Sept. 8, 2023

A Sioux Falls spa that opened six years ago is changing locations and expanding into a retail store that offers healing crystals.

Owner/esthetician Sera Cathelen plans to move Sera Bella Spa from a location on South Minnesota Avenue to the Jones421 Building in downtown Sioux Falls on Sept. 16. Sera Bella Crystals & Spa will be next to ‘Brosia Bowl restaurant.

“I really like the Jones Building due to the variety of people in the community and how it felt that I could draw in different people from all different ages and places,” she said. “I felt like it had this urban kind of downtown vibe where I felt like I would be accepted, people would understand what I’m trying to do.”

What she is trying to do, she said, is bring light to men’s and women’s lives and help them heal, both through personal spa services and by offering crystals in various forms.

A native of Huntington, West Virginia, Cathelen moved to Sioux Falls 16 years ago. She was 13 years old when she found her love for beauty and the beauty industry, beginning by shaping her friends’ eyebrows.

While attending the Stewart School in Sioux Falls, she learned she preferred to offer relaxing services such as facials more than doing hair and nails. That’s when she decided to focus on esthetics such as facials, HydraFacials, lash extensions, lash lifts and tinting, brow sugaring, shaping, painting and henna.

She also offers microblading and is a makeup artist, offering air-brush makeup.

After working at several spas in Sioux Falls, Cathelen opened Sera Bella, changing the spelling of her original name, Sarah.

She discovered her love for crystals about four years ago, after undergoing some personal turmoil.

“They helped me through healing,” she said. “I had some experiences in my life, and I wanted to share this with others. Crystals have rainbows in them, and they’re beautiful and have healing properties.”

Her store will offer crystals in various sizes and configurations. Sera Bella will carry crystals in spheres, tumbles, towers, chips, sculptures and jewelry such as necklaces, bracelets and rings. Palm crystals can be held in a person’s hand. The store will carry hanging crystal pieces for home decor.

“If you like to hold items, spheres are great, round and soft and smooth textured,” Cathelen said. “Tumbles are smaller crystals you can hold or carry without anyone noticing. I’ll have little dangling crystals you can hang in cars, like clear quartz to clear negative energy.”

She said she enjoys recommending crystals like amethyst, labradorite and hematite, which are good for healing trauma or helping those going through grief. Often worn in bracelets or necklaces, they help people become grounded with the earth and more centered with themselves, Cathelen said.

Sera Bella also will carry skin, hair and body care products, items with CBD and “pre-loved” handbags and wallets.

The retail side of Sera Bella will be open from 5 to 9 p.m. weekdays and on weekends when the Jones421 Building at 421 N. Phillips Ave. is open. It will provide spa services in other weekday hours. She will share her hours over social media such as on Instagram and her Facebook page.

Cathelen has one goal for those interested in Sera Bella Crystals & Spa.

“Everyone who comes into my space, I want it to be an experience,” she said. “I want them to leave feeling happy. I want people to leave feeling beautiful and cared for.”