The Ten Spot

Kristen Wood, CEO and creator of The Ten Spot Beauty Bar, is committed to the Queen West neighbourhood. In fact, back when she was thinking of starting a business, her first thought was that she wanted it to be on Queen Street.

The year was 2006 and although her training was in graphic design, Kristen recognized that something was missing in the spa/salon services offered in Toronto. “At the time, the spa landscape was either low-end chop shops or very expensive spas,” says Kristen. “There was nothing in between.”

While she didn’t have a beauty background, Kristen had a feeling that even if clients only had an hour to spare for a manicure, they still wanted to have an experience. “For me, I wanted great service and efficiency,” says Kristen. “So I took the best of those two categories.”

Once Kristen locked in on the concept, it only took her three months to open The Ten Spot, a cool, urban “anti-spa” specializing in manicures, pedicures, waxing and facials. The salon was an immediate hit not just for the quality of its services, but also for its fun, communal vibe. Visitors can relax and watch a movie while getting a manicure or chat with their neighbours and nail technician. Group visits are encouraged, and you can even book the space for a private party.