There is this quaint little place I love to visit just off Hwys 45 and 100 in Henderson, TN. It is filled with the wonderful earthy smell of soy candles and all sorts of baubles, bric a brac, and fabulous things that I can drape and wear. But there is something more about this place that keeps me finding excuses to pop in whenever on my way to here or there. There’s this feeling of a welcome belonging I get as soon as I step foot on its worn hardwood floors that just keeps me coming back. So you can imagine that I was more than excited when I got to sit down with Southern Chic Spatique’s owner to hear the story of this hometown treasure.
I arrived early for our Tuesday afternoon appointment hoping I could sneak a minute or two to look around, but as luck would have it, she was ready for me. As I sat with Stacey Ingold at a tiny table in the event room of Southern Chic Spatique, she was quiet and observant, and I was immediately smitten with the delight that found its way to her face as she talked about her dream that had become the shop we were now sitting in. “I wanted to come back to my hometown and open a business that would breathe life into my community,” she confided. “This place means so much to me and my family.” (Her father is serving his second term as mayor of Henderson.)
She had dreamed of a shop that would offer a variety of items and services normally not found in a small town, one that could offer community members the option to shop locally for those special purchases instead of having to drive to neighboring counties for the day. Stacey remarked that for years, she had watched people drive out of town for the things they needed and didn’t want that to be the case anymore.
So in January of 2013 Stacey, with the help of several others, opened Southern Chic Spatique—part spa and hair salon and part boutique. Right from the beginning, Stacey’s love for and connection to her community played an important role. She beamed as she told me about the building that houses the shop, “Well, first it was a service station. Then it was Max and Badine Redding’s appliance store for 30 years. Everybody knew the place, and we wanted to keep the character of the building and do something that would make the Redding’s proud when we opened the spatique here.” As a matter of fact, the Reddings were proud. They even opted to have their 20th wedding anniversary right there in the newly opened shop to commemorate their memories and show off the renovations the girls had worked so hard to complete.
Our talk of renovations brought me to my next question. I wanted to know about the furnishings. Southern Chic’s racks and displays are not run of the mill. Claw foot tubs, old ladders, bed frames, windows, shutters, and more—all fabulously weathered and chippy—show off jewelry, silver serving pieces, one of a kind gifts, and boutique style clothing.
Stacey admits that she and the girls found themselves working day and night; painting, refurbishing, and repurposing items that they hoped would add just the right Southern character and charm. “We sort of wanted to document the past. Almost all of the furnishings around here carry some sort of memory or meaning,” she mused. There is a cabinet from her grandfather’s medical clinic, windows from the old Silerton school, the odd architectural piece from this or that old home around town. Stacey even used the doors from her great grandmother’s house to create her hair styling stations. Each piece tells the story of family, connection, and community.
I asked Stacey to share with me all of the things that Southern Chic offered. “Well, you know on the right side of the spatique, we have our spa services: massage, facials, microderm abrasion, chemical peels, facial massage, waxing—facial and full-body, manicures, pedicures, and we carry Dermilogica—a top of the line skin care regimen. We even have an event room that we book for showers or other events after business hours.
On the left side of the shop is the full service hair salon with 2 licensed stylists. Stacey is a Keratin Complex educator, so the salon carries Keratin Complex as well as a full line of Morracan Oil.
As if that isn’t enough, the salon and the spa both flank the boutique which carries jewelry, clothing,
shoes and boots, candles, housewares and décor, gift items, specialty burlap, along with monogramming. With all of this, it is no wonder that Southern Chic also offers wedding registry and gift certificates. Stacey shared that the boutique is actually the combined effort of a number of local vendors. “This way, we get to keep our local feel and show off local talent.”
As our interview was winding down, I asked Stacey what her goals were for Southern Chic Spatique. Her answer came quickly. “It’s always scary to open a business like this. It’s a leap of faith. We want to build relationships with our clients and have even closer ties to our community. I want to keep growing with fresh ideas and new things to offer so that we can continue to make a positive contribution to our town.”
The love the girls at Southern Chic Spatique have for their community shows in their choice of location, furnishings, and how they stock their boutique. This love for their community has created for them their own niche here in Henderson. And that love translates into a special kind of hometown hospitality that you will feel too, as soon as you walk through their door. I, for one, am already anticipating my next visit.
Southern Chic Spatique’s holiday open house is this Saturday, November 1 from 9:00am – 5:00pm! There will be refreshments, door prizes, and special sales. They will have “Holiday Wish Lists” available for you to begin filling out.
And, believe me, the “Wish List” is something that you will want to start because early in December, Southern Chic will have a men’s night. And men’s night might just be the best idea ever. At this event, your gentleman will be fed, given your wish list along with assistance finding what you have picked out. Chosen wish list goodies will be gift-wrapped for him, and his Christmas shopping will be complete!
For phone number, address, or more information about Southern Chic Spatique (so that you can make an appointment for one of their fabulous services), click here. If you haven’t already, make sure you like their page!
Sounds wonderful! Will try to make it to the Spatique on Saturday; sounds wonderful!