch location?
The Undefeated Tribe, a Texas-based Crunch franchise group with about 60 locations nationwide. They're also opening Crunch gyms in Burnsville and Apple Valley.
Why was the Kowalski's building empty for so long?
Kowalski's closed the Eagan location in early 2024. River Valley Church received city approval to move in but never occupied the space. It sat vacant until Crunch came along with a lease and a conditional use permit application in fall 2025.
