Sewickley Spa celebrates new ownership with reopening event, charity cause

Chatter and laughter echoed throughout the Sewickley Spa as ambient music helped set a relaxing, fun mood for the evening during the spa’s reopening event on July 8.

Customers, friends, family and local business owners came to celebrate new owner and president Jonelle McMahan. McMahan has been the spa director since 2009 and purchased the spa last November from founder Dorothy Andreas. She said Andreas opened the spa in 1998 – making it the first known day spa in the city.

“She’s on standby if I ever need help, and I also have a great support system,” McMahan said.

The reopening celebration was the first big event for the spa since the Wine Walk in 2019. McMahan started planning the celebration this year – it purposely fell near the birthday of McMahan’s mother, who passed away from breast cancer when McMahan was 19.

“I wanted to invite everyone to something to have fun, eat, drink and be merry,” McMahan said.

Taking the risk of transitioning to a new position was seamless for McMahan despite doing so during a pandemic. She said Andreas helped set her up for leadership in the future when she began to take over the spa two or three years before Andreas left.

“Purchasing a business is scary, but I am very proud and grateful of how I handled it,” she said.

Although the spa operated during the pandemic under restrictions, it officially reopened in June. McMahan said her business has been doing well and she’s beating 2019 numbers in sales and clients.

Susan Krol, marketing and PR director of the spa – as well as McMahan’s aunt – credited McMahan’s ambition.

“Jonelle has a great vision, and she’s making a difference in the community,” Krol said.

Mary Murray, a longtime customer at the spa, has known McMahan since she was a receptionist. Murray is excited for McMahan and what she has in store for the spa.

“I never met someone who knows the system as well as her. She runs a business very well,” Murray said.

The celebration was also for a good cause, raising funds for Beverly’s Birthdays, a nonprofit that provides birthday parties for children experiencing homelessness and families in need.

Ashley Bright, director of development for Beverly’s Birthdays, was excited to spread the word about the organization’s work.

“I am so appreciative of the spa getting behind this,” Bright said.

Beverly’s Birthdays was a start for McMahon, who plans for the spa to do more collaborative events throughout the year to support charities that align with causes she cares about, such as Hair Peace Charities for breast cancer awareness and Animal Friends and the Humane Society to fight against animal cruelty and neglect.

“I really wanted to focus on giving back more to organizations close to my heart,” she said.