A nurturer by nature, Venne said she enjoys meeting new people. Known for her Southern charm, she will regale clients with hilarious stories while she is pampering them. Venne was bitten by a black widow spider and underwent reconstructive hand surgery. “Our church friends came to help.”Īnother setback happened. “The kids and I ripped up carpeting and wallpaper in the new place,” she said. Her two daughters - Cecelia, 14, and Mia, 11 - helped during the COVID-19 quarantine. They returned to revamping the new place. But once we opened back up, we were booked solid. Because of the public health emergency, her business couldn’t be open during lockdown.īut another challenge is nothing new to her, she said. She started on expansion plans but then life was disrupted when the coronavirus pandemic was declared in March 2020. In May 2019, she opened her salon in the small office space near Southview Plaza. Her home state, Arkansas, is home to some of the oldest spas in the country, she pointed out. She pulled into the parking lot and changed her life.Īs a spa operator, Venne focused on clientele wanting to feel rejuvenated - to release muscle tension, have mental clarity restored, release energy and renew a sense of well-being.Īs an Air Force wife, she traveled in Europe and observed spas in different countries, gathering ideas and calming techniques. She was driving to a college class when she passed a cosmetology school. Something was triggered inside her one day in 2003. “I grew up on catfish, deer meat and a garden.” Growing up, our playground was outdoors,” Venne said. “And they are all my cousins,” she said, smiling. She grew up in Slovak, Arkansas, a town of 86 people. At 46 years old, I finally did it,” she said. She offers all the services spas do - massages (men, women, couples, pregnant mothers), mud body wraps, hot stones, paraffin dip, manicures, detox pedicures, waxing, facials and more. Venne is a cosmetologist, massage therapist and esthetician. She opened July 1 and hosted a grand opening and ribbon-cutting Tuesday, offering food and sweet tea. A pavilion outside and a lower level can be used as event space. Among the new features are an ADA-compliant bathroom, wheelchair ramp, and elevator. She transformed an old 4,000 square-foot insurance building into a relaxing and safe atmosphere. Venne recently celebrated relocating to larger quarters at 125 Springfield Court, which is on the other side of South Lincoln Avenue, where her first place was. That’s why oversized rocking chairs are placed in the waiting area. I wanted people to feel at home and experience the hospitality I had growing up.” It is a Southern tradition to slow down and enjoy each moment,” she said. Arkansas native brings Southern charm, tradition to O’Fallon with salon and spaĪ rice farmer’s daughter from Arkansas, Michelle Venne wanted to honor her heritage when she opened Southern Serenity Salon and Spa in O’Fallon in 2019.
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