Jacqueline Huggins, a mother of four, walked through Thornebrook Village Shopping Center with her family when she saw the construction for Trinity’s Day Spa in 2018. The spa solely catered to girls and young teens.
After seeing the soon-to-be business, her children put Trinity’s Day Spa on their summer bucket list.
The Gainesville locals visited the spa, located at 2441 NW 43rd St, last summer to pick out their own nail polish. The polish stayed on for two weeks, through weathering pools and beach visits.
“It was almost like the Disneyland of nails and hair and all things girly and glitter,” Huggins said. “It was so cool. I wish they'd had something like this when I was a kid.”
The spa provides girls, from toddlers to high schoolers, with a unique experience that owner and founder Edwennia Moore said will leave them feeling like a princess.
Bright pink walls overlook luxurious thrones where children sit while soaking their feet in water and getting their nails painted. Disney music plays overhead while the girls pick out their own bath bombs. Kids can dress up in purple boas and twirl around in a large mirror after donning their new look.
Moore always dreamt of opening her own business. While a stay-at-home mother for the first five years with her daughter Trinity, Moore noticed that her daughter was jealous of her trips to the spa. But Moore struggled to find a spa tailored to a younger audience.
“Most places, either they don't cater to kids or if they do cater to kids, they don't get the same experience as the adults,” she said. “When you get a pedicure, you want to put your feet in the water, you want to splash your feet, you want to get a foot massage.”
Moore said Trinity would have to sit in her lap when she got her toes or fingernails painted, making it impossible for Trinity to have her own spa experience.
“I noticed that the nail technicians, they never interacted with my daughter, meaning have a conversation,” Moore said. “‘Hey, how's it going today? What did you do in school? What do you like to do? Who's your favorite princess? Do you have a favorite Disney movie?’ It was silence.”
Thirteen years later, Moore resigned from her position as a loan officer at a credit union and opened Trinity's Day Spa — named after her daughter — Nov. 2, 2018.
Moore also created an apparel line called “Pinky Promise,” featuring hoodies, T-shirts and other accessories. She created a “Kidpreneur” pop-up shop that allows children to exercise their business mindset. In addition, Moore hosted a “Back 2 School Braid Bash” at the spa, which provided 35 to 40 local students with free braided hairstyles.
She said she wants to continue to build her clientele in Gainesville and eventually branch out to other locations.
“I want all little girls [to be] able to talk about Trinity's Day Spa and how it’s their favorite place,” Moore said. “I want them to know they have a place of their own, they can go and get pampered, and they don't have to go where mom goes now.”
Gabrielle Jenkins and her 9-year-old daughter, Danielle, have frequently visited Trinity’s Day Spa since it opened.
Jenkins said there are not many places around town, especially spas, catered just to kids.
“It's very, very special to, I think, not only my child but all other children that have the opportunity to visit the spa because they are treated with royalty from the moment they walk in the door,” Jenkins said.
Parents also can receive service if they opt for a “Mommy and Me” or “Daddy and Me” service with their child.
Jenkins said the staff is friendly and treats her daughter with the utmost care and attention to detail.
“Trinity’s Day Spa is the best place I’ve ever been to get my nails and toes done at,” Danielle said. “They treat me like a real princess.”
Bryce Brown is a third-year journalism major and copy editor for The Alligator. He has previously worked as a metro general assignment reporter on the Metro desk and as staff writer for The Avenue. When he's not fretting over deadlines, you can find him drinking copious amounts of black iced coffee and listening to Lana Del Rey.
