Shakopee's Former JoAnn Building Sold for $2M, Becoming GForce Gymnastics This Fall
A former retail executive just paid $2 million for one of the most visible vacant buildings in Shakopee, and his plan for it says a lot about where the south Twin Cities metro is headed.
Adam Martin bought the 17,000 square foot former JoAnn Fabrics building at 4120 Dean Lakes Boulevard on June 24. Martin, who spent about two decades in retail finance and most recently served as senior finance director at United Natural Foods (owner of most of Minnesota's Cub Foods stores), is opening GForce Gymnastics, Parkour & More at the site this fall. It will be the brand's first Minnesota location.
WHAT GFORCE WILL LOOK LIKE IN SHAKOPEE
The space will be split into three parts. Around 10,000 square feet will hold Olympic grade gymnastics equipment and parkour obstacle courses for kids. A second area will function as a classroom and party room for birthday parties, summer camps, and after school programs. The third piece is what makes the concept interesting: an adult fitness area with treadmills and ellipticals set behind a one way mirror so parents can watch their kids train while they work out.
Martin is calling that adult zone Wolo, short for work out, look out. It's a small design choice that solves a real family logistics problem, and it's the kind of thing that tends to build loyalty fast in a growing suburb.
WHY THE MYSTIC LAKE AMPHITHEATER LOCATION MATTERS
The GForce site sits directly next to the new Mystic Lake Amphitheater at Canterbury Park. Martin is planning monthly Kids Night Out drop offs, giving parents a place to leave their kids for the evening while they catch a show. Once the amphitheater programming ramps up, that partnership potential becomes a real driver of foot traffic on nights when the gym would otherwise be quiet.
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WHAT THIS SAYS ABOUT SHAKOPEE'S GROWTH
Shakopee has grown from about 37,000 residents in 2010 to nearly 47,000 by 2023, according to census data. The city expects to hit 50,000 by 2030. That kind of consistent growth is exactly why a family focused concept like GForce works here, and why the reuse of a large retail box matters more than a typical vacancy fill.
JoAnn closed more than 500 stores nationally in February 2025, leaving communities across the Twin Cities with sizeable vacant retail. Watching how those buildings get repositioned tells you a lot about which suburbs are attracting real capital and long term operators. A cash investment of this size, tied to a franchise concept, is a strong signal for Shakopee.
For homeowners in the surrounding Dean Lakes area and buyers looking at Scott County, this is the kind of amenity that quietly shows up in future property values. Family friendly draws matter when people are picking neighborhoods.
Thinking about buying or selling in the Twin Cities? Let's talk. Text Darin Bjerknes at 612-702-5126 or DM on Instagram @darintheminnesotan.
