Stephanie Spear 
Most of the time, when people think of the core demographic for a day at the spa, they think of women of a certain age, wearing fluffy robes and getting treatments that involve chilled cucumbers placed on the eyelids. The target demographic for the Unique and Special Spa in Alexandria is children aged 3 to 15. Founder Martia ‘Tia’ Clark was inspired by her work in early childhood education to create a space where children could have the same luxurious experience. Parents liked what they saw so much that she eventually opened Silk Rose Spa in an adjoining suite, located at 6911 Richmond Highway. Now, the two businesses operate side by side, offering wellness experiences for both children and adults under one roof. Read on for more about Tia Clark, Unique and Special Kids Spa, and Silk Rose Spa in Alexandria.
About The Owner
Tia Clark, a Woodbridge native, owned and operated a childcare facility in Alexandria for over 20 years. “I loved watching the children grow and thrive,” she said. “It sounds cliche but it’s true! It was amazing just to see children’s personalities grow and change over the years.” Over time, Tia became attuned to what was needed in the marketplace for childcare and services for children. “My sister came to visit with her child, and we took my two daughters to a spa for children, and it all clicked,” she said. “And I saw in those little girls’ eyes how important it was for them to feel pampered, to do what mommy does.”
For Tia, the spa treatments and overall experience are a way for children to decompress and feel safe doing so. “They need to have a space where they can go to have a quiet space that is not a reading corner; it’s a quiet space that will still allow them to grow and thrive, but also to feel seen, heard, and to be pampered. So that’s how Unique and Special Kids Spa came to be,” she said.
Everything at Unique and Special is just like a regular spa, but scaled down in size to fit children. The Kids Spa opened in 2018, and Tia realized that the wellness industry would be her next career move. “I realized wellness was my passion,” she said. “That’s what led me to open the kids spa. [Supporting] Mental wellness, having a place to really relax and decompress.” Tia became a licensed massage therapist, studying while running both the childcare business and the Kids Spa.
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Over time, parents began asking for a spa for themselves, with Tia’s touch. “They saw what we created for the kids and they wanted it for themselves,” she said. An adjoining suite to the Kids Spa became available, and Tia and her husband went to work renovating it. Now, the two suites take up more than half of the fourth floor of the building. “What I saw was an opportunity for adults and children to receive spa treatments for all of them to be able to have an opportunity to pause, reflect, and reconnect with themselves, and a space where you don’t have to have a child to come,” she said. Silk Rose Day Spa opened in 2023.
Unique and Special
Designed entirely with children in mind, Unique and Special Kids Spa offers an experience that mirrors a traditional spa, just at kid-friendly scale. “The color scheme, the everything, it’s for them, the sizes of the chairs, the materials, equipment, how we do things. It’s all tailored to children, and then that way, they have a space of their own,” Tia said. The guest experience is similar to a ‘regular’ spa but scaled down for children, including the small touches that elevate the visit. Children are given a silk robe to wear during their treatments, the treatment rooms are colorful and fun, and the space is especially well-equipped for Mommy/Daddy and Me treatments, with some rooms set up for an adult and child to receive a treatment at the same time.
Offering a space for self-care and wellness continues into the other offerings at Unique and Special, such as classes and workshops that Tia and her team host. “We do STEAM classes where they learn how to make body butter and scrubs,” she said. “They’re learning how to make these things, but it reinforces how important it is to take time for themselves. We try to create spaces for children to be able to learn, grow, and thrive in physical and mental wellness.” There are standard and non-toxic products available, including some food-grade items to avoid allergens.
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Perhaps the crown jewel in Unique and Special’s offerings is the party setup. Guests can get standard or even themed treatments, and naturally, everyone gets a robe to wear during the event. The spa has a party room for children to have snacks and treats, and the team can decorate it however the celebrant wants. Next door to that is the Runway Room, which is set up with a karaoke machine, party lights, a runway, and a 360 degree camera for pictures.
Silk Rose Spa
As colorful and vibrant as the kids’ spa is, Silk Rose, just across the hall, is peaceful and serene. There are plants everywhere, and it is decorated in soothing dark greens and natural wood tones. This is a space for adults in every sense of the word. Spa services for men and women include a full range of massages and facials, plus seasonal add-ons like pumpkin spice in the fall and peppermint in the winter.
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“I received a lot of education as I was going through massage school, and all of the training,” she said. “I also got a lot of massages.” Spending all that time in and around the wellness industry has made Tia an astute consumer of wellness services, which says is reflected in what’s offered at Silk Rose. “I picked everyone who works here, and have tried their services,” she said. “It was a lot of market research. This is the only place where I can get a treatment and really turn my brain off.”
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Tia says that for the adult side of things, high-quality service is important, but more than anything, so is creating an environment that resonates with people. “We want people to remember how they felt when they walked in and then when they walked out the door,” she said.
The space is also set up to accommodate private parties and small groups, which could be anything from a birthday party or bachelorette to a group of family members taking some time together.
Plan a Visit
The spa’s location on Route 1 in Alexandria is one of Tia’s favorite things about it. “We get everyone,” she said. “People from all over the DMV come here. We’re not far from Old Town or I-95.” Silk Rose Spa is open Monday – Saturday from 9AM -7PM and on Sundays from 10AM – 6PM. Unique and Special Kids Spa is open Monday, Friday, and Saturday from 10AM – 7PM and Sunday from 11AM – 6PM.
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