If laughter were medicine, Pam Pannacci and Lyssa Uchida of Amie House would be the best healers in town. When you sit down with them, their laughter is contagious, their energy uplifting, and their friendship instantly puts you at ease. Spend an hour with them, and you’ll walk away with sore cheeks from laughing too much and a heart that feels a little fuller—something their clients know well.
When Pam and Lyssa first crossed paths, it wasn’t in a polished spa or cozy wellness space. Instead, they were both renting space in a hot, noisy loft above a Pilates studio to see clients. Each ended up there out of necessity, at a career crossroads. Pam had recently relocated to the South Bay, working to rebuild her aesthetics practice with a focus on inflammatory skin conditions. Lyssa had turned a personal interest in massage into a profession after losing her job during the 2008 recession. She remembers buying her first massage table at 18 and always feeling drawn to the power of touch, a passion that finally became her path when life opened the door.
Despite being on different journeys, they clicked immediately. “I’m a micro-visualization person. She’s a macro-visualization person,” Lyssa said. “Through friendship and the same circumstances of a less-than-ideal location, we kept talking about what we would appreciate as providers and what we wanted to create for the community.”
Pam and Lyssa eventually left their noisy loft and opened Amie House in Redondo Beach on July 1, 2021—right across from a COVID testing site. “We looked out the window and wondered if we had made the biggest mistake,” Lyssa remembered with a laugh. Instead, their vision flourished. Today, Amie House is a boutique wellness collective that feels more like home than a spa. Independent practitioners offer facials, advanced skincare, massage, bodywork, and even dry float therapy—all with a focus on comfort, connection, and care.
The name “Amie”—French for “friend”—captures the heart of the business. It reflects not only the bond between Pam and Lyssa but also the relationships they build with clients who often share life’s biggest moments: weddings, losses, pregnancies, and caregiving journeys. Family ties also inspire their work. Pam recalled childhood trips to beauty counters with her grandmother, while Lyssa remembered her grandfather’s skilled, therapeutic touch, which inspired her own approach to massage. “That was one thing we both recognized is how much our family inspires the work we do,” said Lyssa. Framed photographs of their grandparents greet clients in the waiting area, a reminder that warmth and care are the foundation of everything they do.
Community is another cornerstone. Each November, guests contribute to the Wall of Gratitude, jotting down on leaf-shaped post-it notes what they’re thankful for—whether it’s family, friendship, or even Taco Bell’s vegan menu. “You don't have to make any purchases. It’s just what you're grateful for,” explained Lyssa. “Then we sit down and we usually have a little bit of red wine, and we read through them. We kind of giggle." Winners are selected and receive a free 30-minute session, a product, or gift cards donated by local businesses.
Throughout December, Amie House hosts its Giving Christmas Tree, collecting food and supplies for animals in need to be donated to SPCA LA. “When clients bring dog food, cat food, or any kind of animal supplies, they get to take a gift from the Christmas tree,” said Pam. “So it's really fun. By the end of the month, that room is filled to the brim,” she added proudly. “Last year, I think we did five Prius loads,” said Lyssa. “When we say it's packed, it's packed. I feel like we make a big impact that way too.”
Pam and Lyssa’s complementary partnership drives Amie House. “She's the engine, full steam ahead,” Lyssa said. “I’m the caboose. I pull her back when needed, but I can also ride her coattail.” They push each other to dream bigger while staying grounded in the practical realities of running a business. Their vision includes a larger space to host community events, cooking classes, and wellness workshops, as well as welcoming more independent practitioners.
Above all, Amie House exists because of friendship. “I’m so thankful I have such an amazing partner and friend,” Pam said. “[Lyssa] is like the sister I never had.” Together, they’ve built more than a wellness collective—they’ve built a home where laughter, care, and connection are the true treatments, leaving every client with a heart a little fuller than when they walked in.
“That was one thing we both recognized is how much our family inspires the work we do.”