Hunter Chamber of Commerce Holds Ribbon Cutting for Jolie Mountain Top - 3 October 2024

HUNTER - TANNERSVILLE—On Thursday, September 26, the Hunter Chamber of Commerce welcomed Jolie Mountain Top to the community with a ribbon-cutting for the new medi-spa in the Village of Tannersville. Jolie Mountain Top officially opened in June and is operated by Leah Johnson, a licensed aesthetician and part-time resident of Onteora Park. Johnson, who splits her time between the mountaintop and New York City, brings years of experience to her new venture, having worked in the beauty industry since 2006.

"I've always liked the spa space," Johnson said. "I was interested in skin care, so I was happy to move back into that area away from cosmetics." Her journey into aesthetics began after earning her certification as an aesthetician and working in the corporate training department at MAC Cosmetics, a subsidiary of Estee Lauder. Johnson's connection to the mountaintop grew after she and her family rehabbed a house in Onteora Park. "You put all your time and energy into this place and want to be in it. I wanted to be here," she explained.

Johnson's family, including her two daughters, spends summers in the mountains, while the winter months see her traveling between Tannersville and NYC. As the cooler weather approaches, she anticipates an uptick in business. "During the winter, people want to be somewhere serene and calm, and don't mind giving up two hours of their day," she said, noting that treatments like Botox, Vitamin IVs, and B12 shots are popular at the medi-spa.

Jolie Mountain Top provides a range of medical and aesthetic treatments, from injectables to facials. Johnson works alongside a registered aesthetics nurse who administers the medical treatments, ensuring clients leave feeling "totally rejuvenated." Johnson expressed her gratitude for her team, saying, "I have the best staff in the world. I've somehow picked up a lucky penny and have nothing but great things to say about the women I work with."

Jolie Mountain Top is a sister location to Jolie Medical Aesthetics and Wellness, which has branches in Poughkeepsie and Rhinebeck. Johnson credited the Poughkeepsie team for helping her through the process of opening her Tannersville location, sparing her from starting from scratch. She first entertained the idea of opening a business on the mountaintop after hearing about the success of Botox parties hosted by the Poughkeepsie location. "My goal is to grab the ski and tourist crowds, as well as locals who are already getting treatments off the mountain," she said. "We'd rather keep the dollars here and have the money go to the schools and broader community. I think this is needed on the mountaintop."

The medi-spa has received an outpouring of support from the local community. Several local business owners and Chamber of Commerce members were there to support her. "The community has been incredibly gracious and welcoming, and I love my landlords, Terrence and Amy [Maul], who own The Pantry on Main," Johnson said. "They're the hardest-working people I know and have totally embraced this business, as has the Chamber of Commerce."

Jolie Mountain Top's head licensed aesthetician, Shelby Townsend, also spoke about the excitement surrounding the new business. A resident of Saugerties, Townsend has been with Jolie since they opened and is certified to use various specialized equipment, such as the Hydrafacial and microneedling devices. "I'm so excited, and I think there's a need for this in the area," she said. I'm really excited to serve the community."

The services offered at Jolie Mountain Top include HydraFacials, dermaplaning, chemical peels, oxygen facials, microdermabrasion, waxing, and more. According to their website, their philosophy is to create a holistic skincare experience, combining advanced treatments with personalized care in a serene, spa-like environment.

Hunter Chamber of Commerce President Ryan Penny highlighted the importance of welcoming new businesses like Jolie Mountain Top to the area. "We're excited to feature a completely new kind of business in Tannersville," Penny said. "Someone like Leah, who lives in the community, came here and found a place to open up inside a newly renovated building – it's a quintessential Town of Hunter story where new businesses are finding homes."

Jolie Mountain Top is located at 6022 Main Street, Suite B, in the Village of Tannersville. For more information, visit their website at www.joliemountaintop.com, follow them on Facebook and Instagram, or call them at 518-740-4818.