Historic building reincarnated as a salon for the third time

The Halo Salon and Spa in Newton is having its grand re-opening celebration Tuesday for the public to come and see all the work that has been completed inside the salon.

The lot the building sits on has been around for more than 150 years, and the building itself has been a salon on two other occasions throughout its existence. Now it has been reincarnated as a new salon once again.

“My abstract goes back to the early 1800s for the lot,” Nancy Danks, owner of Halo Salon and Spa, said.

Danks grew up in Newton and spent the past 25 years working in Iowa City. She worked with salons in Iowa City before moving back to Newton 10 years ago. She commuted back and forth to Iowa City for work.

“I worked with an Aveda salon, two different salons in Iowa City for over 20 years, and spent a total of 25 years working in Iowa City,” Danks said.

Danks decided to purchase the salon at 901 First Ave. W. a little more than a year ago and since then has completely redesigned the interior.

“I really love the building. I like the outside of it. I like historic things,” Danks said. “In Iowa City, I’ve always worked in high-end salons, and Newton doesn’t really have that. My goal is to make this the best high-end salon in town.”

The salon will offer a wide variety of services including haircuts, colors, highlights, manicures, pedicures and electrolysis facials. Danks hopes she will be able to hire a massage therapist soon.

“A full-service salon, offering everything,” Danks said.

While the salon itself did get a redesign, the staff remained the same. All the employees who were at the salon before Danks bought it still work there.

At its grand reopening celebration, guests are invited from 3 to 7 p.m. Tuesday to enjoy some refreshments. There will be cheeses, fruit and crackers along with drinks. Danks will also be doing giveaways so those who attend can enter to win prizes like pedicures, manicures or products.

“I have a lot of clients that think the public needs to see it so it’s all about a thank you to our clients that come in here now and to invite the public to check us out,” Danks said.

In the future, she hopes to take over the apartment next to the building so she can expand and offer more services for patrons.

“My goal is, in a few years, to expand into the efficiency apartment and put a whole new spa area over there,” Danks said.

For more information about Halo Salon and Spa, visit its Facebook page or call 641-792-0923.

Contact Dustin Teays at 641-792-3121 ext. 6533 or dteays@newtondailynews.com