The other day, I got “Beata-fied.”
I’m also no saint. But Lori Dodd and Beata are.
I’m not a facial-type guy. In fact, I’d never had one in my entire life.
But when Lori — the owner of Dream Spa & Salon — offered me one, as part of their 25th anniversary celebration, I could not turn the other cheek.
Turns out, I’m one of the few people in Westport who doesn’t know Beata. The Hungarian native has been with Lori nearly as long as the spa has been on Post Road East, in a handsome Colonial home at the foot of the Crate & Barrel shopping plaza.
Beata has a townwide reputation for her craft. After an hour under her expert hands, I know why.
But this isn’t a story about My First Facial. It’s about Dream Spa’s quarter century: how it began, grew, and overcame challenges.
Lori began her business career at the Manhattan flagship locations of 2 storied stores: Lord & Taylor and Barneys.
Meanwhile, in the mid-1990s Bliss Spa was crushing it. Their one location, in SoHo, was almost impossible to get into.
As a retailer Lori knew the draw was less about the services, than about the creative, fun product line — “Bliss” — that they’d created.
She thought about her retail experience in the beauty market — including Clinique and Chanel — and played around with one-word spa names. “Dream” seemed perfect. (A “Dream Room,” “Dream Dollar” gift certificates, etc.)
Lori Dodd
She, her then-husband and their growing family had already moved to suburban Westport, for the space and schools.
Driving down the Post Road one day, Lori spotted a beautiful house, between Fortuna’s and Greens Farms Elementary School.
With help from commercial real estate attorney Jim Randel and landlord Hal Lustig, she spent 8 months building out her concept. Dream Spa opened 25 years ago today: on August 6, 2000.
Lori kept “3 E’s” in mind: excellence, experience and environment.
There were competitors — including Derma Clinic, which had begun in the same Post Road property, before moving to Playhouse Square — but Dream Spa slowly and steadily built its client base, and its reputation. (Lori honored Derma Clinic gift certificates, when they closed in 2008.)
Dream Spa decorates for the holidays.
Adding salon services in 2004 was a big step forward.
All along, Lori says, she paid attention to new treatments. But she is not one to jump on whatever is the latest thing. She sticks with the classics. Any treatment or product must “speak to (her) personally,” and stand the test of time.
Then came COVID.
It was one thing for an essential business like a supermarket or drugstore to limit the number of people inside, and institute social distancing.
But a discretionary service like a spa — which relies entirely on close physical contact – could have been devastated.
For several months, she and her staff visited clients at home. Others simply stopped treatments.
Several months after the pandemic struck, a group of anonymous donors collected funds to help local businesses. Lori was stunned to receive a check for $10,000.
The money was important. So was the fact that people understood what Dream Spa meant to the community.
Salon services, at Dream Spa.
With help like that — and her understanding landlord, Peter Van Witt — Lori made it through those very tough couple of years. She remains appreciative to all who aided her.
“The salon business will never be the same,” she says. “But we pivoted, and survived.”
Dream is not the only spa or salon in town, of course. Lori welcomes the competition. “It makes you focus on doing your best,” she says.
Dream Spa was busy the day I was there. Staff and clients were all smiles.
When I mentioned my facial with Beata that evening, there were more smiles — of appreciation. She (and Dream Spa) may not have been on my radar. Yet in the Westport spa world they, she (and it) are stars.
This was not me during my facial. But I did feel quite relaxed.
Beata has been with Lori the longest. But there are many other long-time, loyal staff members.
They — and Lori — now see the children of the first clients they served. The second generation is a reminder of what it means to serve a community for many years.
She also sees the same men year after year. They buy gift certificates for their wives and partners. (I was not the only male to get a facial that day from Beata. But — no surprise — women make up the bulk of Dream Spa’s clientele.)
Those clients are diverse. Some are youngsters. The oldest, a 102-year-old woman, get her nails done regularly.
When Lori came up with the name of “Dream” for her as-yet-unopened spa, she envisioned it working in many ways.
On her 25th anniversary, she has one message. It applies to her customers — but also to herself.
“Thank you for Dreaming,” Lori says.
(To learn more about Dream Spa & Salon, click here. As an anniversary gift to “06880” readers, the first 25 callers at 203-454-3454 will get $25 off any $100 Dream service.)
(“06880” regularly covers the Westport business scene. If you enjoy learning about what’s old — and new — please click here to support our work. Thank you!)
She created an Instagram: @SaveLocalWestport. She’s asking small businesses to DM her for details. She’ll organize a Zoom meeting with interested owners.