What was once a clothing boutique has quickly become a popular spa in the center of Downtown Wake Forest. Owned by Samantha Luce, Jubilation Spa is a 2,000-square-foot spa and hair salon that offers a variety of relaxing services such as massage and skin treatments, as well as high-quality Korean and Carolina-made beauty products. The spa also sells soaps, jewelry, cards, and is home to True You Studio, a hair salon owned and operated by Amanda Cottrill.
The space and the building once occupied by Wake Forest Boutique, owned by Elizabeth and Bob Johnson, was radically redesigned over three months since the boutique closed in February. The spa opened in May, following a $75,000 investment that has transformed the space to create an atmosphere that feels conducive to the luxurious services offered at Jubilation Spa.
Oak City Construction, which also built the bar at neighboring business Broadsides & Brews, completed most of the work at Jubilation in record time, for which the owner was most grateful.
Samantha Luce, 32, relocated to the area in 2021 from Winter Springs, Florida, where she worked in her field and lived with her sister, Maegan, who worked at Disney. Originally from Boulder, Colorado, Luce missed the colder weather and sought a location with more seasonal weather — but not too much snow.
Franklinton turned out to be the perfect place. The sisters bought a house, and Luce opened her spa in Youngsville. However, after operating there for six months, a structural disaster struck. The spa was then located next to the former Griffin's Diner, whose roof collapsed into Brandie's Botanicals next to the spa in September 2022. Consequently, all the structures on that prime Main Street property had to be demolished.
Luce was out of the country when the disaster occurred, but her sister Maegan managed to get everything out of the spa. With established clients to care for, Luce quickly found a small space to rent behind The Burger Shop on White Street. However, with three staff members operating in 450-square feet, it became clear they needed more space. Luce started asking around and soon learned that 221 S. White Street would soon be available.
Jason Cannon, President of the Wake Forest Business & Industry Partnership (WFBIP), welcomes Jubilation Spa to the neighborhood. "We're very happy to have had such a seamless transition from one business to another in this ideal spot on White Street," he said. "This addition to our Downtown further enhances the appearance of this evolving district and quality of life for Wake Forest residents. We welcome Samantha and wish her every success moving forward."
Luce was inspired to enter this field by her mother, who suffered from chronic neck and back pain. "I loved the work and the relief it could bring," Luce said. After earning a bachelor's degree in history, she started working the front desk of a spa, which strengthened her determination to go back to school for massage therapy and esthetics.
Luce’s journey to skincare was driven by her own struggles with acne."I had tried many different Western products, but it wasn’t until I studied abroad in Asia and tried Korean skincare that I really saw any change," she explained. "I fell in love with skincare and ingredients at that point and wanted to learn all I could to help others."
After a few years of working for other people, Luce decided to take the leap and start her own business.
In addition to the ideal operational space and prime location, Luce loves being surrounded by locally-owned businesses without a franchise in sight. "It's perfect," she said. "I love this area. It has that small-town feel where everyone knows and supports each other. It's fun to be on White Street after being tucked away. We invested a lot of time into renovating this space, and I'm so grateful for how quickly the construction came together."
Meanwhile, Luce said plans for implementing ideas for the spacious downstairs, which currently serves as storage and laundry space, is a project for another time. The spa relies mostly on social media and word of mouth for advertising, and they've maintained a steady flow of appointments. Luce recently hired another massage therapist, increasing the staff to six in order to handle the high demand for the spa's products and services.
Jubilation Spa is open Mondays from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. They are dedicated to helping you relax, rejuvenate, and feel your best. Their offerings include luxurious massages, revitalizing facials, and soothing body treatments designed to pamper you from head to toe. To book an appointment, visit their website at Jubilation Spa or call them at 919-925-2195. Treat yourself to the relaxation you deserve at Jubilation Spa!
