There's a new place to get fit in Rantoul, and you can do it around-the-clock.

Rantoul 24-Hour Fitness will open Monday at 1712-A E. Grove St., in the plaza where Rural King is located.

The 4,000-square-foot center has treadmills, Arc trainers, various strength machines and an extensive free-weight area, said Manager Trinity Waycaster. It also has a tanning bed.

Members buy a $40 key tag that gives them 24-hour access. They also pay a monthly membership fee of $34.99. Waycaster said security cameras record what goes on in the facility and parking lot.

This week, prospective members can sign up from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and from 3 to 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday.

A grand opening will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, with music and refreshments. A grand-opening special gives members their first month free.

Waycaster said she is a holistic health coach and personal trainer and is also certified as a group exercise instructor. She said the facility's owner is Chris Cupi of Pekin.

The facility's phone number is 892-2328. Its website, not yet operational, is expected to be http://www.rantoul24hourfitness.com.

Name change

La Gourmandise Bistro in downtown Urbana is changing its name to Das Cafe to reflect its German roots.

Owner Pete Schnabel said when patrons realized his parents had founded Bayern Stube in Gibson City, they "sort of demanded German food."

But in addition to offering German entrees in the evening, Das Cafe at 119 W. Main St., U, will continue to offer lighter fare, such as turkey wraps, paninis and soups for lunch.

Schnabel said having a "fancy French name" may have been a deterrent in a recession, even though he never wanted his establishment to be thought of as fancy. It's more a casual place to stop by for a pastry in the afternoon, so "cafe" is a better description, he said.

Most of the year Das Cafe is open 10:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday and 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday. But during August, the restaurant will close between the hours of 2 and 4:30 p.m. Tuesday through Friday.

Schnabel said he's considering extending Friday and Saturday hours to 9 p.m. to accommodate late diners.

Mediation, anyone?

Attorney Bianca T. Green has founded Illinois Mediation Services, a business offering independent conflict resolution.

Green offers both mediation and arbitration services. In mediation, an impartial facilitator helps parties reach an acceptable resolution. In arbitration, a third party weighs evidence presented by parties and renders a decision that can be either binding or non-binding.

Conflict resolution can be used to resolve disputes over real estate matters, insurance coverage and claims, health care issues, employment issues, divorce and custody matters and personal injury cases, among other things.

Green was an associate with the law firm of Thomas, Mamer & Haughey in Champaign from 1994 to 2000 when she became a full partner. She served as a partner from 2000 until this year before deciding to become an independent mediator and arbitrator.

"I wanted to be able to help provide people with other options (to litigation)," she said.

Public knowledge of mediation is increasing, she added, and more good, qualified mediators are needed so people can use alternative ways of resolving disputes.

Green recently completed training in mediation skills from the Center for Conflict Resolution in Chicago. She also received divorce and custody mediation training from the Mediation Training and Consultation Institute in Ann Arbor, Mich.

The phone number for Illinois Mediation Services is 352-6800. It also has a website. Green travels to the location the mediation clients choose.

Alternative medicine

Energy Healing Systems has opened in Champaign at 2919 Crossing Court, Suite 2.

The clinic offers "nutrition response testing" to find the underlying cause of physical problems.

Dr. Jon R. Link, owner of the Milford Chiropractic Clinic in Milford, opened the Champaign office to practice energy healing and acupuncture. Two Reiki practitioners, Liza Ristow and Naomi Christensen, are also on hand.

The office, which got its start July 8, is open Thursdays from 9 a.m. to noon and from 1:30 to 5 p.m. On other days, Link is at the Milford clinic.

Link said nutrition response testing involves finding out what reflexes are weak or in need of attention, and determining what's causing the weakness – food sensitivity, immune challenges or toxicity from chemicals or metals, for example.

The Champaign office number is 531-2711, and the Milford office number is 815-889-4407.

Link will present a free seminar on "Healthy Living and What is Nutrition Response Testing" from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday in the conference room in Champaign. For pre-registration, call the Champaign office or use the contact form online.

What next for Danville site?

Maruti Seth said he hasn't decided what to do with the building on South Gilbert Street in Danville that until recently housed Baskin-Robbins and Dunkin' Donuts.

"We're exploring a lot of different options," said Seth, who co-owned the operation with Sunil Modi. He could open another business there, or the 2,400-square-foot building with drive-through could be sold or leased, Seth said.

The Baskin-Robbins/Dunkin' Donuts outlet closed last week. Seth said sales at the 4-year-old store had always been "soft."

"In the last 10 to 12 months, the economy really started hurting us," he said. "We tried our best to save it."

Seth said no other Baskin-Robbins or Dunkin' Donuts stores in the area are closing.

Seth separately operates eight area Burger King stores – two each in Champaign and Danville and one each in Urbana, Rantoul, Tuscola and Tilton.

He said a new district manager has been hired for the Burger King stores in Champaign and Urbana – Dave Roach, who has more than 20 years' experience with Burger King, some at corporate and some as a franchisee.

Campustown properties change hands

Leon Bankier Family Ltd. has acquired the five-story Campus Centre building at 619 S. Wright St., C, that houses the Sarku Japan restaurant.

Miriam Booth, general manager of Bankier Apartments, said there are plans to put six two-bedroom apartments and one three-bedroom apartment on the upper floors.

The apartments are expected to be ready for occupancy in August 2011, she said. Office space is also available in the building.

The building was developed in 2008 by Northbrook-based Gregory Realty Group.

In another Campustown development, the Larson Company has acquired the building at 301 E. Green St., C, that houses Niro's Gyros. Doug Larson said he expects the restaurant to remain.