Riverside business expanding to west Wichita with new concept

Almost three years after opening her namesake salon in Riverside, Amanda Lee is expanding west with a spa and rebranding her original business to match the new one.

Joyful Willow Spa is having a grand opening celebration from 2 to 5 p.m. on Sunday at Northwest Centre, at 13th and Tyler.

Like the salon, which is in the one-time Moore Flowers building near 13th and Bitting in Riverside, the spa is a booth rental concept.

Lee said the businesses are about providing a safe, healthy and supportive environment for people wanting their own businesses but still wanting a bit of a team approach, too.

“We’ve had a really great outcome with that,” she said. “It’s a good mix.”

At the spa, there will be an open concept in the main area along with rooms for more privacy.

There are about a dozen open spaces and five rooms for facials, lash and brow work, massages and spray tans.

Rentals cost $150 to $210 a week.

Lee said she offers weekly booth rentals with no contracts because “it gives people the freedom to embrace life changes if they need to.”

She said it also encourages growth for entrepreneurs who decide they’re ready for a bigger step.

Charlie King of Occidental Management handled the lease for the Occidental property.

Lee said her salon, which she’s renaming Joyful Willow Salon in about a month, has five stations plus a room for an aesthetician. Rentals are $100 to $145 a week.

She said she decided to expand with a spa instead of a west-side salon because “I already know of some amazing booth rental spaces for hair.”

Lee said she doesn’t know of a larger booth rental spa that encourages a team environment while people drive their own businesses.

Joyful Willow Spa is taking former spa space that Keren Salsgiver had for her With Love & Co.

At her spa and boutique, Salsgiver had booth rentals as well, but one by one, contracts were coming up, and she said it made more sense for her to downsize.

“It’s just really great for our family,” she said.

She’s moving to 10646 W. Central in the center just down from Chili’s near Central and Maize Road.

Salsgiver is planning a grand opening celebration from 2 to 4 p.m. April 2.

She said she still had time on her lease at Northwest Centre, which Occidental let Joyful Willow Spa take over.

“So we’re just really, really grateful for that,” Salsgiver said, “and we’re excited for this.”