The former Blockbuster video store in Brookswood Village has been given new life, thanks to the mother-daughter team of Susan Miron and her girls Jena and Jesse.
A few hundred people turned out Saturday for the grand reopening of The Parlour Spa and Salon.
“To the backdrop of a harpist’s melodies, guests sipped champagne, enjoyed hors d’oeurves, while enticing complimentary spa and salon mini-treatments were performed,†Jena explained, noting tours of the new facilities were non-stop throughout the day.
Now, as a way of background, The Parlour (as it’s better known to its clientele) was started in 1992 as a small family businesses.
It was set up near the Safeway in the Fraser Crossing Mall on Fraser Highway (at the Langley Bypass) for years, until the Miron family made the decision to move.
Through the years, and with a keen eye to knowing what customers want, the business has grown and evolved. In fact, it’s grown into a new, rather innovative full-service spa and salon complete with a Men’s Den.
Yeah, that caught my attention, too.
Sure, I know more than a few men who not only appreciate such facilities, but actually outstrip me on girl points when it comes to getting manicures, pedicures, facials, massages, and body treatments.
But in The Parlour’s new digs, the Miron family is really catering to the manly boys in our life.
In addition to providing all the typical salon services, they’ve created a separate and unique barbershop experience for the men, where they offer haircuts, hot-towel, straight-razor shaves, and even steam rooms and showers.
If you’re due for a pampering, this might be worth checking out. You can find out a little more at www.parlourdayspa.ca.
End nears for LW
And while the aforementioned business is rebranding itself in a new location in Brookswood, another in downtown Langley doesn’t appear long for this world.
The Liquidation World (or as it was more recently rebranded LW) is already all but gone.
In recent weeks, the staff has been squishing all remaining stock into a smaller and smaller space. Now, I would say, the actual usable sales space of the store (shelves and furniture, alike) take up less space than my living room. Suspect it won’t be long now.
In fact, the last few times I was in to check out their 50- to 70-per-cent markdowns, I couldn’t find anything to tempt me.
But, the impending disappearance of Liquidation World leaves me with a question. What’s going to take over that space in Rainbow Mall?
I know the City has wanted to see that site redeveloped for many years now. Heck, I remember thinking it was due for replacement when I first learned to drive back about 1980, and would drive by on my way to work at the old Langley Advance location downtown, or I would stopped in at the neighbouring SuperValu to see one of my high school friends who worked in the meat department.
I don’t think the mall has really had any real updates since that era. So, back to my question – before I got distracted – what’s going to go there now?
The landlord can’t be earning enough rent of the few remaining tenants to justify keeping the property as is. I guess time will tell.
Growing young entrepreneurs
I gotta tell you how much I love an initiative program by Langley’s own Envision Financial that teaches youth about running a business.
The PowerPlay Young Entrepreneurs program is taken into the classrooms and educates Grades 3 to 8 kids how to be entrepreneurs. It has been at Langley Meadows Community School for the past while, and those efforts culminate with a trade show today, in which the students will sell their products for prices ranging from 50 cents to $5.
What do students say about the PowerPlay Young Entrepreneurs program?
“I felt like a successful business owner in real life at the age of 12!,†said one student.
“I liked the experience of setting goals, following through and carrying out a big real world project. I learned that I could do this,†said another.
“When you really want something and you put your mind to it you can do it!†added another kid.
During the program, Envision Financial staff volunteer their time to teach students about financial literacy, business planning, entrepreneurship, good business planning, and the value of community investment.
During the course of the six weeks, students generate ideas, explore concepts, prepare business plans, create products and design marketing materials.
At the end of the program, students showcase their achievements at these trade show, selling their products to students, family and community leaders.