Urban Tanning Spa Goes Ka-put
Urban Tanning Spa, in the 700 block of Pacific and a few doors down from Suite133, has gone bye-bye. At some point over the weekend, everything disappeared. The fixtures, computers, furniture, and equipment … all gone. Letters were scrawled on the window with a phone number for those with questions. Wow.
More information (Sure there is) at UrbanTanningSpa.com
Filed under: tacoma-business, dowtown-tacoma
32 comments
R RR Anderson August 5, 2008
their phony man-trunk advertising materials will not be missed.
A A R Campbell August 5, 2008
Now the orange-skinned, 25” rim-clad hummer H2 driving body builders will have to cencer-up somewhere else.
And so it goes.
A altered chords August 5, 2008
Frost Park chalk off and sunbathing?
Nah – Frost is too small for that, let’s take it to the Tollefson heat island. Kill 2 birds w/ one stone.
S Sassy McButterpants August 5, 2008
It’s never good to see businesses fail downtown. Also, really liked it there, I thought it was fun.
Always sort of a guilty pleasure in the winter…I’d have a morning coffee at Blackwater then head down to UTS with an iPod full of Jimmy Buffett to spend 15 minutes pretending I was somewhere else.
I will miss you Urban Tanning Spa.
B BBoy1220 August 5, 2008
Urban Tanning Salon was great while it lasted. The business as you all know is very seasonal and the place was very well kept. Being a one-person owner means you reward profit and dread losses on your own. I give the owner a lot of credit for his creativity as well as taking the tanning salon image to a whole new level sexiness.
Good luck to Aaron and his business ventures!
T Tanner August 6, 2008
Hmmm maybe that is why they tried to sell me a tanning package last week when I went there. They said I had 4 left and I knew I had more like 6 or 7! Which they “corrected” after printing out my report. Why would I need to buy another package if I had 4 left?
So do we get out money back for tans not used? Those ain’t cheap when using the high beds?
If put on credit card will visa/mastercard help with that being I didn’t get services I paid for?
K Kimberley August 6, 2008
Very sad to see Aaron’s business go under. I know he moved away from the Alber’s Mills lofts right before Christmas….I wonder what else he has going on.
C crenshaw sepulveda August 6, 2008
Just pretend I said something cynical and sarcastic and I’ll move on.
C chica August 6, 2008
I don’t know what to say. He asked me to buy a package, yet supposedly from what one of his old employees told me, he had a 5 day notice to vacate – That does not make sense. Bad things happen to bad business people. It’s funny because he thinks that he can get away with ripping people off. The name Urban Tanning Salon will be ruined by his scam.
T Thorax O'Tool August 6, 2008
I feel bad that a local business in downtown has died.
But tanning? I thought UV was you know, bad.
B bob August 6, 2008
They would have had a fighting chance had they served beer.
B bobbyboshea August 6, 2008
Ha Ha.. their 2AM weekend closing time only lasted one weekend…
M Mr.Sniggles August 6, 2008
All I know is never tan naked. My privies are still blistered …
S Sassy McButterpants August 6, 2008
Sure, UV rays can cause damage that could potentially shorten your life. So can riding a bike, riding a motorcycle, driving a car, gaining weight, smoking, drinking, and a million other things we learn about every day.
I don’t think we should be less sad to see them go because some people don’t like tanning. Personally, I think getting nekkid for little tan 15 minutes in the middle of the day is lovely guilty pleasure.
They served a need downtown, now I have to drive 15 minutes away to get my lovely fake glow.
A altered chords August 6, 2008
I just spray painted my face bronze.
Looks great. The guy at Parker Paint said it would last 6 months.
K kris August 6, 2008
Too much tanning can be bad, m’kay.
Go see Michelle at Angela’s Salon on 6th Ave. She sprays (tan) me on occasion for that lovely glow. The Mystic Tan machine suck compared to her, and she costs less. I’m going today as a matter of fact…
S Shellie August 6, 2008
I was there last week and they wanted me to sign up for the 3 month “special”
Thank God I only did one month…guess I am out of $100
B bobbyboshea August 6, 2008
I guess whar you all need to do is file a complaint with the BBB. Paying money for services not received is called fraud. If you read above, he told his employees he had a 5 day notice to vacate – so knowing you have 5 days to move out and still selling packages is considered fraud.
K Kim August 6, 2008
This really sucks. I really loved the Versa Spa there. Anyone know if there is another one of these machines anywhere close by? Just Versa Spa not a Mystic Tan because Mystic sucks! Everyone that worked there was always so nice, parking could’ve been better. I still had sessions left, I’m bummed :(
J Jessie August 6, 2008
Hey Kim, I go to Emerald City Sun to Versaspa now. Here’s a link to find a Versaspa anywhere in case you go out of town or something http://www.versaspasystem.com/consumersite/locate.cfm
Just go to the ones that have a “V” next to it. Sorry to hear that you are out sessions.
K Kim August 6, 2008
Thanks Jessie!!!
A altered chords August 6, 2008
Seems like they “burned” alot of people.
R RR Anderson August 6, 2008
you’d think all those pasty russel employees with money falling out of their pockets into every conceivable downtown crevice a business like this could prosper. Curse you trickle-down voodoo economics!!
R rick August 6, 2008
Wha? Tanning in July and August? REALLY? I understand (I guess) a bit of tanning in, say, February. But during these spectacular months? I recommend keeping that $100 in your pocket, and your car in the driveway, and use that time to wander about your neiborhood. I’m guessing you’re just as lovely without the faux tan…
A altered chords August 6, 2008
Rick – you’re missing the point. Read Sassy’s comment again. It seems to be about getting “nekkid” (that means naked)
It’s our stodgy city council and mayor that won’t let us walk arond Ruston Way w/out clothes.
It’s a darn shame is what it is.
RR – you’re a web developer. What about a business model that includes web cams. Could bring in additional revenue.
Just thinking out loud here.
B BBoy1220 August 7, 2008
Nobody is going to be out anything. When the franchises open in Puyallup and S. Tacoma, you will be able to use your tans there (in his words).
I was never really into tanning because I am very pigmently gifted already.. but I still loved going in and seeing his staff. The girls were always nice and not pushy. You could see they were in it for fun, and not because some coporate person was shoving threats.
J jen August 7, 2008
Actually his staff was very pushy—I had the pleasure of listening to long and involved explanations about the benefits of lotions, rubbing silicone on my body, using spray tans in addition to tanning beds all before I could just sign the form and get in a bed.
I purchased a package very recently and I’m out a service I paid for. I’m also not interested in driving to Puyallup for said service.
R Rayless Tan August 7, 2008
So guys I tell you what… I own a small airbrush tanning studio at Angela & Co hair salon (6th & Warner). I was just informed by a client of mine today that there was a big “to do” about Urban Tanning closing it’s doors last week so I thought I would come see what was going on. I think it is awful business to try and squeeze a few more dollars out of your clients right before shutting doors. Yea you could try to go to the BBB but it won’t do you a lick of good if he isn’t a member and his doors are closed so basically they will tell you too bad so sad and unfortunatly you are SOL. He might have been a nice guy but maybe just a desperate business owner.
Anyone who lost tans through him is welcome to schedule through me and I will happily give new clients a deal. I don’t have tanning beds but I do offer a great spray tan (waaayyyy better then a machine) and even without a discount I know I’m cheaper then other spray salons. I don’t have the glitz and glam like his salon but I have steadily been in business for almost 4 years and don’t plan on leavin anytime soon!
If you want to take me up on my offer just mention the Exit 133 blog. The number to scedule appointments is 253 691 2252
M MTT08 August 10, 2008
Alright guys, I completely understand what all of you are saying, but take it easy on the guy. If any of you personally know Aaron, he gave all of his customers many free things. I think Aaron was just too nice. You can’t operate a business by giving out free things, you know what I mean? Anyway, I don’t know what he is doing, or why there was no explanation… but he should have at least of had the courteousy to tell everyone instead of disappearing. He is said to be working on 5 other salons? But if this one had to close its doors, what makes him think the others will work? Or that anyone will want to tan there after what he did? I hear another upscale tanning salon from up north is looking to take over the space. :)
S Squid August 11, 2008
Cut and paste Stadium Bistro closing thread <here>.
C crenshaw sepulveda August 11, 2008
Cut and paste Gringo de Loco closing thread <here>
H HarrisD August 15, 2008
I’ve known Aaron for over 3 years now, and he is a very nice guy, perhaps as it was said too nice. but the guy was never about ripping people off or taking advantage of people. I personally think he just got in over his head with costs and the way the ecomomy is right now, who wants to tan when other priorities take over? I feel bad for the guy cuz i was pullin hard for his salon to do well.