Ava's Salon and Spa

I bought a gift certificate for my wife and she loved it. She said the place was quaint, the staff was friendly and very professional and the massage was very healing. I did some research before buying and had a hunch the negative reviews were phony. Nothing but stellar reviews for ages and then suddenly a bunch of bad ones - yeah right. either way, she loved it and I scored more points. I think i'll get a big screen out of this. ;) thanks for making me look good girls! more

I read these same reviews and ignored the negative ones thinking it was just an isolated case. I purchased 2 living social coupons for a massage for me and my husband. I was the first one to go to my appt. Upon coming in the door, my first thought was ""what the heck did I get myself into"". The place was a DUMP! I agree with the other reviews 100% that Ava's website was deceptive and a total scam! No way were those massage pics taken at this place! There was a woman employee eating stinky food in the front. The massage room looked like a renovated closet. I asked where the lights were and there was no response. The only light was from the cracks in the drop down ceiling. I was told to hang my clothes on the hanger but the hangers didn't have a bar across the bottom so I had to set my pants on my shoes on the floor. Barely any room to walk around. Gross & dingy shaggy throw rug under the massage table. Massage was nothing more than the gal rubbing a tremendous amt. of oil all over . Her forearms were really hairy and she was sliding it all over my back and I was so grossed out and it felt scratchy & terrible. The music was super loud and I could still hear the other 2 employees on the other side talking to each other the whole time! When my hubby went to his appt. the following week, he showed up and they told him they were about to call him to reschedule as his massage therapist wasn't coming in! He said the place looked shaddy and the same African American woman was eating in the front again and it smelled! I called Living Social to complain and was happy to find out that I could still get a REFUND on my husband's unused coupon. Unfortuntately, I wasted the $32 coupon on my ""massage"". STAY AWAY FROM THIS PLACE AND CALL LIVING SOCIAL TO GET YOUR REFUND !!!!\r \r If you don't believe the negative reviews, then go ahead and check out this place and you will see for yourself. The only reason why there is such an increase of negative reviews is because Living Social offered the massage deals a few months ago so many people who have never heard of this place bought the coupons and quickly found out after going there that's it's a dump. more

Nothing about this place creates the ""spa"" atmosphere!! Dirty furniture, staff giggling in the corner, neon lights. Very scary. Website is deceiving. Customers beware!! more

A friend and I recently purchased a living social deal for an hour long therapeutic massage. The pictures on the website are so off base to the reality of what we walked into it is not even funny. I feel completely scammed. This place is old style beauty parlor with stained chairs. The telephone pole outside the place has a massage sign running down it! I was disgusted and frightened and left without my massage! who knows what kind of germs are lurking there. BEWARE!!!! DO NOT GO THERE!!!!! YUCK!!! more

Ava's on Grand is a nightmare. Its totally illegally run. She pays her employees in cash cause her checks bounce. I only know cause I asked. Its been a while since I was in and the more i think about this place the more awful the memory seems. When I arrived an older woman, who turned out to be my therapist, was eating in the front. The receptionist looked shocked that she was still eating up front instead of the back. The younger therapist came out and also seemed surprised. As I undressed I didn't see a city licence. I know the city of St. Paul requires all massage therapists to have a city licence. Her massage wasn't that good either. Her arms were harry, she used to much oil and pressure even though I asked her to lighten up. Her response was ""I specialize in deep tissue."" She also had her radio way loud, yet I could hear the receptionist yelling at the owner over the phone. I heard something said about how the therapists deserve more then the $8 they get from the living social massages. That isn't much above minimum wage. No wonder I didn't see a city licence. I guess Ava is a real person and not a very nice one at that. As I was leaving an ex-employee, who I believe quit, was picking up a pay check and my therapist just gave her an evil stare. I suggest you read the other bad reviews about this ""Spa"". Most is probably true and I honestly wouldn't be surprised if most of the good ones were made up. more

Im sure that these reviewes are coming from an exemployee is writting the negreviews.Ive been going for years and have only had great service from avas thay have giving professional service Iv never seen any of the things i have read. more

The owner Ava and staff at avas salon were very professional and caring about what we asked to have done . when u walk in they are very welcoming when my wife said we were going to have this done isaid no way . but i glad i did the experience was so relaxing masage was great i was so relaxed when leaving. with the staff asking me and making sure i had a good experience. i would reccomend it to anybody. my wife sais the manicure and peticure were great along with her facial. we brought in our favorite wine and they had snacks for us to have with a cafe next door if need be to get a bigger meal\r as a man speaking she looked great and butiful. more

Boy! If we all don't need stress relief now-a-days. Ava's Day spa provided that relief for me. Unconventional when you first walk in but a real relaxing pleasure when you finish with your service. It's a great place if your tired and need a lift without the stuffiness of some of those other spas I have been to. The people try to take real good care of you. I suggest it! more

There should be negative stars for this. First, the place is a DUMP. On the walls, she displays tacky framed citysearch reviews (only the 5 stars, of course, which Im assuming she wrote) It's an unwelcoming and awkward atmosphere walking in to. I feel sorry for the desperate girls who work for her.. they don't last long when they realize the owner is a rat. She hires unlicensed therapists (St. Paul requires licenses to massage in salons) When you have a problem, she WILL NOT call you back. I tried to stop in and get her face-to-face but she is never there. She should be out of business. more

TERRIBLE CUSTOMER SERVICE. They were deceitful over the phone and Ava (the owner) actually HUNG UP ON ME when I was explaining to her what happened!!! I was very polite; even the staff were taken back by what happened! My wife is pregnant and they knew that when we made our appointment and said nothing about a price difference for the couples massage; they said oh that's fine we'll just have her lay on her side. When we got there, they tried to charge us $42 extra! Instead of doing the right thing and taking responsibility, they wouldn't budge even though we were mislead over the phone and drove 45 minutes to get there! Terrible experience, ruined our day. They really could care less about their customers. They cared more about the $42 than making the customer happy and turning my family into repeat customers. Not to mention the facility! Just terrible, walk in to ""relaxing"" hip hop music, the place is dirty; nothing about it makes it a relaxing atmosphere. more

Wish I would have had to give it any stars. Bad customer service, massage therapist ""forgot"" she had an appt. and was over 30mins away from the salon. Ended up walking out of the salon without our massages and very unapologetic staff, in fact they were giggling over it. Waste of time. more

Too bad I had to give it any stars at all, I would have preferred to give it a negative amount of stars. Owner exhibits absolutely no respect for her employees or her customers. The services are not nearly worth the cost either. more

My husband tried to surprise me on my 40th birthday with a couples massage at Eva's. Not only did he have to pay a deposit (have you heard of such a thing? tacky!) but 1. They told us to show up early to fill out paperwork and then weren't open at said time so we waited, 2. One of the masseuse's didn't even show up! 3. As i was filling out the paperwork I overheard the receptionist on the phone telling (I assume the masseuse) that she had an massage appointment (this was 5 minutes before our massage was supposed to begin!) 4. Then we got many dishonest excuses (she'll be here any minute, she had car trouble, she's coming from Minneapolis, it will be 10 minutes). We waited A HALF AN HOUR! We finally got our 'deposit' back and left, without any sort of offer of discounted or free future services even though she knew this was my 40th birthday and a special occasion. If it is a special occasion you definitely cannot count on class here. So upsetting. (Only chose one star because I had to.) more

We spent a fantastic morning at Ava's, being completely pampered by Christine and Tia, their amazing nail technicians. The atmosphere is comfortable and calming and the staff is incredibly friendly. Additionally, they are very professional and obviously excellent at what they do. We all came away with gorgeous manicures and pedicures - probably the best we have ever received. We are definitely going to return to Ava's in the future! Pros: friendly and professional staff, welcoming atmosphere more

Ava and Tia were really wonderful! They were kind and friendly. \r \r We had hair and make-up done for a wedding. They were efficient (all our hair was done on time) and detialed - if Ava felt a hair was out of place she sat us back down to fix it. Truly, the detail was wonderful!\r \r Also, there's a great little cafe next door with homemade food! Amazing for a quick bite to eat. \r \r The only con was that by the time the reception started a few of my bottom hair-pins had fallen out (and, yes, I had followed the rules not to touch my hair). \r \r All things considered, however, I think Ava's was WONDERFUL!! Pros: Pros: Great Atmosphere, Quaint, Friendly and Helpful! Cons: Cons: Some, not all, of the up-do fell out of place. more

When I first walked into Ava's I was pleasantly surprised at the cozy atmosphere there. I was immediately greeted with a smile and warm welcome by Tia. I had called that day to get in for their special manicure/pedicure. I felt so relaxed there that I decided to have a massage and a last minute haircut. (Shelly is an awesome massage therapist!! Her hands and her knowledge are impeccable!). Tia is a wonder woman! She did my pedicure and manicure, lip wax, and hair cut !! I love my new doo. The conversation was engaging with all staff members there. I would highly recommend Ava's to all my friends and family and even to those who are reading this review. Well worth the effort finding a place to park. And when you are finished there, you can walk over to Seventh Heaven coffee shop for a delicious cup of coffee, compliment it with a sandwich, soup or bakery items. The coffee shop is on the same block as Ava's. Scrumptious! My afternoon was wonderful. \r I will definitely be a repeat customer!! Pros: Excellent Cust Serv Team, Great Prices, Fantastic services. Cons: places to park on street are limited, but worth the effort. more

reflection is this on your self or others or both, hmmm think about it. blame your self not others for what you do or dont do its you always been you! stand up to the plate AVA take responsibility. you are showing your true colors. im not the one to hurt you. you did this all on your own. if you dont care for yourself how are you going to care for your salon and the people who work there. wow you have a lot of nerve accusing me of writing a bad review i would never do that to you yes you or anyone else that all you. but see this is YOU thats why I LEFT!!!!!!!!! Pros: massage Cons: parking more

a couple of friends and I where recently at ava's salon and spa, it was a very pleasant experience. The staff where very helpful and friendly. The services where great. I had the best message. We also had a facial and pedicuers that where very nice. We also where pleased with thier prices, well worth the visit. We will go back to ava's more

I recently got married, my entire wedding party and I had our hair and make up done here at Ava's salon and spa. I had a full day spa treatment and it was fabulous. Ava's has the most incredable masage therapist! Not only were the staff extremely knowledgable on updo's and make up, they were also very kind and conciderate. The whole morning was devoted to me and my girls(8 of us). we felt as though we were royalty. \r I recomend Ava's for all of your salon and spa needs. Pros: Outstanding talent with hair and makeup Cons: On street parking more

Nice relaxing atmosphere,great staff! The massage was incredible-the best I've ever had and the organic facial was die for! We also brought in our own wine, cheese and crackers. I will be definately be planning another Spa Party in the future! Pros: Resonable prices,friendly staff more