- Words by Lauren Kramer Photography by Lia Crowe

When Lenny Cabrera left the Dominican Republic for Canada in 2016, she knew two things: she was ready for a fresh start and she wanted to own her own business.

The Caribbean island of the Dominican Republic is known for its tropical climate and picturesque, white-sand beaches, and Lenny91裸聊视频檚 new Canadian friends assumed she91裸聊视频檇 spent a lot of time sipping margaritas on the beach.

Her reality had looked much different, though.

91裸聊视频淚 hadn91裸聊视频檛 been to the beach for 18 months before I arrived,91裸聊视频� Lenny admits.

As a corporate lawyer in the Dominican Republic, the 33-year-old served as legal counsel for brands including Kentucky Fried Chicken, TGI Fridays and Mango clothing. She was deeply involved with their marketing, branding, staffing and legal policies, and loved watching the brands develop and grow.

91裸聊视频淚 moved to British Columbia knowing that my endgame was to buy or develop a business,91裸聊视频� she says.

She didn91裸聊视频檛 know the exact nature of the business, but she was young, ambitious and driven.

Six years since stepping off the plane in Vancouver, Lenny is the proud co-owner of a swanky salon in a prime location in Kelowna. The Sweet Spot Beauty Bar opened nine months ago on Lakeshore Road across from Gyro Beach, with 2,300 square feet of pedicure bowls, nail stations, massage and facial treatment rooms, a lash and eyebrow station and a hair station. Clients can order pastries, muffins and snacks during their treatments, and as a fully licensed bar they can also enjoy cocktails, wine and beer.

The idea for The Sweet Spot began during the COVID-19 pandemic. Lenny had met her business partner, Alicia Jameson, soon after arriving in Kelowna in 2017. At the time, Alicia was an aesthetician who dreamed of opening her own salon, but didn91裸聊视频檛 want to embark on the business alone. One night, as the two women shared a bottle of wine, she mentioned her dream to Lenny, and suggested they give it a go.

Lenny loved the idea and the two immediately began brainstorming, planning, writing their business plan and securing financing to bring the idea to reality. Lenny recalled her spa experiences in the Dominican, where wine or cocktails during a pedicure was a standard treat and part of the pleasure of unwinding at the end of a busy work week. She wanted her clients at The Sweet Spot to enjoy the same libations.

91裸聊视频淲e wanted a beauty bar that was a one-stop shop, a place where people could wind down with good quality service and a glass of wine for a girls91裸聊视频� night out or a fun couples experience.91裸聊视频�

Step inside the beauty bar and you91裸聊视频檙e enveloped by shades of peach and pink. Plush cushions and comfy seating entice clients to the pedicure bowls, and a wall of pink flowers separates the nail bars from the treatment rooms and lash stations. The wide array of services on offer includes manicures, pedicures, nail extensions, nail art, eyebrow shaping, eyebrow tinting, eyelash extensions, eyelash tinting, body waxing, face waxing, facials and massages. The space is inviting, relaxing, luxurious and designed with sharp attention to every small detail.

Lenny and Alicia remain equal partners deeply committed to The Sweet Spot91裸聊视频檚 success and optimistic about the future. While Lenny handles the finances, Alicia oversees training and service procedures. Each brings individual strengths that combine to make the business flourish.

91裸聊视频淲edding season is coming and our bookings are ramping up with tourists to Kelowna, bachelorette parties and brides91裸聊视频� days of pampering before their nuptials,91裸聊视频� Lenny says. 91裸聊视频淒uring the winter the local community showed their support and we worked hard at introducing our new business through social media.91裸聊视频�

91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 a new business and it91裸聊视频檚 not perfect,91裸聊视频� she reflects. 91裸聊视频淚f anyone asked me what it91裸聊视频檚 like to be an entrepreneur, I91裸聊视频檇 say, buckle up, because it comes with growing pains, a lot of work and many issues that are beyond our control. The business is still in its early stages and I don91裸聊视频檛 think I91裸聊视频檒l be able to relax until it becomes an icon in the Kelowna community. But I91裸聊视频檝e never had any doubt that Alicia and I could pull this off. I91裸聊视频檓 happy and proud of what we91裸聊视频檝e achieved so far, and right now, the future is looking pretty bright!91裸聊视频�

Story courtesy of , a Black Press Media publication
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