About Faces Day Spa and Salon is treading where few have ventured in Baltimore.
The spa opted to locate in the 1st Mariner Office tower at Canton Crossing for its fifth location instead of a shopping mall.
About Faces owner Patrick Brennan said he chose to locate on the third floor of the office tower for one obvious reason ? the view looking toward Baltimore?s Inner Harbor and downtown business district.
“The pedicures have the best seats in the house, maybe in the building. There is a fabulous view,” he said.
It?s a trend that is well ensconced in other cities, said Hannelore Leavy, executive director of the Union City, N.J.-based Day Spa Association.
“Spas have always been in office buildings, but usually in New York City, Chicago and any of the other major metro areas,” Leavy said. “They prefer to be in building on [upper floors] rather than on the street level because the street locations aren?t as safe. They are more protected.”
While Brennan said he was dedicated to locating in the downtown Baltimore area, he was not impressed with the lack of parking and the expense of public parking facilities.
“That can be congested and expensive,” he said.
Brennan believes that Canton Crossing will be the catalyst for east Baltimore?s redevelopment efforts.
“A lot will end up east, where we are,” he said. “This will truly be a renaissance.”
Brennan said About Faces will have a “captive audience” in the building when it is fully populated, and another 600 families will come to live in the area.
Developer Edwin Hale Jr. has said he plans to build 503 apartments and single-family homes in the Canton Crossing location, as well as retail, restaurants and entertainment venues.
“That entire area of Canton is growing with professional people as well as retired people who are moving downtown,” Brennan said.
Leavy complimented Brennan on About Faces? strategy of targeting business professionals, saying the move “makes sense.”
“Many spas are developing programs for their corporate clients and corporations are starting to offer through their human resource departments special programs for employees,” Leavy said.
Other About Faces locations are in Towson, Timonium, Pikesville and Salisbury.
