From Toys R Us to Pilates studios: Malls fill empty stores with latest fitness fads

When Tara Gilad came across an empty Subway sandwich shop at the Nut Tree Plaza in Vacaville, Calif., she saw an opportunity.

Now Gilad, founder of the healthy food chain Vitality Bowls, will be selling her soups, Acai meals and smoothies out of the former sandwich shop. And she has her eye on a few of the roughly 500 other locations Subway is planning to close this year.

“The space itself is desirable for us is because they’re usually the same size,’’ Gilad says. "It is an opportunity for us.``...

   ...more

RSK: This seems to be a no brainer. Not sure why fitness hasn`t hit malls years before.