Passionate. Determined. Independent. Kindhearted.
Those are just a few words I would use to describe Melissa “Missi” Davis, the owner of Bella on the Bay in Excelsior — a spa and salon with services ranging from hair, skin, and nail care to lashes and massages.
The current success of Bella on the Bay, according to Missi, is owed to her team and the community. But Missi has her own role in keeping everything up and running.
When Missi was 16, she started working in the healthcare field. She went from a nursing home to a hospital and finally found her initial calling as an EMT, where she worked for 15 years. Then, one corporate job and a few big life changes later, Missi found herself wanting to go back to school.
Deciding to major in aesthetics — the career that would eventually lead her to Bella on the Bay — can be linked back to her son, who struggled with acne, after several rounds of medication, she decided to explore other options.
“Never once did anyone ask me ‘what does he use for his skincare? Does he wash his face? What does he eat?’ I spoke with an esthetician and she asked me those questions. And we got my son on a great skin regiment. It was just amazing to me how she could help his skin. So that is why I decided to pursue — aesthetics,” Missi says.
In 2013, Missi was hired as an esthetician at Bella on the Bay and just four years later was given the opportunity to purchase the business from the former owners, Paula and Bryce Johnson.
“When the previous owners approached me about purchasing the business, I didn’t even bat an eye. I felt like that was where I was supposed to go with what I do,” Missi says.
And while stepping into the role of owner was a leap of faith, Missi’s team members and the community helped ensure a successful transition. And to this day, that support system is one of the reasons she loves what she does.
“With the community, being part of Excelsior is hard to describe because it’s such a great, tight-knit community. The longevity of our clients is a testament to that,” Missi says.
And longevity is right. In 1997, the building that houses Bella on the Bay was renovated to suit the spa and salon. But prior to that, the building had apartments in it. One client who used to live in those apartments now comes back to get her hair done at the same location. “It’s just really cool,” says Missi.
Getting to build connections with the community is a huge part of why Missi comes to work every day, but seeing the actual impact her and her team’s efforts have is also a major point of pride.
“It’s a really great feeling when you not only help somebody with their hair or their skin, but it’s also really rewarding to us to make those connections with clients.”
And getting to connect with women on a personal level and make them feel as beautiful on the outside as they do on the inside is a privilege, according to Missi.
Being the owner of Bella on the Bay gives Missi the opportunity to learn something new every day. And she handles every new challenge with grace and a little bit of grit.
For example, if there’s ever a time that something in the salon breaks, Missi takes it upon herself to fix it.
“I take a lot of pride in doing a lot of things at Bella myself. I am that independent, and I’m that determined. I don’t like being at the mercy of waiting for someone else to come along,” Missi says.
When it comes to supporting other women in the community, Missi and the Bella on the Bay team are always happy to volunteer their time and talents.
In the past, Bella has helped with hair and makeup for the Excelsior Chamber of Commerce’s Black Gown Gala. Most recently, they participated in a women and wellness group in Chanhassen that worked to connect other women business owners and other women in the community.
Missi’s advice for other women interested in becoming a business owner is simple: Have a clear vision and stick to your core values. https://www.bellaonthebay.com/
When the previous owners approached me about purchasing the business, I didn’t even bat an eye. I felt like that was where I was supposed to go.
It’s a really great feeling when you not only help somebody with their hair or their skin, but it’s also really rewarding to us to make those connections with clients.
