After a decade in business, Iatria Day Spa will close its three remaining locations.
Company chairwoman Erika Mangrum was not immediately available for comment, but did release a statement saying, "Unfortunately we are not able to overcome the combination of the current economy and the lack of available capital."
The day spa chain closed its downtown Raleigh location last year, after determining there was not enough business to support the store. There are three remaining Iatria stores, two in Raleigh and one in Cary. Information was not immediately available about when those stores will close.
Retail reporter Sue Stock came to the N&O in 2004 and has been covering retail and shopping in the Triangle since then. She is the author of the popular
Comments
Iatria Gift Certificate
Fri, 09/04/2009 - 11:12 — L6254224My fiance' purchased a gift certificate for my birthday in August and before I could contact them to use we found out they had closed! We have not been able to reach anyone to get a refund. They should have never sold gift certificates if they knew they were going out of business!
Hope to help!
Tue, 09/15/2009 - 23:58 — JoemaryHello all!! My name is Joemary Rodriguez and am so sorry to hear about the loss of IATRIA. I currently work for Douglas Carroll salon and Spa and the salon is honoring gift certificates at 25% at a time until the full amount is used up. Please call the salon @ 919-876-5411 to set up an appt or for more info about how to redeem your gift certificates. I am from NY and have a lot of experience with both nails and hair. I am an award winning nail technician who also is a master hair stylist. I am your one stop shop. I am also certified in Brazilian keratin treatments and also work on ethnic hair. You can go to citysearch.com under Douglas Carroll to read reviews about my work. Please email me at jojochula18@hotmail.com if any further info is needed. I am here to help and look forward to being a hair stylist, nail artist, and friend to you all. Thanks again!
Response to Iatria Closing from the owners of Synergy Spa
Tue, 09/01/2009 - 23:42 — aggiemamaThe owners of Synergy Spa are devastated by the closing of Iatria Spa’s. We can not imagine what it would feel like to have to walk away from our business, our amazing team and the clients who support us. We worry that the closing of this spa sends out the message that our industry is suffering due to the economy. Of course we are all feeling the effects of the economy, however there are several spas as well as many businesses that are holding their own. Our real concern is for the employees who are now faced with having to find a job in a market that has very few options. Additionally, we are also concerned that consumers will hesitate to buy gift certificates or frequent spas. If you are a former employee with a solid work history, please email us your resume at info@feelsynergy.com. If we don’t have a position available for you, we have numerous contacts within the industry and will try to help you locate a new position. If you are a client left holding an Iatria Gift Certificate, we will work with you to redeem these with us; we only ask you give us some time so that we can figure out a way to best accommodate everyone. For more information on redeeming your gift certificates with Synergy Spa please check our website at www.feelsynergy.com in the coming weeks for details. Best- Anna Porrazzo and Dave Churchill.
Really?
Tue, 09/01/2009 - 16:38 — junkmail_2009what happened to "walking in someone else's shoes"...if any of you bad mouthing people were in that room when when found out the news, you would have seen the devastation on EVERYONE'S face...you must still have a job, a paycheck coming in, money to pay bills...some of those employees are single and sole providers for themselves...get over yourselves! They did what they had to do...hope a day like we had never comes to you!
It is too bad about any
Tue, 09/01/2009 - 12:09 — olayoIt is too bad about any business closing and its employees losing their income. All the employees want is a fair shake at making a living, paying their bills and trying to make ends meet. As for any clients that have outstanding gift certificates, I would gladly accept your gift certificates as payment toward your massage. I too, am only trying to make a living and feel that you should not be caught in the middle. Mark and any others, please contact me at olayo2003@yahoo.com and we can certainly work something out. I am a certified and licensed massage therapist. Thanks...Linda
To all those who think the Mangrums walk on water......
Tue, 09/01/2009 - 09:14 — RalTechGuyThe fact that people are sympathizing with the owners is somewhat understandable, but don't overlook the actions they took against employees.
They without notice changed the comission rates for all employees and added a bonus structure.
Then on 2 separate occasions they removed the bonus structure, reducing the average employees pay by 25%.
Now I know you all will say this is the cost of doing business and it may be, but the way they did it showed a total lack of compassion for the employees. The pay reduction in both cases was retroactive.....so that means employees worked for 2 weeks (2 times) expecting a certain wage, and were only informed by a note from the 'wonderful, caring' owners.
In the case of the closing, all employees were informed that the Mangrums will 'try' to pay them a portion of the wages owed to them. A portion!
Face it, the owners did not have their employees best interest at heart in these decisions. So, please let's stop the pity party for this 'great' business woman and look at her for what she really is. All she cares about is herself and her image. This failure will look bad on her resume, but don't be fooled that she gives a rat's behind about the nearly 60 employees she left high and dry (and unpaid).
Iatria will be greatly missed
Mon, 08/31/2009 - 21:52 — dhn4656I am saddened not only by the closing of an incredible spa but at the horrible personal comments written in this blog about the owners. I personally have been associated professionally with the managment of Iatria since inception of the business. I also have been a long time patron of the spa. Each and every visit I was treated with tremendous courtesy and received services second to none in the Triangle. When business decisions were made, Erika and Dave personally took the high road on every occassion and considered employees like family. This was more than just a business. The Mangrums put there hearts and souls into Iatria for ten years and this wonderful spa will be greatly missed.
Good Service, bad management
Tue, 09/01/2009 - 09:17 — RalTechGuyEmployees were not treated like family, they were treated like employees. Pay cuts without notice prove that point, especially when they were retroactive.
I certainly didn't cast any
Mon, 08/31/2009 - 23:57 — John_BurnsI certainly didn't cast any aspersions on the Mangrums. I just don't think businesses should sell gift certificates if they know they aren't going to be around for a reasonable period of time to allow the purchaser to use the gift certificate.
Employees lose
Mon, 08/31/2009 - 21:16 — dnanurse2003It's unlikely that the employees will get their paychecks for their last 2 weeks of work so support those hard working people and give them your business directly. Here's one: http://www.juliewhitemassage.com/index.html
Saddened
Mon, 08/31/2009 - 21:40 — romoda23I myself am extremely heart broken with what took place this morning. I absolutely loved working for the Mangrum's and everyone who worked at Iatria were like family to me. I will greatly miss that place and everyone. I think that those of you who are upset over a gift certificate and pre paid services need to take a moment and think about what the employees and the Mangrum's are going through. Can you imagine losing your business that you have invested your money and whole heart into for 10 years? It's devestating what happened and I know I'm not the only one that is heart broken. I wish there was something I could do.
Alissa
Compassion vs Being Scammed
Fri, 09/04/2009 - 11:19 — L6254224It is hard to have compassion for owners of a company when they scam you out of your hard earned money. It is very sad for any one to loose their job at any time, but don't expect folks to just walk away from someone stealing from them to feel good about it.
Bad Management
Mon, 08/31/2009 - 19:05 — aknightriderThis had nothing to do with the economy. The Mangram's could not run a profitable business, in a market where others are, and flat ran out of money.
Iatria
Mon, 08/31/2009 - 18:22 — katwill2There's a republican for ya, that! Making totally irrelevent comments in inappropriate spaces. At least we know what happened to that Neanderthal line.
Scam!
Mon, 08/31/2009 - 17:06 — chenliliu3Mangrum and his wife are running a scam here. David Mangrum is the owner, and wife Erika is the "company chairwoman?" What a joke.
Good luck getting your money back on those bogus gift certificates people!!
Typical democrat for ya that
Mon, 08/31/2009 - 16:55 — PhantomLordTypical democrat for ya that Ms. Mangrum. Take peoples hard earned money and provide nothing in return.
What! How could I say such a thing you are asking.
Easily. Voter registration records are searchable online.
Ms. Mangrum is a registered democrat.
PhantomLord
Mon, 08/31/2009 - 16:51 — TheLibertineYou took the words right out of my mouth!
Unfortunate
Mon, 08/31/2009 - 15:50 — financeguyThe spa closing is effective immediately, as in today, 08/31/2009, You will noy be able to use those certificates or memberships. Do not be upset with the employees. The employees had no idea this was coming.
If there a known time frame?
Mon, 08/31/2009 - 13:59 — wisem10I just bought a gift certificate for my wife last week. Any idea when they plan to close each location?
- Mark
call your credit card
Mon, 08/31/2009 - 23:52 — John_Burnscall your credit card company, if you bought it that way. Mine is looking into it and may reverse the charges.
Who knows?
John, Good luck getting your
Mon, 08/31/2009 - 13:41 — PhantomLordJohn,
Good luck getting your money back. Whoever you bought it for better get in their NOW to use it.
Or if you want to have some fun, take them in and try to get your money back.
wow
Mon, 08/31/2009 - 12:52 — John_Burnsthanks for that wonderful comment. How insightful.
Iatria had no problem taking my money for a gift certificate not two weeks ago.
Hope and Change is upon us!
Mon, 08/31/2009 - 12:15 — PhantomLordHope and Change is upon us! Praise be The Messiah!
Aren't we lucky he, as Nancy Pelosi said, that he was "sent by God"!
Sore Losers
Mon, 08/31/2009 - 21:46 — im4unc23Just stick to the point, please. Folks who can figure out how to get on the Internet, and read, and type should've outgrown crybabying.