'Skin Bar' studio to open in former Acme Mercantile space in downtown Ann Arbor
Nancy Young hopes to bring a different kind of spa experience to the downtown Ann Arbor area when she opens DBTS Skin Bar this fall.
The studio — which is opening in the former Acme Mercantile space at 111 W. Liberty St. — will be “fun, upbeat and educational”, she said.
“We are not like a traditional spa at all,” she added.
DBTS Skin Bar, a branch of Young’s Delicate Beauty Therapeutic Spa in Pittsfield Township, will offer nutritional counseling and skin therapy services, including chemical peels, microzone face treatments and facial waxing. The studio will also sell retail products and offer skin education.
Young said no service will be over 30 minutes, because she’s catering to “on-the-go consumers.” The studio carries Dermalogica and Isagenix brands.
“Our niche is that we cater mostly to educating clients as opposed to the traditional frilly spa services,” Young said. “We educate on product ingredients, and sometimes diet, to give an overall picture of what could be going on with people’s skin.”
Young opened Delicate Beauty Therapeutic Spa in the Glencoe Crossing Shopping Center in 2010, after operating as a mobile spa and then in a shared space with B Young B Fit. She’s also a trained nutritional counselor.
As her client base grew, Young started looking into opening a second location.
“We saw this (West Liberty Street) space for rent, and it was the exact model I had envisioned: a long, narrow space, where you could put a bar down the middle of it, with high ceilings, and very inviting,” she said.
The “bar” in the middle of the studio is where clients can sit, test out products and get educated on the best skin care practices.
The 1,400-square-foot space became available in June when Acme Mercantile owner Nina Juergens closed her decade-old store in an effort to revamp her online business and create more Acme-branded products.
Joseph Arcure owns the building, which originally was built in 1888. Arcure marketed the space for $2,400 per month — and he insisted he didn’t want a restaurant user.
“There’s not enough retail down here, and we didn’t think we needed another restaurant downtown,” Arcure said. “(DBTS Skin Bar) is something that will really bring people and foot traffic.”
Young hopes to open her studio on Nov. 1. Starting in January, she’s planning to host bi-monthly skin care education events and also fun bridal showers and “pamper parties.”
Lizzy Alfs is a business reporter for AnnArbor.com. Reach her at 734-623-2584 or email her at lizzyalfs@annarbor.com. Follow her on Twitter at http://twitter.com/lizzyalfs.
Comments
rsa221
Sun, Oct 14, 2012 : 6:06 p.m.
Awesome! I've only been to DBTS in Pittsfield once, but the owner's kindness and gorgeous skin stand out in my memory! '"There's not enough retail down here, and we didn't think we needed another restaurant downtown," Arcure said.' YES. Thank you.
ElizabethXYZABC
Sat, Oct 13, 2012 : 1:39 p.m.
Remember that a nutrition counselor is not necessarily a registered dietitian. Which is she? The public needs to be aware of the difference, of just who it is suggesting nutritional supplements. What is their training? Are they pushing them to boost profits? A healthy diet is all most people need to have healthy skin. Supplements are only necessary if true deficiencies are found. Nutritional supplements are pushed, sometimes, in various chiropractic offices, health clubs, and other adjunct health outlets and practices. Nutrition is, of course, very important to skin health, but supplements can be unnecessary and a waste of money—and can be dangerous if taken incorrectly. I hope the focus of this practice is on healthy eating first. I bet she knows her stuff. I wish her well. Ann Arbor needs a good facial spa. I will definitely be checking it out.
LXIX
Sat, Oct 13, 2012 : 11:35 a.m.
Congtratulations ! A true entrepreneur with some real "skin in the game". Guys will all know where that tall cool drink of a lady just came from. Guys will all know where that beautiful skin e lady shops. Ladies, you can now clear up that old Acme spot with DBTS skin bar products. Ann Arbor sets the bar for the local skin trade. ...