Shirley Class is the owner of Barefoot on the Beach Spa – the one with the colorful mermaid.
“The mermaid is our brand – she speaks to femininity and wellness, and is a symbol of strength who watches over the ocean. I love mermaids,” Shirley smiles.
After retiring from a career in nursing as a clinical nursing specialist and nursing educator, while also raising three children and becoming a grandmother to 10 grandchildren, she knew she had more to give.
“I had to follow my calling to focus on health in the form of wellness and relaxation for mind, body and spirit,” she says.
So, in 2019, in her early 60s, she began construction on her Rehoboth Beach location, located on Route 1 behind Panera Bread and next to the Midway Shopping Center. Shirley opened the spa doors in March 2020, just in time for the COVID-19 pandemic shutdown.
“We had to close and re-open that summer, despite the world still being shut down. It was a VERY SLOW start,” she smiles. “But we learned, we survived, and now we’re thriving.”
At its initial opening, the spa offered just massage, facials, and nail care. But after completing a major expansion last summer, the 5,500-square-foot spa now boasts nine treatment rooms and two relaxation spaces.
They have grown to include nearly every spa service imaginable: massage, facials, hair services, manicures, pedicures, spray tanning, waxing, lashes, cryo body sculpting, Japanese head spas, body wraps and scrubs, Mermaid Hair (their signature hand-tied hair tinsel), permanent jewelry, and a gorgeous retail boutique featuring skincare and hair products, clothing, eye masks, jewelry, wraps, candles and more.
“Everything we offer is a spa service. It’s not quick, and it’s the real drama of relaxation. We’re all about the whole experience,” she smiles.
“We also have red light therapy and halo therapy coming soon, too,” Shirley beams.
Barefoot on the Beach Spa is truly a place where you could spend an entire day relaxing and rejuvenating. In fact, many customers do.
“We host a variety of spa packages, lots of kids’ parties, mommy-and-me days, and we add custom charcuterie boards and other food packages – pizza for kids’ parties or Panera Bread for a full meal with our group packages,” Shirley explains.
“We welcome walk-ins, but appointments are preferred because even with the expansion, we’re booking up,” she smiles. “I couldn’t be happier that people are enjoying our spa.”
Check it out at barefootonthebeachspa.com.
Crush Questions:
Favorite Place to Eat:
It’s impossible to choose. Anywhere I am with my favorite people!
Favorite Beach Read:
Anything by Nora Roberts
Favorite Beach Activity:
Just being there – the smells, the view, the sounds, the surf, and seeing my grandkids having fun at the beach.
Currently Crushing On
Barefoot on the Beach! Our team is working on some new additions and more services for our clients. It’s so nice to see the growth.
