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Letter to the editor

Guys' spa invites the girls in

By Sharon Ginn
Published July 6, 2007

Tampa's adamantly for-men-only salon and spa has softened both its look and its stance. Once billed as a haven for the South Tampa metrosexual, the Difference has opened its doors to women.

The proof is in the plants and gasp! curtains that have made their way into the building, at 4029 Henderson Blvd., that once was decorated in all grays and sharp lines. Okay, there aren't too many curtains, but there are rugs underfoot, new art on the walls and a new private entrance in the back for the men who really don't want any women to know they came for a massage.

The Difference has offered spa breaks, manicures and pedicures to men for nearly four years, but owner Tait Kmentt recently decided it was time to welcome everyone. "To be honest, (the men-only concept) stopped making sense financially, " he said.

To placate any of his longtime customers who might be uncomfortable, Kmentt will reserve Tuesdays and Fridays exclusively for men. And the new decor still is very far from girly.

Response has been positive, said Tara Kmentt, Tait's sister and spa director.

The building was closed for two weeks while the main entrance was reconfigured, walls were painted eggplant (translation for guys: dark purple) and new decor was put up. It reopened last week.

The spa also added new services to keep up with the medspa trend, including laser hair removal and skin treatments, Botox, wrinkle fillers like Restylane and a doctor-supervised weight loss management program.

The spa's Web site has changed from thedifferenceformen.com to thedifferencemedspa.com. Hours are 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday-Friday, and 9-5 on Saturday.

Double the glamor

Now that there's finally more room to roam outside her downtown design store, Jill Lifsey decided it was a good time to give the store, itself, the same treatment.

Lifsey's store, District Designs, has doubled in size and, more notably, is no longer hemmed in by major construction. After taking over the retail space next door in the Meridian building at 1212 E Whiting St., District Designs now has more than 3, 000 square feet of sleek furniture and modern accessories. The expansion, unveiled last month, corresponds with the reopening of the portions of 12th Street that were blocked by construction related to the Place condominium project. Customers are able to use the front entrance on 12th, rather than the side entrance, for the first time since District Designs opened 18 months ago. But it's still lonely in that part of Channelside, and Lifsey is waiting to see what other businesses might set up shop in the new retail spaces nearby.

"I'm anxious to see more walk-through traffic, " Lifsey said. "People are moving in and coming down here for the first time in a long time."

The store is open 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays, and Saturdays 11 to 4.

New name draws eyes

Frances Perez Baker quietly purchased the long-running, family-owned Davis Optical in 2003 but decided not to change much at first. After all, the business at 602 S Dale Mabry Highway was founded in 1947 and ranked as the oldest independent optical shop in Tampa. It had an established client list, an accessible location at Dale Mabry and Dale Avenue and solid name recognition.

But as the remaining employees retired one by one, Baker decided it was time to shake things up. She unveiled Eyewear Designs by Frances last month aimed at a younger, hipper clientele.

"The customer base is fabulous, " Baker said, but "the whole idea was to bring in the newer generation."

The shop retains its boutique feel and will continue to carry high-end brands like Daniel Swarovski, Dior, Gucci and Lacoste.

Do you know something that should be everybody's business? Call 226-3394 or e-mail sharonlginn@yahoo.com.

The find

Canvas chair cover

Turn any folding chair into a chic seat. Canvas chair covers come in a variety of prints and solid colors, $26, at kt jane's, boutique of gifts and personalized accessories, 1718 S. Dale Mabry Highway. Call 251-5090.

[Last modified July 5, 2007, 08:14:32]