Cadence moves downtown Cheney

Cadence Massage and Esthetics owner Kahla Noel is a Cheney-ite to the bone.

Noel grew up here, was Cheney Rodeo Queen in 2006, graduated from Cheney High in 2007, went to Eastern Washington University while beginning her practice in her hometown. So when the time came to consider a change in locations from her previous storefront in the business park at First Street and Cocolalla, Noel faced an easy decision.

"I want to see this community thrive," she said Friday morning sitting in her new location at 512 First St. "I knew the downtown business district was where I want to be."

Noel talked to local developer Steve Emtman, another CHS graduate, who owns a number of properties downtown. Emtman told her he didn't have anything really available at the moment, but after talking with his employees at Defender Development, he decided to move his offices from Noel's new location next door to the West Plains Chamber of Commerce office and into the basement of the building housing the Jimmy Johns sandwich shop.

Noel picked up the keys to her businesses' new home Friday, Aug. 22, and moved in over the weekend. Some last minute fix-ups prevented her from setting up her office completely, something she was looking to finish up over Labor Day.

Noel has been a Washington licensed esthetician, specializing in skincare, facials, waxing, makeup and other practices, since 2008 and a nationally licensed massage practitioner since 2010. She began her business operating out of Zen Hair Studio in 2010, and moved into her own shop at the Cocolalla location in 2012.

Both locations have about the same amount of square footage, she said, but the downtown storefront affords better parking options for some of her clients. She said it was also just time for a "healthy" change, and she praised Emtman for outfitting the shop to her specifications.

"I feel very welcome, which is nice," Noel said.

Noel said her practice is thriving, having a nice mix of Cheney locals and EWU students. She does pre-natal and athletic massages, and is capable of doing esthetic work off site, such as at weddings or other events. And to top it off, Noel also operates a photography business, doing senior portraits and family portfolios as well as location shoots.

Her biggest challenge right now, she said, is to create a "landmark" for her shop's new location. Something she hopes people will use as a reference when trying to describe where another business is located downtown.

"It's just coming up with the right way to associate (the business)," she said. "I haven't figured out quite what I want to do yet."

Cadence Massage is located at 512 First St. next door to Cheney Federal Credit Union. Appointments can be made by calling or texting (509) 994-8809.

John McCallum can be reached at [email protected].