Business owner expands, moves businesses to central Downtown location
Two businesses focused on inner and outer beauty were welcomed to downtown Albany with a ribbon cutting ceremony July 21, 2022. Joining owner Nicole Daniels and Downtown Albany Business Improvement District (BID) Marketing & Communications Manager Rebecca Hughes in celebrating N.D. El’s Salon and Spa and Blessed Body Fitness at the 488 Broadway location was Mayor Kathy Sheehan.
With a focus on businesses that help clients blossom into their best selves inside and out, Daniels opened the first N.D. El’s Salon and Spa location in 2015 and Blessed Body Fitness in 2019, both in the Capital City. A licensed cosmetologist with degrees from the Orlo School of Hair Design and Aesthetics Science Institute, Daniels experienced the physical and mental benefits of pole dancing for years before opening her own studio. As bookings grew for both businesses and Daniels was experiencing significant client crossover, she recognized the benefit of housing both the salon and studio under one roof.
It was in the Arcade Building that the Albany native found “the perfect location” to house both the studio and an expansion of her salon. Noting the building’s rich history in contributing to the small business community, she recognized that Downtown’s expanding residential foot traffic creates a perfect environment for growth.
At N.D. El’s Salon and Spa, clients can experience a range of services including haircut, color, and additions, eyelash extensions, manicures and pedicures, skin tonic treatments, prom and wedding makeup, and teeth whitening. While receiving the services, clients are surrounded by an aesthetic that is colorful, cozy, stylish, and feminine.
Down the hall from the salon, Blessed Body Fitness is where the combination of physical and mental strength becomes the focus. While pole dancing dates back at least 800 years, it wasn’t until the 1990s that classes became a popular form of recreational activity and exercise in the United States. Through the fitness classes Daniels and other instructors offer, students of all levels experience a full body workout while achieving body awareness and confidence through building of strength, flexibility, and coordination. At Blessed Body Fitness, students can experience classes ranging from Intro to Pole, Thick Fit, and Queer Spin; one on one sessions are also available.
N.D. El’s Salon and Spa and Blessed Body Fitness Owner Nicole Daniels said: "A lot of time, focus, energy, sweat, and love went into creating this space, and our clients have been raving about the outcome. I want to thank my team and clients for their support; without you, this growth would never have been possible. To not-yet clients, I invite you to bring your friends and enjoy some ‘you’ time. Come experience the welcoming and positive pole dancing community, have a spa treatment, and leave feeling relaxed, rejuvenated, and ready for your next visit!”
