they've got spirit

Nationally renowned skincare spa gives good face to Rice Village

SkinSpirit is setting up shop in Rice Village.

Photo courtesy of SkinSpirit

What is billed as the country’s number one provider of Botox cosmetic and dermal fillers is opening its first outpost in Houston’s Rice Village Thursday, September 30. SkinSpirit, a national destination for medical aesthetic skin, face, and body services, will set up shop at 2401 Times Blvd., Suite 110.

This marks the 18th location for SkinSpirit nationally, and the third location in Texas following clinics in Austin and Dallas-Fort Worth.

“Houston is such a vibrant community and we are thrilled to introduce the Houston market to SkinSpirit,” says CEO and co-Ffounder Lynn Heublein in a statement. “Houstonians pride themselves on health and wellness, and our goal is to create a destination where anyone can feel their best with the help of our comprehensive services.”

Supervised by Stanford-trained, board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Dean Vistnes, SkinSpirit, which was founded in 2003, promises cutting-edge technology and a luxurious spa-like setting.

The luxurious new 2,400-square-foot clinic features eight treatment rooms and a curated selection of medical grade skincare products from leading brands. SkinSpirit adds, in a press release, that clients can expect service from a staff of “highly trained nurse practitioners and aestheticians, and the best results in a gorgeous spa-like” environment.

“We are pleased to welcome SkinSpirit’s first Houston location to Rice Village,” said Morgan Lera, Investment Manager of Rice Management “SkinSpirit medical spa offers luxury beauty services, further enhancing and differentiating the bodymix of amenities Rice Village provides to the surrounding residential community. The combination of exclusive, evolving and tenured tenants is what continues to make Rice Village a one of a kind beauty, shopping and dining destination.”

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SkinSpirit; 2401 Times Blvd., Suite 110; Monday to Friday, 10 am–7 pm, Saturday and Sunday, 10 am–6 pm.

beauty openings

all sales final

Houston-based clothing chain Francesca's shuttering all stores nationwide

Francesca's/ Facebook

Francesca's is known for its boho-chic dresses and tops.

After a decade of falling fortunes, Houston-based women’s clothing chain Francesca’s is clearing out all its racks. The once-mighty retailer is closing all of its nationwide stores, including its 15 Houston-area locations.

Although the company has not made any official pronouncement, Women’s Wear Daily reports that the brand is currently in the process of liquidating all of its inventory. According to the fashion industry trade journal, some employees are reporting that they were let go without warning, while vendors are allegedly seeking payment on hundreds of millions of dollars in unpaid invoices.

Francesca’s was founded in Houston in 1999, becoming sought out for its boho-chic offerings that occupied a similar lane to Anthropologie. Over roughly 15 years, it quickly ramped up its footprint, peaking at over 600 locations by 2016.

That explosive growth did not prove to be popular with shareholders. That same year, the Wall Street Journal reported that its stock prices had plunged to their lowest price since Francesca’s went public in 2011. Despite leadership changes, the chain has been on a downward slope since.

In 2020, Francesca’s filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection while it sought a buyer for its online operation and brick-and-mortar stores. The chain closed almost 250 of its storefronts by early 2021.

After completing reorganization and being bought out of bankruptcy by an affiliate of TerraMar Capital and Tiger Capital Group, Francesca’s attempted a revival by launching a tween line, Franki by Francesca’s, and gobbling up celebrity-endorsed lifestyle brand Richer Poorer.

It’s unclear exactly when the Houston stores will shutter, but the company recently changed its return policy to state all sales are final after January 14. A request to Francesca’s corporate headquarters for comment was not immediately returned.

clothing womenswear retail shopping closings

they've got spirit

Nationally renowned skincare spa gives good face to Rice Village

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all sales final

Houston-based clothing chain Francesca's shuttering all stores nationwide