BLOOD, SWEAT, TEARS, AND FAMILY - The Leonardo family is pictured above in the newly renovated gym, Panther PowerHouse. After five months of renovations the building is unrecognizable. From left: Jayce, Melisa, Keith, Reed, and Kenzie Leonardo.         Star Eagle photo by Eli Lutgens

By ELI LUTGENS
Publisher/Editor

“If you build it, they will come.” The infamous line from the movie Field of Dreams has been the motto for Keith and Melisa Leonardo as they renovated and transformed Panther PowerHouse, formerly New Richland Fitness, over the past five months. An open house will be held August 7, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. to celebrate the grand opening of the gym.
Keith and Melisa found their lives revolving around New Richland after the two married in 2013. The pair lives in Claremont with their three kids Jayce, Kenzie and Reid, but a lot of their business is found in New Richland. They rent several other New Richland properties, including the New Richland Craft Mall building.
“We really focus on single family units and investing in small towns,” Keith explained. “The town of New Richland is a natural place for us to do business since Melisa is from New Richland and we have some family in the area.” Melisa is a 1999 graduate of NRHEG and daughter of Kim and Marcia Berg.
The Leonardo’s were looking for another way to invest in Melisa’s hometown when they heard through the grapevine that the local New Richland gym might be for sale. “A lot of people reached out to us and told us we should do this,” Melisa said. “We love our small town roots. I don’t want to say we were looking for this big of a project, but this one spoke to us.”
In February Keith called Wayne Billing and expressed interest in purchasing the more than 100-year-old main street property in New Richland. The former grocery store and gym includes two second floor apartment units, and the main floor gym.  When negotiating the terms of the sale of the property, Wayne and Jean stressed how important it was to them to keep the downstairs a gym for the community. The building had been in his family for many years and serving the community is what the building has always done.   
The five-month project included a lot of blood, sweat and tears from Keith, Melisa, and their family and friends. The interior was expanded 20 feet further back, the interior walls removed, and the original tin ceiling exposed, restored, and painted to create a much more open space. An upper loft previously used to overlook the grocery store was also removed.
“I’m the spreadsheet and budget manager,” Melisa said. “He makes the dreams come to life.” The Leonardo’s involve their three kids in all of their projects so they can learn the importance of hard work, and about entrepreneurship.
As soon as Keith walked into the gym, he had an image in his mind of what he wanted it to become. It was just the matter of making it happen and according to Keith this is only phase one.

“Phase two will include the back room,” Keith exclaimed. “Our plan is to listen to the members and do what they want. We want to reinvest back in. We’re going to grow and see what people are interested in.”
Phase two will include opening a back room to be used for the heavier free weights or other open space ideas. Part of the gym floor space was left open for the possibilities of holding future fitness or self-defense classes.  
“Building in small towns is our dream,” Melisa remarked. “Hopefully we’ll have a line out the door for the grand opening.”
Panther Power House will be a 24-hour access gym, available by appointment to persons interested in joining the gym. To become a member, people can attend the open house Saturday, August 7 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. or by calling or texting 507-330-2345. Online sign up is also available, and Panther Powerhouse can be contacted on their Facebook page.