Beverly Ashdown Day Spa gift card holders searching for answers after sudden closure

Many were caught off guard recently by Beverly Ashdown Day Spa’s sudden closure.

The business had operated for more than 25-years in Saskatoon, but owner Beverly Ashdown decided it was time to close up shop, announcing the closure on social media and in an email to some customers. Taryn Essar found out through a coworker that the popular spa was closing, but it begged a bigger question in her eyes.

“We had talked about how (Essar and her coworkers) all had gift cards to use, it was ranging from anywhere from $175 to $200,” she told 650 CKOM Wednesday.

“I decided to see how many other people had been affected. I could only imagine that we weren’t the only ones.”

Essar then created a Facebook page to outline some of her concerns. More than 140 people had liked the page as of Wednesday afternoon, with many in the same boat as Essar and her coworkers.

On Beverly Ashdown Day Spa’s website, the online store has been closed and just one page exists with a note to its “loyal and valued guests.”

“Through much discussion and agonizing, I have decided to permanently close the spa,” the statement by Ashdown reads.

“I want to deeply thank each one of you for your loyalty and support over the years…it was a privilege to share the experience with you.”

The day spa’s social media pages had been taken down by Wednesday. The phone lines at the spa have also been disconnected.

Following the announcement of the closure, Essar said she tried to use her gift cards in the online store. She received the message that her gift card was “invalid.”

But, that doesn’t mean the gift cards will be invalid everywhere. Essar says she was contacted by other local spas that have stepped up to help out those with now invalid gift cards.

According to Essar, “Be You” laser on 8th Street says it will be honouring up to $300 worth of Ashdown gift cards.

She said she will continue to post on the page to help people out with getting connected to other businesses willing to honour the gift cards.

Essar also claimed that Consumer Affairs said it has opened an investigation on Beverly Ashdown’s day spa. She encouraged those with outstanding gift card balances to make a complaint on the Consumer Affairs’ website.