Business & Tech

Spa's Ribbon Cutting Becomes Shopping Center Event

Hand and Stone Massage and Facial Spa's ribbon-cutting will include nearby stores, refreshments, music and more.

When Hand and Stone Massage and Facial Spa owners Archna and Harin Patel opened their salon in June, they planned a "soft opening" to make sure everything was the way they wanted it to be. 

And in the three months since, the couple has been busy building not only a client list, but a network of nearby businesses that have joined on to make Hand and Stone's ribbon-cutting planned for noon Saturday an even bigger event.

"We'd like to give new businesses a chance to expose themselves," Archna said.

Once they'd received confirmation Mayor Frank DelCore could be on hand for the ceremonial ribbon-cutting Saturday, they asked other shops nearby in the Stop and Shop Shopping Center if they'd like to join in—and their simple grand opening became an event planned for the shopping center's common area between the buildings.

"We'll have a DJ," Harin said, later adding that to avoid disrupting anyone's relaxation in the massage salon, he asked the DJ to play no more than "two death metal songs."

Joking aside (there won't be any death metal songs!), the grand opening will include tables and giveaways from many of the stores and shops in the center, as well as others nearby. Refreshments, food vendors offering organic foods, and health screening by the Somerset Medical Center Urgent Care Center will also be offered.

And, of course, door prizes and raffles.

"I think it's just a way to reach out and connect people," Harin said.

The event demonstrates the Patel's approach to business and their spa, where everything is aimed at  what works best for their customers. The spa now accepts FSA debit cards to simplify payments from such plans, and offers special rates for lifetime members—and the spa has a couples massage room for a special night out.

Archna called it "white glove treatment, even as affordable as we are."

"It's really trying to make the customer feel comfortable and relaxed—we aren't going to do that with a 'time share pitch,'" Harin added.

Since the June opening, the 11-room spa has grown to include as many as 20 employees, and the Patels have become even more familiar with their products—which Archna, a pharmaceutical researcher, notes many of which are medical grade quality.

For the grand opening, Hand and Stone will have several special offers for customers, as well as their signature "Lifestyle membership."  




 


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