w ritte n by SH E R I L BE N NE T T T UR NE R photo g raphed by BR I A N E R K E N S
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hat once started out as “the ugliest building in town,” according to the young daughter of owners Alan and Debbie Foré, is now not only one of the most beautiful, but interesting, in downtown historic Greer. Number 120 Victoria Street sits comfortably back from the hustle and bustle of Main and Trade Streets like a secret gem tucked away in a jewelry box. With its creamy brick, black awnings, and boldly colored cement walkway, the building is a mixture of southern charm and European elegance.
The building was completely renovated from its former lives as various medical offices. Photos courtesy of Debbie Foré.
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Built in the 1920s, the building is one of 40 downtown structures on the National Register of Historic Places. It began life as two twin structures with separate entrances. Used throughout the ’40s, ’50s, and ’60s as office facilities for doctors and a dentist, it became known as the Woodruff Snoddy Davis Clinic after Dr. Frank Woodruff, Dr. Warren Snoddy, and Dr. Lewis Davis who occupied the space at that time. Other doctors who had offices in the building were Dr. Reginald Alverson and Dr. D. L. Allen as well as Dr. Roy Jackson, a dentist. “Former patients sometimes come in just to see the changes we’ve made,” Debbie says. “A gentleman,” Alan adds, “told us that he used to sit in the dentist’s chair and read the writing on the building face across the street over and over as the dentist worked on his teeth. Everyone has a story to tell about this building.” Even though the building is no longer a medical office, the healing spirit still exists in a more modern form as the Victoria Place Salon and Spa.
Back in 1999, Alan, an architect by trade, was renting office space in the building when it came up for sale. With an architect’s vision he imaged what the building, with its characteristic period features, could become and quickly snatched it up. At that time, the building was still divided into two separate buildings so Alan’s business remained in one while the couple decided what to do with the other. “We knew one day we would renovate the space,” Debbie explains. “We weren’t quite sure when or what we were going to do with it, but I told Alan I would love to do a spa here. Well, the development of Greer had not happened yet, and it was pretty much a ghost town. Alan looked at me and said, ‘You’re dreaming.’” Alan laughs as he remembers those days. “You could park longways on the street and nobody cared.” After discussions fell through with a friend who wanted to lease space for a hair salon, they decided to open up their own upscale salon downstairs with office space upstairs. But as Greer’s vision of a revitalized downtown area began The top step of the stairway is slightly crooked, adding to the intrinsic charm of the building.
The original 1920s signs of the upstairs bathroom signs were saved for charm and character.
to take shape, Debbie finally convinced Alan that a spa would work. With a new game plan in mind they took the existing architectural plans, designed by David Langley of Langley & Associates, and created Victoria Place Salon and Spa, opening in October 2004. Earlier in 2006, the two buildings were joined to make room for additional spa services. Then, Salon and Spa Director, Geri Hunter, was recruited from the famed St. Regis Resort in Aspen, Colorado to help. Working with interior designer Susan Boone Jones and contractor Henry James of Cunningham-Waters, the Foré’s goal was to retain the character and charm of the original building. The exposed brick, hardwood floors, and bead board ceilings — all original to the building — give the feeling of being in another place, another time. “We wanted our clients to feel like they were stepping into a place like no other, something different than the norm,” Debbie explains. With facilities and amenities for
The White Room bathes bridal parties in white, lending a calming spirit to the day. GreerNow SEPTEMBER 2006
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both men and women, Victoria Place is truly a retreat from everyday stresses and problems. Stepping through the entryway leads you into the elegant reception area and gift boutique, where beauty products can be purchased or put together as a special gift basket. The salon, with its cork floors, funky art, and fun lighting, brings an element of playfulness as you receive a haircut and color, a pampering manicure and pedicure, or a special make-up application. The new addition on the bottom floor, decorated in soothing natural earth tones, offers separate spacious men’s and women’s locker rooms with showers and steam rooms. There’s also a special water therapy room. “This is an exclusive service,” Debbie explains. The room features a massage table for hydrating and purifying wraps, body exfoliation and bronzing, and water therapy treatments. After your treatment, a special Vichy shower consisting of seven adjustable shower heads soothes and relaxes your whole body with a gentle rain. An aromatic herbal treatment is also available in the Hydrotherapy Bath, which provides relief from many health problems such as arthritis, back pain, sports injuries, eczema, and psoriasis. Upstairs, the renovation is just as impressive. The White Room, a spacious, elegantly appointed room decorated in shades of white, is used for serving refreshments to spa guests and as a special place for baby showers, parties, and bridal services. “Our goal,” Debbie says, “was to have a place for our brides to come. Other than the birth of your child, your wedding day is the most memorable day of your adult life. You want it to be special. Often, a bride books all these wonderful spa services for her bridal party and then she doesn’t see them throughout the day.
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They’re all having their hair done or going here or there, and there’s not a time where they actually get to enjoy spending time together. We designed this room to give our brides a place to gather to be with friends and family on her day.” Also located upstairs is a large Grand Ballroom for catered events and meetings, as well as yoga lessons. Across the hall is a private luxurious seating area and massage room where treatments are tailored to the needs of the individual client. “A massage will lower your blood pressure,” explains Debbie. “For anyone who has high blood pressure or is highly stressed, a massage is not just relaxing from a pampering standpoint, but is therapeutic from a health standpoint. If you can take the time for a massage, to bring those stress levels down and release those toxins that are in your body from sitting tense at your desk for hours at a time and not breathing deeply, you’re adding years to your life.” Victoria Place offers relaxation massages to soothe aches and pains, Swedish and deep tissue massages to help restore function to muscles, tendons, and ligaments, and even prenatal massages. With the goal of becoming a total wellness center, physician services were added earlier this year to allow for more aggressive anti-aging and acne skin treatments, as well as weight management programs and nutrition therapy. A large, soothing skin care room includes equipment for microdermabrasion, skin peels, and facials. There’s also an IPL (Intense Pulsed Light), a heat-pulsed light that is used in conjunction with treatments for vascular lesions, difficult pigmentation, face rejuvenation, acne, and hair reduction. With the help of the spa’s Board Certified Medical Director, general health concerns and specific problems can be addressed to create treatments to help achieve bal-
ance and well-being. “We love the idea that our clients come in thinking that they’re just going to get pampered,” Debbie says, “but we also want to give them health benefits. We use vitamin A products for our skin care. We do massage services and teach you how to detox and let those stresses go away.” With a holistic mind, body and spirit approach to wellness, Victoria Place Salon and Spa strives to not only pamper their clients, but to truly take care of them.
A massage suite (above) offers the health benefits of massage in a warm, peaceful environment.
Unique pedicure bowls make for a relaxing time in the manicure suite (left).
The Hydrotherapy Bath provides more rest and relaxation with aromatherapy, completing the health benefits of a spa experience.
“Greer is going in such a positive direction,” Debbie asserts. “With the combined efforts of the Greer Chamber of Commerce, the Partnership for Tomorrow and the GSA, there is a focus not only on downtown, but the whole Greer area. We chose Greer for our business because it was our home and we have never once regretted it. We’re also blessed to have a good staff of professionals. We’ve done well.” And Greer has done well also. With the advent of Victoria Place Salon and Spa, Greer has the services, amenities, and beauty of a world-class spa, all without having to travel the world. d GreerNow SEPTEMBER 2006
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