New day spa freshens up Old Town

When Crystal Kerzel was coming up with a name for her salon, she looked no further than her own front door. The Salon Jay-Williams and Day Spa is named for her two children.Kerzel began working as a hairdresser 20 years ago. At that time, the just-divorced mother of two needed to find a way to earn a living, so she got her hair license. It turned out to be something she really enjoyed.Her new business opened in February in Old Town, bringing together six people skilled in various facets of beauty.Kerzel's speciality is hair, but she also does ear piercing.A second hairstylist on staff, Carrie Brewster, specializes in color, cuts and permanents.The aesthetician, Shelly Winters, offers facials, spray-on tans, body wraps and waxing.There are two nail specialists - Anne Spesick and Debi Stuhr, who do pedicures and manicures.Massage therapist Mitchell Neill's repertoire includes pregnancy, medical sports, deep-tissue and foot massage, using hot rocks.Neill's first career was as a stuntman for Universal Studios.One of the things Kerzel enjoys most about the Old Town Auburn location is the building.The recently renovated 1904 structure is right next door to the first Auburn hospital, which will soon house the Old Town Medical Museum."When we first heard about this building, it sounded so interesting," Kerzel said.But she and her husband, Joe Kerzel, put a lot of work into the space before the salon opened."We put the floors in," she said. "We had to replace the plumbing and did the lighting and sound system."Crystal Kerzel even re-upholstered an antique sofa and refinished a cabinet for the reception area. Once they completed work on the inside, they started on the landscaping.The Kerzels are getting a positive response from customers as well as passersby."Some people just stop by to look at the building," she said.Several of the customers have e-mailed their thoughts on the salon, including Doris Chandler, who comes in for facials from Winters. "The newly renovated building is quaint, very pleasing and full of character," she wrote. "It is a lovely retreat with all the modern amenities."In addition to hair, nails and massage, the salon offers packages, including wedding specials. Kerzel has put an emphasis on organics, carrying the Inner Sense and Ecoly product lines. She also carries gift items from Napa Valley Soap Company. Haircuts are $35 to $45, massages are $60 for one hour or $85 for hot stone, manicures are $20 to $25 and pedicures are $45.Kerzel is starting to plan a grand opening, which will b e from 4 to 7 p.m. June 14."We want to invite Auburn to see what happened to the building they restored," she said.The event will include dessert and coffee, music and door prizes.The Journal's Gloria Young can be reached at gloriay@goldcountrymedia. com.