When Donna Lafferty first moved to Bloomington in the 1990s, friends would stop by to visit her with bathing suits in hand, but she suspected they just came to use her hot tub.
This inspired Lafferty to open Spaah. The business will have been open 21 years this September.
“I like the idea of taking care of people,” Lafferty said. “I like the idea of people coming in and feeling so much better when they leave. I like the way they smile when they walk out the door.”
Spaah is known for providing a friendly, relaxing experience, Lafferty said.
Lafferty said Spaah had one customer who, after having a massage and tub soak, was so relaxed he walked to his car in the business-provided slippers and robe. The original space only had Jacuzzi tubs and offered massage services.
Spaah moved to its new location at 10th and Walnut streets in 2005. At the time, the building was new, so Lafferty said the business could have the space built to its exact specifications.
This new space gave Spaah the opportunity to offer more services customers wanted, Lafferty said.
Spaah now provides nail, waxing, skin care and specialty treatments like salt glows and body scrubs, Lafferty said. It also has Jetta tubs and a sauna, which is particularly popular.
“We have a cadre of young men who really like the sauna for some reason,” Lafferty said. “Every night we’ll have so many of them come in. I think it’s nice for the muscles.”
Lafferty said Spaah sets itself apart from businesses in Bloomington by being down to earth, friendly and fairly priced. She also said the staff gets along well with each other and clients.
One massage therapist, Catlin Krodel, has been with Spaah for 12 years, which Lafferty said is very rare in this kind of business.
Dominic Baucco, the front desk receptionist, said Spaah focuses on the medical side of the spa services.
“It’s much more professional and medically oriented than people realize,” Baucco said. “All of the employees are licensed professionals.”
Spaah wants to offer everyone the chance to relax and escape from adult life for a little bit, Baucco said.
Each Thanksgiving every employee nominates five clients to receive a Spaah gift certificate as a thank you.
“I try to make sure everyone that comes through the door feels welcomed and appreciated,” Lafferty said. “Everyone deserves to be able to treat themselves once in a while.”
