A longtime Lawrence salon and day spa is downsizing and relocating, as its retail-center home gets a makeover of its own.

Rejuvene Salon & Day Spa, 2108 W. 27th St., will close at 1 p.m. Dec. 24, ending a not-so-jolly holiday season for owner Marcia Butell, who is moving her massage-therapy practice to a rental home in central Lawrence.

“The cost of doing business — just because of the overhead — just keeps you from being able to make a living,” said Butell, who 18 months ago added salon services to her own spa by relocating to the former Becky’s Salon & Spa location in the Park Plaza Retail Center. “I work harder than I’ve ever worked in my life, and I’m making less money, because of the overhead. You get to a point where that doesn’t work for you anymore.

“When your overhead keeps you from making a living, you have to make different choices.”

Rejuvene’s exit means the high-visibility retail center at 27th and Iowa streets will have yet another open space to fill for the new year. Ed Marling’s Home Furnishings is moving out later this month, and Lawrence Athletic Club South already has closed, with its owner blaming spiraling rent and common-maintenance costs.

Doug Compton, who co-owns Park Plaza with former Kansas University basketball coach Larry Brown, said that his Consolidated Properties partnership was spending up to $300,000 to continue sprucing the place up: an updated facade already is in place, and new signage and a resurfaced parking lot are planned in the new year.

“It’s time. The center’s 15 years old,” said Compton, whose other tenants include Sherwin-Williams, Hancock Fabrics and a satellite office for the Douglas County Treasurer. “You have to spend money to make money.”

Compton said Wednesday that he was on the brink of landing two leases for open space: a national retailer for the 26,000 square feet being vacated by Ed Marling’s, and a Kansas City-area operation for the athletic club’s 10,000 square feet.

Butell said the decision to expand her Rejuvene Day Spa operation at Park Plaza ended up being too much to handle. She added the salon in June 2003 by taking on a partner to manage the place, and together they had as many as 16 stylists, massage therapists and other employees on staff.

Marcia Butell, owner of Rejuvene Salon & Day Spa, 2108 W. 27th St., is closing the salon portion of her business Dec. 24. She intends to operate the spa, as its sole employee, in a rental home in central Lawrence.

Today, her employees are fanning out to other salons and spas in town — places that helped spell the end of her expanded business venture.

“There are too many salons in Lawrence,” said Butell, a certified massage therapist, reflexologist and licensed esthetician who opened Rejuvene 11 years ago. “I think there’s been 10 new ones pop up in the last year.”

Butell said that she would continue to honor any gift certificates issued by Rejuvene. Butell is keeping Rejuvene’s phone number and will continue her work at home, and her daughter — Ashley Butell — will honor Rejuvene certificates for hair services at her new employer, The Fixx, 845 N.H.

6News video: Day spa to close up shop

“My intention is to do great customer service, to always put my customers first … and my desire is to get their continued support and business,” she said. “I’ve been a very successful business person in the community for 11 years, and … I’m not going anywhere.”