As seen in the Scarsdale Inquirer, October 15, 2021

SCARSDALE – Stephanie Hershkowitz, general manager and a principal of Tranquility Spa in the Midway Shopping Center, has announced the 30th anniversary of the business. The facility has operated continuously since its opening and experienced steady growth and expansion. “Our current location is 6,030 square feet,” says Hershkowitz, “with a reception area of 600 feet. That was just about the entire size of our first location.”

The business was formed in 1991 by Hershkowitz’s uncle, Dr. Andrew Schwartz, an endodontist with a practice in Scarsdale, and her mother, Billie Adelson, who had studied to become a licensed esthetician. Dr. Schwartz was frequenting a gym at 800 Central Avenue, Scarsdale, and noticed an empty space across the hall. Sensing an opportunity afforded by the neighboring gym and the clientele it regularly attracted for personal training, the two partnered to lease the space and launch Tranquility Spa, a modest four-room operation headed by Adelson offering massages and facials.

Soon the business advanced to where a move and expansion were required. Taking on more staff, Tranquility Spa relocated to 110 S. Central Ave, Hartsdale, a building in which, over a period of years, it occupied several increasingly larger spaces to accommodate the growth in demand for its services. At the same time, as the spa industry in general grew vastly in scope, and patronage of Tranquility along with it, plans began taking shape for a major upgrade to a comprehensive new facility.

On Nov. 26, 2004, Tranquility opened the dual-level spa location that they currently occupy, 917 Central Park Avenue, Scarsdale, with over a dozen massage rooms, changing rooms and lockers, showers, luxury lounge area, snack service, and a continuously evolving array of state-of-the-art technologies in the personal care field.

Hershkowitz observes that trends in the industry have shifted greatly since Tranquility first opened three decades ago: “Back then, our clientele were more into a holistic approach to wellness, seeking massage as a complement to a program of working out and other exercise. Today it’s very different – the field is much more popular and mainstream, with spa visitors primarily seeking pampering and relaxation beyond purely physical health benefits. “In 2021,” she explains, “we constantly hear from our guests how vital deep relaxation and personal appearance is to their being able to navigate the stressful times in which we live. Since our opening here, society has experienced a financial crisis, flu and other communicable disease seasons, political tensions, severe weather, and, of course, the Covid-19 pandemic.”

Operating a spa during the current pandemic presented two particular challenges for Tranquility. First was making the many changes necessary to create a safe environment for guests and staff, and second was gaining the public trust necessary for people to visit the spa with the confidence they would be safe.

“Thankfully, it has worked,” explains Hershkowitz. “Throughout it all, to manage Covid-related stress, people keep coming to us for the ‘time out’ and diversion from daily life, and, in some cases, grieving the loss of a loved one. We are seeing families coming in to celebrate life events, relax together and enjoy some sense of normality. We are also seeing people coming in for facials to treat skin issues caused by the constant wearing of masks.”

Most recently, Tranquility faced a new challenge with the arrival of tropical storm Ida, which caused a three-week shutdown due to severe flooding. “We took the opportunity to redecorate,” says Hershkowitz, “and reopen with an all-new, ultra-relaxing environment, better than ever.”