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Spotlight: Le Chateau de Frenche Day Spa & Private Tea Room
By Zengine | August 13, 2007
I’m not sure what I was thinking when I decided to do that headstand, back flip thing I made up. Nonetheless, the result was a crick in my neck that just would not alleviate itself. It was time to get some professional help.
It was Saturday morning, and I lived with this literal pain in the neck for four days now. I decided I desperately needed a sports massage, or deep tissue, or something. I recall mention of a day spa somewhere in Bed Stuy - so I googled, and long behold, there was a previous mention of a day spa right here on the Bed-Stuy Blog!
My first encounter with this oasis, Le Chateau de Frenche Day Spa & Private Tea Room (Le Chateau) located on 441 Tompkins Avenuue, between Halsey and Macon, was over the phone when I called to book a massage later that same afternoon. I was greeted by a friendly and inviting voice, who smartly asked if my soreness was a result of an accident or serious injury. I was very impressed because that question alone comforted me to know that I would not be attended to if in fact what I really needed was medical attention. Responding that my sore neck was not due to an accident, but stupidity (and thinking I was a spring chicken), an appointment was promptly made for me that afternoon.
When I arrived, I was ushered into the Tea Room by the face behind the voice, owner Nikima Frenche, where I was seated and asked if I wanted anything cool to drink. After sipping my ice water, and filling out some registration information, I was invited to take a soothing shower before my massage. As this was a hot and humid afternoon, not only did I feel that a shower was exactly what I needed that moment, but also considered that my masseuse would surely appreciate it as well. Once escorted into the bathroom, I was provided a robe and slippers to change into and a keyed locker to place my belongings in.
My masseuse, Steve, consulted with me to find out more about my habits and details of my daily routines (which included hours hunched over a laptop computer, carrying a laptop on my back, and of course, yoga), then performed some range of motion tests with my neck and head. A sports massage was recommended over a deep tissue massage because of the tenderness in my neck and shoulders. The massage was phenomenal.
I sat with Le Chateau owner, Nikima Frenche. Ms. Frenche, originally from Trinidad, has been a model, actress, singer and caterer for the past seven years. She attended and graduated from the Culinary Institute and is a licensed aesthetician from the Aveda Institute. Ms. Frenche also serves as the Chairperson for the Bedford Stuyvesant Business Alliance. Celebrating its first anniversary this past June, Le Chateau offers full spa services including facials, body treatments, waxing, massage, manicures and pedicures, and hosts special events including bridal parties, showers, and birthday parties. Le Chateau offers three high quality skin product lines of cosmecueticals (products between cosmetics and pharmaceuticals): GM Collin (best recommended for fine lines and wrinkles for all skin types), MD Formulation (best suited for darker skin tones) and Aveda (”natural” product line). Full Tea Service is available, offering hot or cold tea, crumpets, scones with Devonshire cream and preserves, cucumber sandwiches and other light fare. Just recently Ms. Frenche invited a dozen neighborhood young ladies, aged seven to eleven, to their own private tea party.
Young Ladies Private Tea Party
Invitations were sent to each young lady, indicating date, time and dress code. The private tea party was hosted by Ms. Frenche along with Positively Poised founder Ms. Vanessa White. During their two-hour tea party, the young ladies were educated on proper table etiquette and the art of formal dining. Ms. Frenche would like to expand this offering into a six to eight week etiquette program, for which each attendee will earn a certification upon completion.
Ms. Frenche commented on the perception that Le Chateau’s prices were steep. Ms. Frenche believes that Le Chateau offers is a high quality, full service spa experience, which begins from the moment you make that initial call to the moment you arrive at the spa. Each guest is offered refreshments, a luxurious atmosphere to bathe, an opportunity to slip into a plush robe and comfortable slippers, be attended to fully and respectively, then upon completion of their service, is not rushed out afterwards, but allowed to unwind and relax before makng an exit. Le Chateau utilizes only the highest quality products for facials and body treatments. Ms. Frenche wants Le Chateau to be your neighborhood spa, available and accessible to everyone, and that the appreciation be reciprocated.
Outdoor Garden Day Spa
Le Chateau strictly requires a credit card to book services and 24 hours notice per session to cancel. For extremely late arrivals, instead of being charged for the full amount of the lost appointment a charge of only 30% for the lost appointment is imposed with the opportunity to reschedule. Ms. Frenche hopes that everyone understands that booking a service not only commits the space but also the practitioner and that casual cancellations incur costs.
Le Chateau has two treatment rooms, an outdoor Garden Spa and private tea room. Le Chateau offers a full menu of services, including $50.00 30 minute treatments. This month, Le Chateau is offering a Garden Spa Special for $60.00, which includes a Tangerince Foot Bath and Scrub, 30 minute Deep Pore Cleansing Special, and a glass of Passion Fruit Iced Tea served with crumpets.
Treat yourself to a luxurious and relaxing experience. I highly recommend it, and try the Passon Fruit Iced Tea, its delicious! And for the neck, well I’m standing on my head again!
Le Chateau de Frenche Day Spa & Private Tea Room
441 Tompkins Avenue, between Halsey and Macon Streets
Brooklyn, NY 11216
(718) 399-8621
www.lechateaudefrenche.com
Nikima@LeChateauDeFrenche.com
Summer Hours:
Friday, Saturday 10:00 am - 6:00 pm
Sunday 11:00 am - 4:00 pm
By Appointment
August 14th, 2007 at 5:04 am
love to go there for a cup of tea. i wonder if they have an online store for gourmet tea..i shop around from http://www.teaonline.com and http://www.teacuppa.com
August 14th, 2007 at 9:23 am
mmmmmmm … I want to try it now!
August 15th, 2007 at 2:08 pm
Wow that looks great! I am going to drive from Albany and enjoy a day at the spa. I was told they have milk oolong in the tea room which is great because I also sell milk oolong in my tea shop but I don’t have the spa to enjoy. Clever concept.
Fine Loose Teas - http://www.tealaden.com
August 18th, 2007 at 1:08 pm
I went to le chateau de frebche day spa for a very necessary facil. I spent two amazing hours being pampered and rejuvinated. I did not want to leave.I was so relaxed I felt like I was on vacation. treat yourself to a wonderful ” mini escape”. I look forward to my next escape….
September 6th, 2007 at 5:20 pm
i loveee le chateau! its very classy and treats me like a king everytime/!!!
October 29th, 2007 at 8:44 am
I just want to add my voice to the many (those comments on this page and expressed in the coffee-shops and sister circles throughout the Bed-Stuy community) to express my incredible gratitude for Le Chateau de Frenche Day Spa & Private Tea Room; an urban oasis.
Le Chateau offers chique elegance and custom care that translates into a wonderful experience of pampering and wellness that we can feel good about engaging. Nikima’s impeccable service and knowledge along with committment to supporting the bodies natural capacity to be beautiful and well is in itself a rare-find. This coupled with the soft lighting, peace and quiet and smooth sounds of Nina Simone (sometimes) truly makes this a spa experience in which I quite often find it mandatory to indulge. Nikima, thank you so much for bringing such a gift to Bed-Stuy. Can’t wait to get back for my monthly visit!
October 29th, 2007 at 3:05 pm
I am so grateful that Nikima’s gracious spirit led her to bring Le Chateau de Frenche Day Spa & Private Tea Room to Bed Stuy. From the moment you step inside her space, your shoulders drop, your voice softens, and you breathe deeper breaths. She makes you feel as if you are her only client. There is no wait, no rush, no awkwardness….just bliss! She offers a wide variety of services using high quality products. I am now a monthly regular for the G.M. Collin facials. I especially appreciated the care Nikima demonstrated with collecting my skin care history and facial goals prior to ever touching my face. This communicated to me that she was concerned with improving the long-term condition of my skin rather than producing a superficial glossy shine.
No detail goes unnoticed in your Le Chateau spa experience…from the cozy robe you change into prior to your service to the emailed appointment reminder message you receive 2 days prior to the visit. I just love this place. Wish I had time to write about the absolutely fabulous raw earth pedicure that I was treated to, but TRUST me, you will blog about it after getting it. Do yourself a favor and book a facial, a pedicure, a massage, an anything here!
January 1st, 2008 at 1:22 pm
Thank you all for your support for 07. We look forward to continue offering spa wellness to our Bed-Stuy neighbours. Caring for oneself manifest in all that you do. Happy New Year and thank you for making le Chateau de Frenche Day Spa & Private Tea Room your Personal Day Spa.
March 19th, 2008 at 12:24 pm
When I walked into the doors of Le Chateau de Frenche, I felt like I stepped out of Bedford Stuyvesant and into Paris. The spa itself was gorgeous in decor, and the treatments I received were sensational. Nikima was extremely professional, and very knowledgeable. I had an amazing time and booked my next appointment before I left. This spa is a definite must to experience.