A long vacant space in the area’s busiest retail business corridor will house a national health and fitness chain next year.

The 26,000-square-foot facility at 1501 N. Bechtle Ave., formerly occupied by by Sun Television and Appliances and later by Toys ‘R’ Us, will be renovated into a Planet Fitness location in 2013.

“I believe any time that you have the opportunity to put an underutilized commercial space back into more productive use that it’s beneficial to the overall well-being and health of the community,” said Bryan Heck, the city’s planning and zoning administrator.

The Bechtle Avenue shopping corridor has seen several new businesses commit to the area in recent weeks, including Sake Japanese Steakhouse, Rooster’s and McDonald’s.

The owner of the former Sun TV building, Springfield Commons Plaza LLC, is “ecstatic” about having Planet Fitness as a new tenant, according to Keith Shoup of Collier’s International, the property manager for the owner.

Springfield Commons purchased the building for $3.6 million in 2005, according to auditor’s records.

“We believe it’s an excellent fit,” Shoup said.

The building was built in 1995 as part of the Columbus-based Sun Television and Appliances expansion but became Toys R Us in 1997. The business closed in 2006 and that section of the building has been vacant ever since, except for a seasonal Halloween store.

The Newington, N.H.-based Planet Fitness chain has more than 500 locations in 47 states nationwide, including 19 locations in Ohio. There are two locations in the Miami Valley, one in Dayton and another in Centerville.

The club, which markets itself as a “judgment free zone”, offers memberships for as low as $10 per month with a $29 start-up fee and $20 per month with no fee. They also run specials with start-up fees of $1 for new members. The gym is also the national sponsor for NBC’s reality show, The Biggest Loser.

The city’s Board of Zoning Appeals voted to award the company a conditional use permit on Monday evening.

The building’s other tenants, Aaron’s furniture store and Mattress Firm, believe they may get a boost in business with the extra foot traffic.

“I’m sure it will help, especially if they get a lot of new customers,” Timmothy Thompson, assistant manager at Aaron’s.

Customers of other new businesses also will be in the area.

Sake Japanese Steakhouse, a Dayton-area chain of restaurants, will renovate and move into the former Cici’s Pizza location at 1985 Bechtle Ave.

The Columbus-based wings restaurant Rooster’s opened this month after purchasing the building at 1720 N. Bechtle Ave., previously owned by T.G.I. Friday’s.

A new McDonald’s will also be built in the parking lot in front of Meijer on nearby Hillcrest Avenue.

“It’s a major commercial corridor for our community,” Heck said. “It’s a positive sign that the economy is strengthening to see that even as we have turnover in the retail market, it’s just that — it’s turnover. New retail establishments are going into these spaces, so they’re not spending a lot of time in a vacant state.”

Messages seeking comment from Planet Fitness were not returned.