Jan 8, 2004

Pampered in Almaden: Studio G offers relaxation and an array of beauty treatments

By Kymberli W. Brady
Staff Writer

For Almaden’s Greg and Michelle Cancilla, mention one date and it conjures up a whole host of emotions. On Nov. 11, 2002, Greg was returning home after being laid off when he noticed a “For Lease” sign where a former pool supply store used to sit on Camden Avenue. In fact, it was the same building he and his wife had looked at three years earlier when the bank that occupied it closed down. Both shared a common dream—to someday open up their own salon and day spa in the area they call home. But the electronics industry they were working in was doing well and they saw no need to stir up the financial pot.

This time however, they looked at the location again from two very different pairs of eyes. The electronics business, like most in the declining economy, was no longer doing well and the pool supply store was gone, leaving behind the familiar “For Lease” sign in its aftermath. “This is a sign,” exclaimed Cancilla to his wife. “Let’s do it.” And they took the plunge.

Fast-forward exactly one year to the day and Studio G Salon, the only full-service salon and day spa in Almaden, opened its doors for business. But not before a $300,000 renovation transformed the building into a classy, European style getaway. The area formerly occupied by the bank ATM machine is now reserved for mixing custom hair color and the vault now houses a nearly soundproof massage room filled with lavender, wintergreen, eucalyptus and geranium aromatherapy.

“This has been a dream of ours ever since we met each other,” Michelle Cancilla began. “At night we would ask ourselves, ‘if we could do anything in the world, what would we rather do?’ From experience, this had always been a happy environment.”

“For me, it was back to basics,” Greg Cancilla admitted. “I was in retail with Nordstrom for five years, with a lot of customer interaction and I missed that in electronics. This is what I really enjoy. I grew up here and we live here. Now I get to see everybody regularly.”

Thanks to the support of family and friends who worked late hours painting and remodeling, the atmosphere when you enter Studio G is warm and inviting rather than stark and medicinal, with rich colors, elaborate chandeliers, elegant artwork and custom cabinetry. “We tried to make it look like someone’s home so people could feel really comfortable here,” Cancilla explained. “We gutted the place and started from scratch. Terra Commercial has been really helpful,” he added. “They let us do what we wanted and gave us time to get the building up and running.”

“From the very beginning we wanted it to be comfortable,” Michelle Cancilla added. “This is like home to us now. From the time they walk in to the time they walk out, they [customers] need to feel special.”

Seven stations in the front of the salon feature what the Cancillas consider the top hair stylists and color experts in the area, including two master trainers. Each was meticulously selected from more than 70 applicants and each brings at least 10 years of experience to the salon.

Another four stations occupy a back room for junior stylists, who will be trained by Studio G staff before taking commissioned positions. “The senior stylists with a lot of experience are up front,” explained Cancilla. “The junior stylists who are still training will be a little cheaper for a haircut and blow-dry.”

The couple also hired a certified massage therapist, an esthetician and a manicurist to complete a total head to toe spa experience for their clients. “We wanted to get the best people in here for our clients,” Cancilla said. “We made sure that they were checked out and had a great customer service background. They are all professionals and they get what we’re trying to do out here.”

Studio G offers exclusive product lines, including YonKa, Kerastase and Bumble & Bumble. They are one of only two salons in San Jose to carry the Kerastase hair care line. “They only sell to the top one percent of salons and are trying to keep it very exclusive,” Cancilla claimed. “This treatment line is just amazing—you can really feel the difference.”

For those in the mood for total relaxation and stress relief, or in need of help with injury or deep-rooted tension, don’t let Robyn Blackwell’s petite frame fool you. From reflexology to deep tissue sports or injury massage, the strong, penetrating strokes she uses with her hands, knuckles and even elbows are a testament to her healing prowess. Along with over 4,000 hours of experience and two years treating injuries with a chiropractor, Blackwell was trained in Utah, one of only two states in the country that require extensive education in human anatomy and physiology before certification, making her a highly qualified and unique massage therapist. She also offers foot and hand scrubs, raindrop therapy, Lymphatic and Cryotherapy, prenatal massage and hot stone massage.

Almaden residents now have an opportunity to experience state-of-the-art spa treatments by Erin Roberts with YonKa products, considered the haute couture of skin care and named after Yon, a river in China known as a place of eternal beauty and renewal, and Ka, the Egyptian word for “vital energy.”

Formerly with Aveda, Roberts brings four years of makeup, skin care and massage expertise to Studio G. “She’s really trained across the board,” Cancilla replied. “She is always looking for more education and we’re trying to encourage as much of that as possible.”

Extensive training in Los Angeles makes Roberts an expert with the YonKa line, and her knowledge, combined with a gentle technique enables her clients to experience the ultimate in facials, back treatments and to treat a plethora of skin care problems. She shares that knowledge and educates her clients as well, providing a written summary of her work so they can continue the regimen at home. Roberts also offers a full line of hair removal treatments for men and women.

“I like the ingredients in the YonKa line and especially the results people were getting from it—they are visible immediately,” Cancilla explained. “The most important thing with skin care is that the product molecules need to penetrate the skin. This does that. They even have something called a Lucas spray, which breaks the product down into finer particles that actually penetrate the skin. That’s the difference.”

Kim, the Studio G manicurist, offers personalized nail service. In a private room, her clients are pampered while in the massage and pedicure throne. In addition to offering manicures, pedicures and acrylic nails, Kim’s services also include cuticle treatments, hand and foot massages, exfoliating scrubs and paraffin treatments.

Since deciding to get into the salon business, Cancilla has completed cosmetology school and although he plans someday to become a stylist, his time now will be dedicated toward managing the new salon with his wife.

Married for almost six years, the Cancilla’s have three children between them, including 3-year old Gavin and 2-year old Mia. Michelle’s daughter Madison, 15, is credited with taking care of their two little ones during the past two years, enabling the couple to slowly turn their dream into a reality.

The Cancillas take pride in the fact that the salon is off to a glowing start, and plans to expand are already in the works. There is talk of adding a tanning area and additional spa treatments as needed and they look forward to completing an outdoor patio in an effort to offer clients an inviting area where they can sit and enjoy catered coffee drinks. “We’re looking to do the outside renovation next year,” he said.

After only two months in business, Studio G’s appointment book is filling up quickly. “Everyone brought a clientele with them,” Cancilla explained. “The massage therapist and esthetician are already seeing 16 people a day. We’re going to be booked a lot quicker than I anticipated,” he added. “And that’s a good feeling to have.”

Studio G Salon and Day Spa is located at 6485 Camden Avenue and can be reached by calling (408) 997-8151. Their Web site is www.studiogsalon.com