Eastside High School grad Edwennia Moore has expanded her day spa biz
A local business owned by a Black woman is expanding its brand to two other cities.
Trinity’s Day Spa, which is owned and operated by its founder Edwennia Moore, has opened two more locations in a Walmart in South Carolina and one in Jacksonville.
Moore opened her first location in Thornebrook Village at 2441 NW 43rd St., Suite 11B, in November of 2018.
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Born and raised in Gainesville, Moore has over 20 years of banking experience and worked as a loan officer at a credit union for several years before she resigned from the job in July 2018.
Moore, an Eastside High School graduate and mother of two, said she came up with the idea of starting Trinity’s Day Spa when she used to take her daughter, Trinity, to nail salons and noticed the lack of pampering opportunities for children.
“She would have to prop her feet on someone’s lap for a pedicure,” Moore said. “Her legs were not long enough to reach. When we would leave, I didn’t see a glow on her face like I would see the kids leaving Trinity’s Day Spa. I told myself that one day I would open a spa just for kids. It became a dream of mine.”
With faith and determination, her dream became a reality.
“God intended it for me to do it,” Moore said. “To be the first to birth that vision.”
![Sasha Gyetvai, center, and her daughter Trinity, 4, talk with Edwennia Moore, right, owner of Trinity's Day Spa, about what kind of nail polish Trinity wants to have for her Princess Spa Day at the spa in Gainesville on Jan. 25, 2020. Moore has expanded her business to sites in Walmarts in Jacksonville and Rock Hill, South Carolina. [Brad McClenny/The Gainesville Sun]
(Photo: Brad McClenny, Brad McClenny)](https://www.gannett-cdn.com/presto/2022/12/02/NTGS/6ab14a33-5f56-4455-b63a-dc1ddd05ea66-FLGAI-01252020-PrincessDayforCancerGirl11.jpg?width=660&height=499&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
The Trinity’s Day Spa franchise in Rock Hill, South Carolina, opened its doors in June at a Walmart located at 2377 Dave Lyle Blvd. The Jacksonville location opened in October at 10251 Shops Lane inside of a Walmart.
Moore said Trinity’s Day Spa is planning to open another location in Jacksonville next year.
She said the spa is gender-friendly and welcomes young boys to receive pampering services as well.
“This is the first and only spa for kids in Walmart owned by a Black woman,” Moore said.
Moore said the spa gives children an opportunity to receive undivided attention from adults.
“When kids act out, they lack attention,” Moore said. “When we give them attention, they perform better and it increases their self-esteem.”
Moore said children who are on the honor roll can participate in a drawing for a spa day.
“We are making them feel positive about themselves,” Moore said.
Moore thanked her South Carolina franchisee, Latoya Counts, for inspiring her to expand the spa.
“I’m proud of her [Counts] for upholding the brand’s name and vision,” Moore said. “It is great to have a person to help me and expand the business. I appreciate her dedication and understanding.”
Counts said she admires Moore’s commitment to making sure her business model succeeds.
“I’ve always watched Moore and how she creates something out of nothing,” Counts said. “She created what was missing in the community — creating an experience for girls.”
Counts said the highlight of her job is encouraging the children to be the best they can be.
“It’s a safe space for little girls to be themselves,” Counts said. “We encourage them for cheerleader tryouts, to pass their math tests and more. I love giving back. This is a way to truly impact the youth.”
Moore recalled waiting in an Atlanta, Georgia, airport to fly to Nashville, Tennessee, for her daughter’s volleyball tournament when she received a call from a Walmart executive about opening her spa in its stores.
“I’m trying to inspire our people and let them know that no matter how small of a town you come from, you can be chosen to expand your business,” Moore said. “My goal is to be in Walmart stores all over the world.”
The services the spa provides include manicures for $17, pedicures for $20, edible chocolate facials for $25, makeup for $12, sparkling hair fairies glitter gel for $8 and prices vary for for the Best Friends Forever (B.F.F.), ‘Mommy and Me’ and ‘Daddy and Me’ packages.
The hours of operation for the Gainesville location is Wednesday through Fridays from 2-5 p.m., Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sundays by appointment only from noon-5 p.m.
The Walmart hours of operation for the Rock Hill and Jacksonville locations are Wednesdays and Thursdays from 2-6 p.m., Fridays from 2-7 p.m., Saturdays from 10 a.m.-7 p.m. and Sundays from noon-5 p.m. Walk-ins are accepted, however appointments are preferred.
“We’re changing how they feel about themselves and look about themselves,” Moore said. “It speaks volumes when people drive hours to Trinity’s Day Spa.”
Patrice Pruitt, who treats her daughter to the services provided by Trinity’s, said she uses the venue at Trinity’s Day Spa in Gainesville annually to celebrate her daughter’s birthday. Her daughter turned 5 last month.
“Her place is awesome because a lot of little girls can experience going to a spa for the first time,” Pruitt said. “I’m really proud of what she’s doing in the community for the kids.”
Moore said she is planning to launch a non-profit organization next year called Trinity’s Make A Way Foundation to help fund her annual community outreach programs such as the Back-To-School Braid Bash and the Kidpreneur Pop Up Shop.
Zaynah Smith, Trinity’s Day Spa manager, said she has been working at the business for about a year.
“It never feels like I have to go to work,” Smith said. “It’s important for children to enjoy being pampered without worrying about the adults.”
Smith said Moore is a hands-on boss who strives to create a cohesive environment for employees and clients.
She said she is happy for Moore’s expansion of the spa to different cities.
“It is a big deal,” Smith said. “This is something she really wanted to do. It is amazing to have seen her open three locations.”
Jorgi Zuccarelli, Trinity’s Day Spa attendant, is a University of Florida student from Melbourne who started working at the spa in 2020.
Zuccarelli said she appreciates the atmosphere at the spa and Moore’s leadership qualities.
“It s a great atmosphere,” Zuccarelli said. “If you are having a bad day, as soon as you walk through the doors, it melts everything away. I never stressed out at work. The kids keep you happy and we make sure to keep them happy.”
Zuccarelli said Moore’s perseverance through the COVID-19 pandemic was admirable to watch as she help children in the Alachua County area despite the difficulties.
“Even during the pandemic, she took that as an opportunity to go full gear on her mission and help children in the area,” Zuccarelli said. “Being driven led to her expansion.”
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