Since 2008, The Great Escape Spa in West Downtown Dearborn has been offering a host of services, including facials, massages, manicures, and more.
They’ve been running a side boutique for a while now, too, selling little gift items and accessories to their customers at the spa. But it was never a focus.
Until now.
The company recently celebrated the grand opening of a second business, The Boutique at The Great Escape Spa, located in a suite in the same building.
Tiffany Johnson, manager of both businesses and daughter of owner Kim Merry, says that as customers offered feedback of what they’d like to see for sale, she began to run out of room at the spa. A suite was open in their building and they decided to take it.
The Boutique offers a wide range of products, and many of them Michigan-made. Items include purses, jewelry, puzzles, greeting cards, and dog toys.
"We try to keep everything within everybody’s budget. We want people to be happy, that’s our main goal, no matter what," Johnson says.
"We get to pamper people all day long and shop for them, too. It feels good to make sure people are happy."
The Boutique at The Great Escape Spa and the spa itself are located in a historic building constructed in the 1800s. It’s housed some classic businesses over the years, says Merry, including a stint as the home of WKNR Keener 13 radio.
Merry’s businesses are located within the interior of the building and don’t have outward-facing storefronts. No matter, she says. Merry asserts that she hasn’t done much in the way of advertising over the years. Customers keep coming.
"My job is to make people happy for a living," Merry says.
"It’s one of those things where I’m doing what I’m supposed to be doing."
The Boutique and The Great Escape Spa are located at 22266 Michigan Ave. in West Downtown Dearborn.
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