As plans come together for  the new Main Street Commons at Sixth and Main, Ombu Salon and Spa owner Beth Sanger was faced with a decision: Stay put and be part of the new development, or move to a new location.

“Mike McMurray (developer of the Main Street Commons) has been really gracious and great to work with,” said Sanger. “He offered to make space available for me in the new complex, but with the changes coming to that corner I wasn’t sure if it would be the best fit with my business model. So I started looking around at what else might be available.”

What she found was a meticulously maintained classic 1924 Edmonds bungalow at 121 Third Ave. N. It looked like the perfect solution, and just last month she  purchased it outright.

“My mortgage payment will be comparable to continuing to rent,” she said. “Also, you never know when you might have to walk away from a rental and lose whatever you’ve invested in improvements, building out, etc. And owning means I don’t have to worry about my rental costs going up. It’s fixed for 30 years!”

But it’s more than just penciling out the costs. Turning the little bungalow into a full-service salon and spa means lots of change.

“Up until now it’s been used as a residence, so for me to operate my business I need to file for a change of use with the city,” Sanger explained. “This means I’ll have to bring everything up to current codes, which will include things like building an ADA-compliant ramp, redoing the front with more glass, and making wider doorways, just to name a few.”

In addition, Sanger is facing major remodeling work on the inside, including removing walls, converting the kitchen area into styling stations, and adding more square footage for spa space by connecting the main house to the existing detached garage.

“Heidi Helgeson of H2D Architecture and Design right here in Edmonds has put together preliminary drawings,” Sanger said. “Next hurdle is going to the city for permits.”

She hopes that work can be complete by the end of the year, when the current lease runs out.

“There are still lots of hurdles out there,” Sanger added.  “But if all goes well, I’ll close up shop in the current location one day, and open in the new one the next day.”

— Story and photos by Larry Vogel