Reality star among those reinventing Hazlet shopping center into health and beauty hotbed

HAZLET - When Karen Gravano and Melissa Green were looking for a place to open their body contouring and wellness spa, Body Depot, they had some choices in the market.

They could have leased a space in one of the various salon suites opening in the area.

A collection of businesses all under one roof, salon suites lease ready-made spaces to health and beauty professionals such as Gravano, an aesthetician, and Green, a cosmetologist, giving them the ability to open their own businesses surrounded by peers.

Instead, they decided on a space on the second floor at Baron's Corner Plaza, a neighborhood shopping center on Union Avenue in Hazlet.

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Already customers of the nail salon there, when they had looked into it, they found a collection of businesses that would fit with their own. Body Depot opened recently with plans for an official grand opening in December.

"They had a hair salon. They had yoga," said Gravano, a licensed aesthetician. "Everyone had their own private suites."

What's Going There noticed that Baron's Corner has become its own "salon suite."

"This happened organically," Gravano said. "If there is someone who wants to get their hair done, you can just refer them down the hall. It's like a real good vibe and flow."

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Several years ago, Baron's Corner underwent an extensive renovation. La Rosa Chicken moved in, joining other tenants including Gem's House of Bagels, Nails by Sarah, Romeo’s Pizza and Great Wall, a Chinese restaurant. One Stop Smoke Shop also has a storefront.

The remodel also rebuilt the second floor and created new office spaces. In addition to Body Depot, Born to Dye - a Salon by Shay, Supreme Team Barber Lounge, Balance Massage and Somatic Therapy, and Bodhi Mind and Body Wellness Center have opened.

Body Depot's noninvasive services range from infrared ozone treatments and red light body therapy to body contouring, cellulite reduction and fat elimination, as well as facial and scalp rejuvenation.

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Gravano, a licensed aesthetician since 1997, started her own wellness spa in 2005 in Arizona, returning to New York about five years later. The daughter of former mobster Sammy "the Bull" Gravano, she starred in the VH1 reality series "Mob Wives."

"I stepped out of the industry for a while, but this is my one true passion," she said. "I love beauty. I love skin care."

Gravano said she and Green wanted Body Depot "to be a one-stop shop for wellness and beauty."

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Kelly Ann Smith, a mental health therapist and yoga instructor, opened Bodhi Mind and Body Wellness Center in March. Besides therapy, she also a room for yoga and "offers gentle and healing classes."

The environment of yoga studios gives off a "positive vibe," she said. "This is a good way for me to offer things for the community, things that help both the mind and the body."

It all fits.

"We all do a little something different, but it is all important for self-care," Smith said. "There is a little something for everyone there in terms of self care and just being mindful of what you need to do in order to take care of yourself."

David P. Willis, an award-winning business writer, has covered business, retail and consumer news at the Asbury Park Press for 25 years. He writes APP.com's What's Going There column and can be reached at dwillis@gannettnj.com. Please sign up for his weekly newsletter and join his What's Going There page on Facebook for updates.

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: 'Mob Wives' reality star helps open Body Depot business in Hazlet