Mobile Spa Service Brings Manicures and Massage to Rural Erie County

A mobile spa service operating out of a converted van has begun serving several small towns in rural Erie County that have no salon or spa of their own, filling a service gap owner Michelle Trask says grew as smaller-town beauty shops closed over the past decade.

"Some of these towns lost their only salon when the owner retired and nobody bought the business," Trask said. "I'm not trying to compete with a full-service shop. I'm trying to reach people who currently have no option at all."

The van is outfitted with a portable manicure station, a massage table, and basic facial equipment, allowing Trask and one part-time contractor to offer scaled-down versions of typical spa services at community centers, senior living facilities, and, increasingly, private homes for small group bookings.

Trask says senior living facility bookings have become an unexpectedly large share of her business, as facility activity directors look for regular on-site services their residents otherwise can't access without transportation assistance. She is considering adding a second van to cover a wider radius as demand has outpaced her current schedule capacity.