By Gary Nager

If you’ve ever driven west on S.R 54, past where it meets up with S.R. 56 and I-75, you’ve probably driven past the amazing Magnolia Spa & Salon, located in the same building as Big Frog T-shirts, next to the Extreme Adventures indoor play place. You say you’ve never seen it, even though it’s been there ten years? Don’t worry, you’re not alone.

But, if you’ve never stopped in to check out Magnolia, you’d be surprised at what you’ll find inside — a magnificently elegant, immaculate, authentic European-style day spa and hair and nail salon that rivals anything you’ll find in the finest hotels and resorts.

I’m not kidding. I have been to many of the best resort spas in the Tampa Bay area — from Saddlebrook Resort to the Don CeSar and from Innisbrook to the Renaissance Vinoy and many more — and Magnolia truly does rival or surpass them all in terms of cleanliness, the quality of the services offered, the “experience” itself and perhaps most important of all in today’s economy, the value for your money.

 

Some Background Info…

The husband-and-wife co-owners of Magnolia Spa & Salon are Adam and Gizella Poroslay, who are both Hungarians born in Romania (with delightfully different German-sounding accents). They have more than 30 combined years of experience in the salon and spa business and definitely embody that uniquely European panache.

Gizella, who has been a licensed aesthetician for more than 20 years, actually designed Magnolia’s unique look and interior design for a doctor’s office in Merrick, Long Island, NY, that was being converted into an early version of today’s MedSpas. But, when the Poroslays decided to move to Florida, instead of staying to build that doctor’s MedSpa, Gizella and Adam built the building that is now home to Magnolia, Big Frog and a soon-to-open bakery restaurant, according to Gizella’s specs.

The result is a haven of relaxation and pampering for men and women where each room is specifically designed for its own purpose. The pedicure room is separated from the manicure room,

elegant body, facial and massage treatment rooms, a large salon area, locker rooms for men and women, a truly serene relaxation room and the cleanest bathrooms you’ll find anywhere.

“I’m telling you that you could eat off the floor in any room at Magnolia Spa,” says Neighborhood News advertising customer service manager Nikki Bennett. “If we weren’t doing this story, I don’t know if I ever would’ve stopped in, but wow. The place, the people and the services are amazing. It’s a five-star spa, for sure!”

 

The Spa Services…

Customers of Magnolia Spa have such a huge variety of services available to them that there’s no way I can list them all here.

But, your choice of facial services includes everything from a Magnolia Signature Facial to a warm paraffin mask facial and facials designed especially for men and even teens. A wide variety of facials with peels also is on the Magnolia menu.

There’s a Kinelift Treatment skin rejuvenation program that utilizes LED light therapy and micro currents, available with or without microdermabrasion. Or, try a Dermalift, which uses microcurrent to revitalize neck and chest muscles. And, there are waxing hair removal services available for every possible area of need.

I can personally vouch for the Licensed Massage Therapy services at Magnolia. Although I didn’t utilize Adam’s services, Jenny, the spa’s female massage therapist, gave me a wonderful relaxation massage. I told her that I can’t handle the deeper tissue massages and she definitely took it easy on me, but still worked out all of my problem areas, including a sore muscle in my leg. I am definitely going to try a hot stone massage next time and there are prenatal and postpartum massages, aromatherapy and even foot reflex point therapy.

Body treatments include everything from a “chocolate fix” to a body polish with aromatherapy sea salt or sugar glow and Gizella’s specialty, the papaya-pineapple cream fraiche wrap.

Got cellulite? Magnolia offers a variety of treatments for it. And, the spa doesn’t just offer your basic manicures and pedicures, they offer acrylic and gel nails and a full-treatment spa pedicure, all at prices that are not much more than, but well worth, not having to be overpowered by the smell in most nail salons. Oh, and the nail technician Amelia is very knowledgeable and easy to talk to.

Speaking of knowledge, hair stylists and color specialists Joanna, Gina and Kasey are all not only experienced, but true pros who really know hair.

“Kasey is like an encyclopedia of knowledge about hair,” said Neighborhood News website/marketing manager Ashley Knoblach after Kasey gave her a whole new look. “And I love what she did with my hair. I think I have to start coming here all the time.”

And, best of all with the holidays coming up, you can purchase gift certificates or a huge variety of spa packages for that someone special.

See the Magnolia ad on page 39 for some great deals on hair, facial and massage services. Magnolia Spa & Salon is located at 24836 S.R. 54. It is open Tuesday-Saturday. For appointments, hours and more info, visit MagnoliaSpaSalon.com or call 909-4711 and tell our friend Kim the receptionist that we sent you!

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