The Willow Glen Resident

Big plans are afoot for vacant beauty school

By Cecily Barnes

The building that once housed the Willow Glen Beauty College will soon open as a day spa and women's clothing center, offering beauty products, haircuts, manicures, pedicures, facials, waxing and more. In addition to clothing, the center will sell shoes, lingerie, bath and body products, accessories and makeup.

"It's basically a place where women can go and get all of their needs met," said Lydia Avila, who will manage the shop, to be named Jade.

Scott Kuschel, developer of the property and Avila's fiance, leased the building from owner Darold Gustafson and decided to keep the tenants in the family, or family-to-be in this case.

"It's a joint venture in a lot of ways," Kuschel said. "We're really excited."

The Planning Department is currently reviewing Kuschel's renovation plans, and once they're approved, he can get started.

The Willow Glen Beauty College building will be given a significant face lift and will be landscaped with numerous trees out front, "just like Lincoln Avenue," Kuschel said. The interior will feature marble floors and will likely be divided into a retail area up front and the day spa in the back.

"It will be an upper-end beauty salon, on the level of a Nordstrom," Kuschel said. "We're targeting the 30- to 45-year-old woman."

Avila already owns and operates Mirabella, a hair salon on Alum Rock Avenue in San Jose. She says that unlike Mirabella, Jade will offer several services in one place, including a place to have tea, soft drinks and possibly pastries while shopping.

"You'll have the lingerie, the shoes. I went looking myself about a month ago for some feminine attire, and there was nothing at all in downtown," Avila said.

Willow Glen women say they are excited to have another beauty salon in the area.

"They definitely need that," Willow Glen resident Carrie Osteen said. "There's only that one nail place [Darling Nails], and they're always packed. It's all Willow Glen women in there. They love it."

Rose Garden resident Rebecca Spencer says she comes to shop in Willow Glen but drives all the way to Saratoga to get her facials.

"I'd love to see that in the neighborhood," she said.

Other beauty salons in the area say they welcome the competition.

"Competition is good," said Gloria Maciel, owner of La Concha Spa Salon on Lincoln Avenue. "We all have our own clientele."

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