ELGIN – John Whittaker’s idea of opening a tanning studio in Elgin began with his wife, Wilma, a trained esthetician who had talked about starting a wellness-related business in town.
“We wanted something that was going to complement what she’s doing, and that’s how we kind of stepped into the tanning part of it,” Whittaker said in an Oct. 26 interview. “It didn’t start out as tanning. That’s just something that kind of came about as we were looking at spaces and figuring out how we were going to do it.”
That idea led to the creation of Allure Tanning and Wellness Studio, which is set to open this month at 13012 Commerce St. in Elgin, next to Burritos Mico.
The studio offers sunbeds and spray tanning, wellness equipment, tanning and skin care products, and the services of an esthetician – a licensed skin care professional who can perform treatments designed to promote skin health and beauty. Another service is red light therapy, which uses low levels of red light to treat acne, scars and other signs of aging.
“Red light therapy helps quicken up the healing process,” Whittaker said. “So if you have any issues on your skin, it will help heal those faster.”
Monthly memberships, which include unlimited tanning, are available for $69.99 per month. Members can add one family member for an additional $30 per month.
The studio also offers unlimited red light therapy and spray tanning for $59.99. Customers who want only one treatment – say, for a special event like prom – will pay $39.
Whittaker said he believes the Elgin market will support the tanning studio.
“Hopefully, we’ll tap into those people that live out here that don’t want to wait in line in Elgin,” he said. “They’ll come out here and get it and then go home.”
Whittaker said he was hoping the store would be ready for a soft opening in early November, with the grand opening tentatively scheduled for Nov. 15 or Dec. 1.