'A little piece of luxury': Old friends open new spa in former Chocolate Harbor building

Editor's note: A previous version incorrectly stated a date for the grand opening, which had already taken place by the time of publication. 

Two old friends have joined forces to bring a little bit of luxury to St. Clair with the opening of a new spa.

Annette Piontkowski and Carmen Sadlowski opened House of Blush Day Spa in the former Chocolate Harbor building at 212 South Third St. in February.

The spa offers massages, facials, manicures, pedicures and waxing. The space has a front comfort room, a lobby that sells skincare products and handmade candles, a room for manicures and pedicures, three treatment rooms for massages and facials and a space for spray tanning.

Piontkowski and Sadlowski described the space as bright, light and airy. The space feels luxurious but is also a place where clients can feel comfortable.

"We're hoping for more of a luxury feel but one that has some comfort," Sadlowski said. "We really like to greet people by name and get to know our clients so that they feel comfortable coming in."

Joining the St. Clair community

Piontkowski and Sadlowski met while attending Lakewood School of Therapeutic Massage in 2014, and have remained good friends ever since.

Sadlowski also got an esthetician license and worked in Spa 223 in Port Huron and in her mother-in-law's shop in St. Clair for several years. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit and left her unable to work, she started working for herself and found she enjoyed the flexibility and freedom of being able to set her own hours.

Sadlowski opened her own shop in a small studio, growing her clientele until she outgrew the space. She moved in to their current space in February, and asked Piontkowski to join her.

"It's just really exciting to be a part of something that you build," Piontkowski said. "And then how cool is it that you get to build it with one of your best friends?"

Piontkowski and Sadlowski said they are excited to build the business in St. Clair and be a part of the growing community. The reception from the community has been positive, and the spa has attracted new clients from St. Clair and as far away as Chesterfield, Port Huron and Lexington.

"I'm hoping that it brings a lot of new interest to St. Clair. I feel that it has a lot to offer," Sadlowski said. "I want people to feel like it's a little piece of luxury so close to home."

Piontkowski said they want the spa to be a place where clients can relax and get away from the stressors of everyday life.

"Everybody needs a place to go to just take a deep breath and relax," Piontkowski said. "That's what I want (clients) to do because everybody deserves that."

Piontkowski, a licensed massage therapist who offered massage therapy services to private clients before joining Sadlowski, said she enjoys helping people.

"I love when they come to me and they're hurting and I can help with that," she said, "even if it's just for a brief moment in time to help get them to relax, to help get their muscles to relax, to help them feel better."

Sadlowski said she enjoys building relationships with her clients.

"I like knowing people when I go out from the spa and just having that sense of community we can create within our spa," Sadlowski said.

The spa is open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and by appointment only Saturday. To learn more, call (810) 637-8671, visit get-blush.com/, follow their Facebook at House of Blush Day Spa or their Instagram at houseofblushspa.

Contact Laura Fitzgerald at (810) 941-7072 or lfitzgeral@gannett.com. 

This article originally appeared on Port Huron Times Herald: Two friends open new spa in former Chocolate Harbor building