Triad’s Most Unique Men-Only Spa Gives New Meaning to “Man Cave”

JAMESTOWN, NC – Serena Bennett, a small Black business owner from Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, has created the Triad’s most unique men-only spa. She opened Stone and Steel Spa For Him (located at 702 W Main St., Suite B) in March 2019. When she and a co-worker were sitting together and brainstorming about what men think, they came up with the unique name and concept.

Reason for Start-Up

A new Cleveland Clinic survey confirms how widespread physician-dodging is among men. Only half of the 1,174 adult men surveyed said they get regular checkups, and 72 percent would rather do household chores such as cleaning the bathroom than visit their doctor.

Serena came up with the business idea having grown up around mostly males and saw how they didn’t always care for themselves when it came to going to the doctors. She shared a personal story about her Dad’s health and how he did not care for his nails. This reason pushed her to open a place just for men. Bennett knew she had to bring awareness to self-care for men, and opening a spa was the first step.

“I knew at that point by looking at his nails and seeing that discoloration I could have I encouraged him to go and that and I think that having a business like this is an opportunity for me to kind of push men towards going if I happen to recognize something,” said Bennett.

Customers

“Sometimes people are just intrigued [with the spa]. I think men normally are intrigued by not knowing what to expect. Visually they are not. When they don’t know what it is sometimes they will say I want to try that and see what it is,” Bennett says about her customers.

She appreciates her customers with special gifts. There are various giveaways, but they are never the same. For instance, on Father’s Day Bennett gave away a designer watch and tie. She made sure it was a special gift for the customer who supported her business.

Also, Bennett includes the ladies for the care of their men. For special occasions, customers can get a gift card for the men in their lives. A son can bring his dad for a spa day, where the two men would enjoy a day full day of relaxation and fun. The same could work for a Bachelor’s Party or birthday.

Bennett said 93% of her business is Black people that come in to support her, so she can truly say she is a Black business that is being supported by the Black community.

Spa Time

The norm when you go to a spa is body treatments that may include a sauna, whirlpool, jet bath, steam room, massage, mud bath, salt scrub, seaweed body wraps, clay or herbal body masks, reflexology, and waxing.

But not when you visit Stone and Steel Spa For Him.  It is a spa, “just for men.” The services available are hand care, foot care, facial care, specialty services like skin care, hair removal for chin, ears, underarm, back, shoulders, chest, stomach, and full legs.

“I do care about the health of the nails, not just get a person in here, get them done, get them out. I care about what you come in here for. There’s a problem, and I want to help you resolve it. So it’s not like you’re coming in here. Yeah, you’re gonna relax, you’re gonna feel good, but I’m gonna take a look at your feet. I get down there and I’m very meticulous. I’m looking at every angle. I’m saying “look, I’m gonna get you from here to here” and I do follow-ups.”

Uniqueness

Stone and Steel offer an atmosphere geared towards men. When you first walk into the spa, you get a glimpse of a “man cave” vibe. There’s a football and sports theme throughout the building.

Stone and Steel Spa For Him is a man cave! There are several activities for customers. They have an option of playing darts, Connect Four, a mini pool table, and more.

The actual spa treatment singles itself out from other spas. When you are receiving foot care, you are seated in an enormous comfortable, well-cushioned seat while listening to smooth jazz music, with the room filled with led lights, and you can pick the color. Also, you have the option to watch television with headphones. In addition, there are smart TVs in every room for its customers.

For more information, visit stoneandsteelspaforhim.com/.

All photos by Jada Stokes