Guilderland Archives — The Altamont Enterprise, November 26, 2009
Re-Nue Spa, under Flansburg and Gasparo, keeps its charm and gives to the community
By Philippa Stasiuk
ALTAMONT — For Re-Nue Spa owners Rhonda Flansburg and Barry Gasparro, working in the village means giving back to the community. The business and life partners are using Sunday, Dec. 6, during the Victorian Holidays weekend, to offer wine tasting, free chair massages, and live music. They’ll also give visitors a chance to meet rescue dogs for adoption, and they will hold a gift basket drawing for Toys for Tots. People who bring in toys will be entered to win a gift basket, including a free haircut, massage, and hair and body products.
“We’re part of this community because we give,” said Flansburg.
The couple has also been involved with Community Caregivers, using gift baskets of store products and services to raise money for cancer and lupus, a cause to which both of them feel personally tied.
“I don’t know anybody that doesn’t have cancer in their lives,” said Gasparro, referring to his family members and Flansburg’s.
Not only do the couple involve themselves in cancer-related causes, but their primary hair product line called Onesta, which includes shampoo and styling products, is an organically created line made by Tom Redmond. Redmond, a prostate cancer survivor from Edina, Minn., created the organic line believing there is a link between topically applied products and the body’s health.
Flansburg and Gasparro bought the salon a year and a half ago after learning that then-owner and current stylist William Preville was planning on selling. Flansburg, who had left her own salon in Voorheesville to work for Preville was worried that the essence of the spa, what she calls the “country ambiance,” would be at risk under new ownership.
“It took a lot of thinking things through, but I didn’t want a big company coming in,” said Flansburg.
“You can hope it goes OK,” added Gasparro, “or you can take the opportunity. We purchased Re-Nue Spa not only to ensure Rhonda’s employment but to keep it the same.”
Preville continues working at the spa on the weekends and is also the spa’s in-house instructor in both advanced cutting and coloring techniques.
“He’s the guru,” said Gasparro of Preville.
“What was he just teaching us?” added Flansburg. “Oh yes, the Disconnect Bob.” Flansburg described this latest hairstyle as a bob, a la skater Dorothy Hamill, but “with a bit of a punch that is both less blended and well-defined.”
The couple have been together over 12 years and met over a haircut. After getting his hair cut by Flansburg three times, Gasparro said he worked up the courage to ask her out on a date but was turned down.
“I was seeing someone else,” said Flansburg, “but, about a year later, I asked him out. I thought he was cute. He had a ponytail and everything!”
Gasparro describes his responsibilities in the salon as both using his business expertise as well as being the fix-it guy. He also works at BG Automotive in Voorheesville.
The spa has not been seriously affected by the economic downturn, Gasparro said.
“We have 11 people working here,” he said. “That’s a lot of talent at a lot of different levels so the economy doesn’t hit us as hard as other businesses. Because of the diversification, we survive.”
“And our services aren’t outrageous,” added Flansburg. “You might not go out to dinner but you can still get your hair done.”
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Re-Nue Spa is open Tuesday through Saturday and is located at 119 Maple Avenue. Starting prices for a haircut are $22 for men and $34 for women. Other services include a variety of massages, facials, hair coloring, and manicures and pedicures.