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ST. PAUL-Eq-life, a health-oriented store developed by Best Buy Co. that combines laptops, MP3 players, exercise equipment and vitamins with a drug store, spa salon and coffee bar, will open a new 20,000-sf store on the southwest corner of Victoria and Grand avenues. The store, whose name combines the words equilibrium and lifestyle, will be the second in the Richfield-based consumer electronics retailers chain of eq-life stores.

The first opened earlier this year at Southdale Square in Richfield. The company says it is combining Best Buy's retail and technology expertise with the health and wellness expertise of Park Nicollet Health Services and PrairieStone Pharmacy. Customers can fill a prescription, attend a yoga or pilates class, and check out the latest heart monitors, MP3 players, exercise equipment or other health-related devices, according to the company. The store also has its own nurses and dietitians for customers.

The target market for the new stores will be women 35 and older, who work outside the home, have families and are pressed for time--although it will also appeal to health-conscious, active men. Best Buy chose the Twin Cities to test eq-life because of the high interest among area consumers in balancing their well being with work, the company says. The new store will replace Bound to be Read, a bookstore that opened about three years ago.