New foot spa to open this week in downtown Tryon

TRYON — A new downtown business wants to give people a chance to get off their feet for a little while, and spend a few minutes soaking their aching toes and heels while forgetting about the many worries of their professional and personal lives.

On Wednesday, Columbus’ Audrey Shaw will open the doors to her new establishment, Le Roux Foot Emporium, located inside the Vines of Tryon building at 112 N. Trade St., Tryon. The spa will offer a variety of foot soaks that incorporate different herbs, oils, minerals and other materials, with guests having the choice to spend a 25 or 40-minute session relaxing inside the business or on its outdoor patio.

Each soak will offer a different health benefit to customers, from helping relieve joint pain to reducing anxiety, Shaw said. The business owner developed each of the soaks with the help of her friend and herbalist Dawn Coffey, using ingredients such as salts, goat’s milk, lavender oil and peppermint.

During their session, guests may choose to get some work done on their laptops using the spa’s Wi-Fi network, or can just relax and spend a few minutes away from the pressures of their everyday lives, Shaw said. With the 25-minute option, even busy professionals should be able to sneak out of the office to spend a few minutes of tranquility, she said.

“You can come in, enjoy a quick foot soak and still have plenty of time to go and grab something to eat,” Shaw said.

Shaw, a native of South Africa who moved to the area six years ago, said she came up with the idea of opening a foot spa in the area last year, after she and one of her friends visited a similar business in Asheville. The two of them had a chance to sit down in a small room and soak their feet, spending some precious time in their own little world, Shaw said.

“It forced me to not think for a while, to relax,” she said. “We just sat back and chatted, enjoyed a glass of wine and forgot everything else we had going on that day.”

Although it was totally different from her other business, in screen printing and embroidery, the idea of opening her own foot spa just kept coming back to Shaw in the months since her trip to Asheville, especially as there was not anything like it in the Tryon area, she said.

When she discovered the open space in the back of the Vines of Tryon building downtown, she knew right away she had found the perfect space to launch her vision.

Over the past several months, Shaw has worked to transform the former kitchen into a relaxing haven, with comfy couches and chairs lining the room and outdoor patio. Much of the décor is inspired by Shaw’s native heritage — in fact, the logo of the business is based on the South African protea flower.

In addition to her assortment of regular soaks — all of which are named after different places and things from South Africa — Shaw also plans to carry fun, seasonal-themed soaks, including an equestrian-themed one in honor of this month’s World Equestrian Games at Tryon International Equestrian Center. She will also sell tea, snacks and gifts at the shop, and hopes in the future to eventually offer massages and other amenities to help guests relax and unwind, Shaw said.

Le Roux Foot Emporium will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, and by appointment on Mondays. For more information, people may call 828-352-8551 or may visit facebook.com/Lerouxspa.