By Darlene Brace
Kristie and Kurt Schwab are local residents, and for the past 23 years they have owned and operated Panache Hair Salon and Day Spa, located at 525 West Third Street in Jamestown. At Panache, they provide services including haircuts and styling, as well as treatments for skin, nails, eyebrows, facials, body treatments, scrubs, and wraps. They enjoy serving the community, and it’s been a very successful business.
Eventually the Schwabs considered expanding their business to provide more services. When the building next door was for sale, they decided to purchase it for their expansion. They renovated the building, with some heated tile floors and a passageway that enables going from one building to the other without going outside. After renovating, the SOLT Spa opened in March of 2024, and the café opened in April.
SOLT Café and Spa features services that are one of a kind in the Jamestown area. It has a classy, serene, and relaxing atmosphere throughout and has separate entrances for the spa and the café. The spa door is to the right where you enter a waiting room, and you can feel the relaxing vibe as soon as you enter.
One of their most popular treatments is their Float Therapy, that features a small room filled with eleven inches of skin temperature water containing 1500lbs of salt. This salt water allows you to lay back and float effortlessly in the dimly lit or darkened room for your ultimate relaxation. You can have the door closed or open and can enjoy music or float in silence. Soon you will float away your stress, anxiety, and pain.
Another relaxing hydrotherapeutic therapy is the Vichy Shower, which includes a choice of a skin nourishing scrub or wrap. Then as you lay on a table, a rain-like shower falls onto your body that uses pressure and temperature for complete relaxation and restoration. The Vichy Shower is great therapy to melt away the tension of your day and improves circulation.
Downstairs you can enjoy Halotherapy in their Salt Cave. As you walk in, you see relaxing loungers set up in a circle in front of a fireplace. The salt cave uses Himalayan salt and can be enjoyed alone or with a small group. In the cave, a halo generator produces micro sized salt particles that are dispersed into the air. Salt cave therapy is great for improving respiratory health, gives stress relief, and helps with skin issues.
Back upstairs, enter the Contrast Room, where you can sit in the 100+ degree sauna and get all warm and toasty, and then dip into a pool of cold water ranging from 44 to 58 degrees, depending on your tolerance level. Alternating between the infrared sauna and the cold water is good for improving circulation, reduces aches and inflammation, and helps strengthen your immune system.
For those less adventurous, but wanting a relaxing experience, there are two touchless massage chairs that feature heated massages. Many clients start or end in them when indulging in other services.
These types of services are not typical to spas in the Jamestown area and are mostly found in bigger cities. This was one of the reason the Schwabs decided to incorporate these services at their spa business. Even in bigger cities, most spas specialize in one or two of these modalities, but at SOLT, you can enjoy several modalities all under one roof.
In addition to these great therapeutic services, they have added a sophisticated yet cozy café and a full-service bar. The bar has a nice selection of beer, wine, and alcohol as well as nonalcoholic beverages. While in the spa, you can have a beverage of your choice delivered to you by the staff while enjoying some of the treatment services, or they can have food and/or drinks waiting for you when you are finished.
The café offers a nice selection of soups, sandwiches, and salads including vegetarian and gluten free options and a selection of baked goods. Keep in mind, you don’t have to be using the spa services to enjoy the bar and café. There is plenty of seating to enjoy lounging in the café, or you can call and get take-out.
The cafe and/or spa can also be rented for private parties. You can have your party custom built to provide the different amenities and types of services that you desire. They also have gift cards available that would make a great Christmas gift for a loved one who wants to have a serene spa experience.
You can enjoy this relaxing spa alone, with a partner, or in a small group. The spa hours are Monday, Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday from 10am-5pm and Wednesday and Thursdays 12pm-8pm. For pricing and detailed information of all their services, visit soltcafespa.com, their Facebook page, or call (716) 484-3355.
Caption: One of their most popular treatments is their Float Therapy, that features a small room filled with eleven inches of skin temperature water containing 1500lbs of salt. This salt water allows you to lay back and float effortlessly in the dimly lit or darkened room for your ultimate relaxation. You can have the door closed or open and can enjoy music or float in silence. Soon you will float away your stress, anxiety, and pain.
The Contrast Room invites you to sit in the 100+ degree sauna and get all warm and toasty, and then dip into a pool of cold water ranging from 44 to 58 degrees, depending on your tolerance level. Alternating between the infrared sauna and the cold water is good for improving circulation, reduces aches and inflammation, and helps strengthen your immune system.