Friendly smiles and beautiful faces is what you will be greeted with when you enter Tanquility Tanning Spa and Hair Salon.

Located in the shopping center at 1510 North Kickapoo Street, Tanquility is a tranquil place of relaxation that provides tanning and high quality cosmetology services in one location. They have nine hairstylists, a variety of indoor tanning beds and a VersaSpa spray-tanning booth. Tanquility’s 12 employees in the tanning salon and nine hairstylists are always there to assist

customers. The store also sells a variety of tanning lotions, moisturizers, and sunless tanning products.

Open seven days a week, Tanquility operates Mon.-Fri. from 8:30 a.m. to 9 p.m., Saturdays 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sundays 1-6 p.m. According to owners Jason and Shelly Greenwalt, this Sunday schedule is intended to give customers and workers time to attend church.

“We are a Christian based business,” explained Shelly. “We play Christian music which our clients love. Our goal is to ensure everyone that walks through our door is treated with the utmost respect, so they enjoy their visit with us.”

The Greenwalts’ true passion is complete customer satisfaction, which is reflected in the couple’s employees.

“Our staff is an incredible group of young ladies. They are friendly, kind, and will always greet you with a smile and kind word,” said Shelly.

Jason admits that he is competitive with himself in the business, constantly trying to beat his “old score” from last year’s numbers.

Revenues and customer satisfaction are important, but the Greenwalts also want Tanquility to be a good community partner and a positive witness to everyone who comes in their salon.

The Greenwalts’ have donated to several charities and events, including Witness Kicks, a Christian ministry that provides shoes to those who need them. This is their opportunity to share the gospel of salvation with others, according to Jason.

The economy has not had a major deficit to their business, like most. They had a 60 percent like increase on their Facebook page from the date of purchase to present. Since the purchase of the business in 2012 they added the hair salon and then expanded adding four more stations. Recently, they purchased the suite next to them to add more tanning beds.

Jason has had a variety of management positions since 1993, earned his Bachelor Degree in Business Management from Oklahoma Baptist University in 2004 and is currently working on his MBA.

“I believe the experience, education and personal desire to succeed in everything I do have contributed to my part in our success,” said Jason.

Shelly had been in the hairstyling industry since 1999 as both a stylist and management at salons. According to Jason, her experience and expertise is invaluable and has been a key to keep the business thriving.

After their daughter Macyn returned to daycare with Citizen Potawatomi Child Development Center, Jason and Shelly purchased Tanquility in 2012 from Aaron and Melissa Capps. Melissa had returned to work with the State of Oklahoma and they could no longer spend the time needed on the store.

During a lunch with Aaron, the situation was discussed and according to Jason, “this was the perfect opportunity at the perfect time (to purchase the business) that we believe God brought our way.”

Of course, he had to speak to Shelly and get financing in order, but eventually they would purchase Tanquility from the Capps’ after a previous deal with another buyer fell through.

Jason works for Citizen Potawatomi Nation and knew about Citizen Potawatomi Community Development Corporation. According to him that was the first place he thought of going.

“They helped us secure funding, advised us on setting up the LLC paperwork through state and federal governments and all the other necessary paperwork,” said Jason.

More than a year into the investment, Tanquility is still going strong.

The Citizen Potawatomi Community Development Corporation is a Native American lender for small businesses. If you would like to inquire about loans to help build your business like Tanquility, please call us today at 405-878-4697 or visit our website at www.cpcdc.org.