Brit Inn Site Finds New Life with Curves Set to Move Down Oakland Avenue in August

Nearly three years to the day the Brit Inn burned to the ground in an early morning blaze, it has found new life.

Owner Byung Kuk Yun, stifled by financial issues and a slew of obstacles for years including asbestos removal and contamination tests after an oil drum was found buried beneath the property, has rebuilt the building and Shorewood’s Curves is slated to move from its North Oakland Avenue location near East Capitol Drive to the restored building at 4473 N. Oakland Ave.

The site has been split into two buildings and two addresses; Curves will fill the south portion of the building. Yun's martial arts studio BK Yun's Black Belt Academy is right next door to the north.

Shorewood Curves owner Julie Kruse said the women's fitness center is making the move Aug. 1 to the new location to take advantage of the new bustling business neighborhood, and to move into a fresh building. Curves' current location is an older building and the owner doesn't do much renovating or updating, she said.

The new current location will also give her a little more room.

The fire that ravaged the Brit Inn required 55 firefighters to extinguish, caused around $300,000 in damage was ultimately ruled arson by North Shore Fire Department officials. A Shorewood police investigation has stalled however.