Fitger’s Salon and Spa a ‘one-stop shop’ for bridal parties – Duluth News Tribune

DULUTH — Over the past decade, Fitger’s Salon and Spa has partnered with others in the industry to help create a wedding destination on East Superior Street.

“The wedding community here has really boomed, especially down here,” said Fitger’s Salon and Spa manager Chelsie Evers.

woman poses near product shelf — Manager Chelsie Evers showcases a display of the Fitger’s Salon and Spa new product line called Oribe.

Salon entrance inside a mall — Fitger’s Salon and Spa is located on the first floor of the Fitger’s Complex at 600 E. Superior St.

Located on the first floor within the historic Fitger’s Complex at 600 E. Superior St., the beauty parlor serves as a “one-stop shop” for bridal parties — taking care of them head-to-toe in preparation for the big day.

With 11 hair stylists, two nail technicians, a massage therapist and four estheticians on staff, the full-service salon offers services including hair coloring, haircuts, facials, dermaplaning, lash extensions, lash tints, eyebrow lamination, gel manicures, pedicures and massage services.

Blonde woman applies products to a seated woman's hair with a mirror in the background — Hairstylist Ashley Lee foils a customer’s hair.

Most recently, airbrush spray tanning was added to the mix on June 1.

Having previously worked at a dermatology clinic, Evers describes herself as “anti-sun.” However, she admitted to enjoying the look of a good glow, and so do many brides who come through the shop.

A My Tan Professional spray tan machine — Fitger’s Salon and Spa offers airbrush spray tan services to its clients.

“The colors that we use are really nice. Nothing gets too green or too orange, and it’s super customizable,” Evers said. “We don’t love UV rays, so this is a great way to catch a tan without the skin damage.”

Clients step inside the ventilated My Tan Professional machine, where the spray tan is applied by a trained esthetician using an airbrush hose. Once dried, it is nontransferable and lasts anywhere from seven to 10 days.

The newest service came at the request of Fitger’s Salon clientele, who expressed a desire for spray tan capabilities via an Instagram poll.

Particularly for bridal parties, the ability to schedule all their services with one appointment at a single location is a perk, Evers said.

And so is the salon’s proximity to partnering businesses in the industry. Fitger’s Salon is just one piece to the puzzle, working in conjunction with nearby businesses in what is becoming commonly referred to as the “wedding hub” of Duluth.

A woman whose face is covered by a black baseball cap is seated, having her toenails painted by a blond woman — Roseli Cain, a nail technician at Fitger’s Salon and Spa, paints a client’s toenails during a pedicure.

The synergy between local businesses in the wedding industry such as Northland Special Events, Greysolon and others within the Fitger’s complex has garnered recognition from Minneapolis-based Minnesota Bride magazine, which Evers said will feature the trio in a 2025 edition.

“They can come and stay in Fitger’s Inn. They can do their rehearsal dinner at The Boat Club Restaurant,” she said. Both neighboring businesses are located within the complex.

The hair washing stations await customers.

Less than a mile from the salon is the Greysolon event venue, located at 231 E. Superior St., where 800 custom weddings have occurred, according to its website. It offers space for up to 200 guests in the Moorish Room, and up to 370 guests in The Ballroom, complete with in-house catering from Greysolon by Black Woods.

Also within the Greysolon Plaza building is a new fine jewelry store called

Genereau & Co.

which opened June 7.

“We’re looking to make this corner a wedding destination,” said Genereau & Co. co-owner John Panchyshyn. “A Midwest matrimony, hotspot, if you will.”

Then just down the street headquartered in the Bagley Building at 315 W. Superior St. is

Northland Special Events.

Within its sisterhood of companies, Northland also offers a one-stop shop through planning and coordination services with True North Weddings, floral through Superior Blooms and specialty rentals through the Vault Event Decor.

“All of our clients received a preferred vendor list upon booking,” said Northland Special Events CEO Mariah McKechnie. “Clients feel they can be firmly supported with a team of local wedding vendors, an economic benefit for all involved. Our relationships across every category of wedding vendors make referral-driven business our preferred method of growth.”

Support among those in the local wedding industry is necessary, according to Evers, who explained that the wedding landscape has transformed post-pandemic. Couples are now striving for a more intimate setting versus a big bash, especially as costs associated with throwing an event of scale continue to increase, she said.

“We’ve actually run into a lot of elopements lately,” Evers said. “It’s not like it was prior to COVID. It’s pretty seldom that we get a big 12-plus party anymore. We’ve also noticed a lot of people are doing a random weekday wedding.”

Already experiencing a fairly full 2024 season, the salon will reopen wedding party reservations for the upcoming year on Sept. 1. This summer, there are 30 wedding parties on the beauty shop’s books.

fitgerssalonandspa/IMG_2947.jpg — Fitger’s Salon and Spa’s flagship product line is available in-house and is used on clients during facial services.

This year marks the salon’s 10th business anniversary. Since opening in 2014, both its team and services have grown — from the development of its own Fitger’s skincare line by an advanced practice esthetician to the upcoming launch of its new brand called Oribe at the Pike Lake Beach Club Sip-n-Social this July.

Over the past 15 years, Northland Special Events has been working to create a dynamic and vibrant wedding industry in Duluth and across the Northland. Another brand will soon join the family with an announcement anticipated this summer, McKechnie hinted.

“We’re committed to growing this hub for weddings and events,” McKechnie said. “The local industry will continue to benefit many other businesses. We firmly believe that our ‘rising tides’ will continue to grow the wedding economy in our region.”

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