Sheffield Lake’s Theresa Tino fulfilled her dream of owning her own tanning salon earlier this year, fully opening the doors at her very first brick-and-mortar business on Sept. 1.
Thanks to the hectic nature of being a small business owner, however, she had no chance to officially cut the ribbon on Erie Shores Tanning, 4114 E Lake Road in Sheffield Lake. Once things finally calmed down, the salon held its “Better Late Than Never” grand opening on Nov. 3.
“We’ve lived here since the mid-’90s,” Tino said. “The salon, actually, we opened in September, but people have been telling me, ‘Hey, you should probably still do your ribbon cutting.’ So now, I’m calling it our ‘Better Late Than Never’ ribbon cutting.”
The layout of the salon allows for a number of tanners in their own private rooms, Tino said. The building sports tanning beds and stand-up booths, along with a few other services, she said.
A mother of three, she explained that the desire to run a salon in Sheffield Lake came from the relative lack of tanning booths in the area. The salon is the only one of its kind in a 15-minute driving radius, she said.
“I have three daughters,” Tino said. “When they were non-drivers and wanted to tan for homecoming or prom or whatever, I would have to take them. So, I’m hoping that there’s other moms in my situation.”
The salon provides more than tanning services, Tino said. With red light therapy and waxing services, Tino has plans to add a variety of beauty and skin care services over time.
“Eventually, I would like some pedicure stations on the left, some manicure stations on the right,” Tino said. “(Red light therapy) is great for skin. It helps with rosatia, acne, eczema, scarring, fine lines… It helps boost your collagen production and also helps with muscle recovery.”
Tino also plans to employ a full-time licensed massage therapist at the salon, she said.
Sheffield Lake Mayor Dennis Bring helped Tino officially open her salon and cut the ribbon on Nov. 3. He said that Erie Shores Tanning is just the latest in the city’s variety of businesses.
“I just always appreciate another business coming to town,” Bring said. “This is what it’s all about, so I’m glad and I hope everything works out for her, so please come and see her.”
Erie Shores Tanning is open from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday.
