Sweet Escape offering spa services

Posted on Tuesday, December 21, 2010

By ELISA SAND, Staff Reporter

After not being available for her customers for a brief time, Brittany Patro has opened Sweet Escape on Egan Ave. in Madison. The business, which is located south of the Trojan Tap, opened Friday.

Patro has been a hair stylist in Madison since 2008. She was first available at Cottage Cuts for 2 1/2 years, then at Mind, Body and Soul since June 2010.

"Since I went to hair school, I knew I wanted to start my own salon," Patro said.

A 2008 graduate of Stewart's School of Cosmetology, Patro is originally from Dell Rapids. In addition to hair styling, services available at Sweet Escape include massage, tanning, pedicures, manicures, full-body waxing, facials and back facials. Her business also has a kids' play room that doubles as a photography studio.

Working with her part-time is Crystal Utech, a massage therapist with 11 years of experience. Patro said that Utech also has her nail technologist license, which means she's available for manicures and pedicures.

Patro has operated a photography business for the past 10 years called Life at its Best Photography. Since starting as a hair stylist, she said, she's also taken pictures for several of her clients.

"It allows me to be a part of their life in different aspects," she said.

Although her business is open, Patro said work still needs to be done. She hopes to have her tanning beds operating within the next week and needs to set up the children's play room. She has additional painting to complete as well as renovation of current storage space into a bathroom.

Patro's immediate goal was to be open for her clients who needed hair appointments before Christmas.

"I'm happy to have the doors open," Patro said. "My clients are my family."

She hopes to eventually hire a receptionist to take appointments and possibly find another massage therapist -- preferably male -- who could work part-time hours opposite Utech. She plans to install a system that would allow customers 24-hour access for tanning with the use of a special key.

Sweet Escape is open Monday through Saturday. Current hours are 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. Appointments can be made by calling 556-4247. After hours, her phone number rolls to her cell phone so customers can make appointments any time.

Patro said that she is on Facebook and some customers make appointments through her Facebook page. She receives those messages in her regular e-mail.