The Spa On Oak

Like others, after several attempts to make massage/​facial appointments with my previously purchased hours, I was unable to do so.
I have actually moved from Chicago and I’m wondering if refunds are possible. It was irresponsible of the salon to put out an offer they could not handle and clearly put them in a distressed financial and logistics situation.

Like other reviewers, I pre-​purchased a bundle of hours for spa services, only to find that it was nearly impossible to schedule an appointment to use those hours, that scheduled appointments were frequently cancelled or «lost,» and that the salon suddenly closed, even as they were promoting more of these pre-​paid bundles. Clearly, this stinks of deliberate and orchestrated fraud.
Unlike other reviewers, I’ve not heard from Richelle Cilluffo or anyone else at Spa on Oak regarding the disposition of my vouchers. What I do know is that my money is in Richelle’s pocket, until such time as this situation is made right.
Claims that there is «no relationship» between The Spa on Oak and Salon 22 in Crete are patently false, as one of my payments to Spa on Oak showed up on my credit card statement as billed through Salon 22. (Since I didn’t recognize Salon 22, I disputed this charge with my credit-​card provider.) This kind of commingling is frowned upon by the government, and I’m sure this is the kind of information a prosecuting attorney would love to get his hands on. (If such an attorney is reading this, please contact me by private message through this site.)
I remain hopeful that justice will be served. There’s clearly much to be served in this case.

Hard work and dedication. Really.
I made dozens attempts to schedule appointments to use my purchased package over a year ago, but no one ever returned my voice mail messages. When I finally made a trip specifically to walk in and hopefully find a live person to discuss my frustration, the girl working the counter took my name and phone number and said the manager would call me, but I never received a call.
Not only was this business run incredibly poorly from the beginning — dooming it to fail — this email is the icing on the cake — ultimate example of unprofessionalism. Bashing your customers and telling them they had no right to leave honest negative feedback brings not only your character into question, but gives even more evidence that your business ripped people off.
Here’s a word of advice. Don’t try to take on something that you obviously know nothing about.
You have no right to steal people’s money with no service in return. You should issue every unused service a refund before filing bankruptcy. That would be the right thing to do.
— Still Irate.

Interesting … got an email from the owner stating that the business, Spa on Oak, on Oak St is finally closed. All I can say is HOORAY! I’m just happy that no one else will be deceived by this business’s fancy address. One would assume that you would receive wonderful service at this prestigious location, however, the service and facility was more like a hole in the wall (even when they moved, the facilities were still cramped and just so random).
I do feel bad that the owner had to close it down but when you cannot live up to your name, it’s time to try something else.
To quote one of my favorite boy bands (this doesn’t mean you should discredit my other opinions and such), «Bye Bye Bye».

I never write reviews… only read them… but feel like I need to share this in hopes of gaining some insight on what is happening.
I bought one of the credits and therefore had 5 spa services already paid for. I had a facial back in January and set an appointment for the second one today. I just called to confirm the time, since I saw firsthand the amount of people who showed up without knowing their appointments had been cancelled, and I found out the spa is closed. (This took quite a while to actually find a number that connected me to a person).
Charles Burrell explained that he would be willing to give the free membership for a month (as stated in the review below), but is not responsible for the credit I purchased.
I tried to call and email Richelle Cilluffo but both her phone and email have been disconnected/​changed, and there is no way of reaching her.
I am disappointed and furious… if anyone has any insight on next steps towards getting a refund, please share!

This place is under new ownership, under a different name. I bought a Gilt Voucher, which Pampering Moments will not honor now. Got a very rude email back when they wrote back to my questions.
Talked to Gilt Customer Service, got my money back as store credit. All those with vouchers should do so too.
As for Pampering Moments, you don’t need to be such an A-​hole regarding questions of Spa on Oak. There has been someone posting around Unilocal saying you will honor the past vouchers and if you wont, then just say so — no need to be so condescending and rude. I will not patron your spa.

Was just informed by a third party that they have closed. Have weekly appointments set up that I prepaid for. Apparently, the spa was for sale in October:
Thanks Richelle for taking our money. Good luck at Salon 22 in Crete.

This was the worst customer service experience I have ever had. I purchased a voucher from Gilt City for two spa services.
I have now called the spa 3 times during business hours (and no one has answered any of these calls), I have left two voice mails, and I have sent an email to the email address that Spa On Oak listed on their Gilt voucher.
Despite these many attempts, no one has called or emailed me back to set up an appointment. This is awful service and I feel I have made a more than reasonable amount of attempts (including both calling and emailing) and am not being given the opportunity to make an appointment.
If you are looking for a spa that will actually help you make an appointment, for the love of all things good, look elsewhere. This will be a waste of money and, perhaps more importantly, a huge waste of your time.

Got a coupon for this place? Did they sell you on a bunch of credit hours for next to nothing? Well, at this spa, you definitely get what you pay for. Where to begin? I have been here a few times trying to give it a chance, but I just can’t. I think I will actually forfeit the remaining credit I have her because I am just so disappointed. Let me count the ways…
1). There are totally different people working here every time I come and I do not get the sense that they enjoy it.
2). The massage I had started late, but ended right on time, so I was cheated. A bell went off at the end of the scheduled hour. I don’t think I have ever experienced that before.
3) The therapist proceeded to move very quickly through the massage, maybe to make up for lost time, but speed is the enemy of quality when it comes to this service. It was definitely one of the lower quality ones I have received and I get them pretty regularly (at better places). She did not ask if I needed special attention to any areas, nor did she ask me how I felt afterwards.
4) The therapist had on the regular radio, so after a couple of classical songs, I was treated to the world news (decidedly not relaxing) until I asked her tot run it off. With no music you can hear all of the employees chatting and discussing other clients. She apologized for this, but when her cell phone went off in the middle of the service, she did not apologize. I could not believe it.
5). Then there was the body wrap. I’m afraid we are just not working with professionals here. I was told to undress and given two little crappy wash clothes to cover myself while the very young technician proceeded to rub some type of body scrub on my body. I asked her what the product was and she said it had aloe in it but she didn’t know what else or what the brand was. Then she wrapped me awkwardly in Saran Wrap for about 15 min. Again time was cut short because she started late. While I was wrapped she played around on her phone and periodically showed me things she had ordered for herself online. After I was unwrapped I had to help her wipe the mystery substance off. It was clear that she did not know what she was doing. Very nice young lady, but unprofessional.
6) Then I went for a manicure/​pedicure. At this point my spa day was really starting to depress me. But, in comparison to the previous two, these services, performed by the same person, weren’t too bad. But I have had way better mani/​pedis. There was hardly any massaging of the hands and feet to speak of and the toe polish was not neatly finished. And when I got home my boyfriend even commented that it looked like my hands hadn’t been touched (I don’t get polish). So the best part of my day was just so-​so.
I also join the chorus of people complaining about how hard it is to get an appointment. In general it just feels like all of their books (admin, personnel, financial) are a hot mess.
Honestly, I don’t see how this spa remains open in such a swanky area. It seems that the Oak St. business association would wage war against this place. The lack of professionalism here is truly shocking.

I have given this place 3 chances and it’s absolutely awful! DO NOT FALL FOR THEIR STUPID 5 services for $ 100 deal!
The first time was ok. I went for a facial and it was just… ok. They offered my girlfriend and I champagne and it tasted like a juice box and it wasn’t bubbly anymore.
The second time I had an AMAZING massage and no champagne so I felt better about the place (even though it’s still kind of dumpy inside… not spa like AT ALL)!
The third time was the WORST! I called in early September (September 3 to be exact). We actually, I called serval times before then and left 2 messages and NO ONE could be bothered to call me back. My second message was kind of rude, so finally I was able to speak with someone. I wanted a massage, then a mani/​pedi. They told me this would take 2 hours and the next time they had available was NOVEMBER 9! Seriously?! So… I took the appointment.
On November 9, I arrived exactly on time (at noon — I had scheduled an extra-​long lunch hour as a work in the area). Rather than start with my massage, they wanted me to start with a mani/​pedi. I went into the mani/​pedi room (which doesn’t appear to be that clean) and 2 manicurists were b*tching about another customer in the back room, but EVERYONE could hear them! My manicurist got started about 5 minutes late and it took her an hour to do my manicure (this was just regular, not no-​chip). She was nice enough, but pushed my cuticles down to the point where it hurt and she sort of proded each nail with the cuticle tool so that they would shred and she could peel off anything that was lose. My nails do tend to peel, but I’ve never had someone do this before, and now a month later, my nails are still not recovered!
So…now it’s 1:05 and the massage therapist is waiting patiently for me, but the manicurist hasn’t even started my pedi! She only did one coat on my hands too (and acted like that was just standard — when have you EVER had someone suggest doing just 1 coat?!). We collectively agree I will get a «quick pedi» and then just have a 30 minute massage from 1:30 — 2. She does a terrible job on my toes… only paints one coat of polish and NO TOP COAT!
Finally, the massage was great, but in the end it lasted about 23 minutes because the massage therapist and I both had to leave!
I scheduled a massage with the same person (Poppy) for a couple weeks later. Well I got stuck in traffic that day, called the spa 30 minutes before I was to arrive to say I was going to be a few minutes late. Traffic was so bad I called back to ask if it was even worth coming (and I felt terrible!), but that was 3 weeks ago and NO ONE has called back. AT ALL. I even wrote an email while I was in the car and it bounced back.
I have a few «credits» left on my account here, but I won’t use them… this place is just terrible. And clearly, that’s their gimmick… get a bunch of girls to buy the 5 services for $ 100 deal, but make sure the services and the customer service is SO bad, they don’t come back! Then, it becomes a $ 100 for 1 service deal, which is more expensive than most of the fabulous spas located in Chicago!
I sincerely hope they read these reviews. I’m going to post this on their other Unilocal page as well (anyone else think it’s shady that they have 2 pages?!). IF YOU ARE SOMEONE FROM THE SPA ON OAK, PLEASE CALL ME BACK!!!

I wrote two reviews on the previous location at 67 East Oak and I actually had one good bikini wax out of six attempts and a good facial.
I went back for another facial today and it was NOT GOOD. When I got home, I looked in the mirror and saw that I still had a lot of eye make up on and there was leftover mask on my chin and shoulder.
I also paid for a one hour facial and they were 15 minutes late to start and the entire facial process probably lasted no more than 40 minutes.
I’m done with you Spa on Oak. Do not give them business!

DO NOT GIVE THE SPA ON OAK YOUR BUSINESS. While I have many complaints about The Spa on Oak, I am writing this specific post to comment on their horrible business practices and refusal to provide a refund WHEN I WAS DOUBLE CHARGED FOR A PURCHASE I MADE.
When I first heard about their seemingly great deal of 4 Hours of service for $ 100 I bit and purchased some hours. However, I noticed a few months later when reviewing my credit card statement that I was double charged but not credited for any extra hours. I HAVE E-​MAILED, CALLED, SHOWN UP IN PERSON asking to speak to the person in charge, Richelle Ciluffo (
). I have asked for messages to be sent to her and very politely explained the situation. Every time I am told that she will contact me…2 months later I still have not been contacted and have not had the charge reversed to the correct purchase price.
I believe Spa on Oak is as close to a scam as a business can legally run. They over-​sell services at a huge discount and then make it nearly impossible to get an appointment, hoping that people will just give up and they will keep the money. Their owner clearly has no respect for her clients, otherwise I would have been contacted on one of the 5 e-​mails or 4 phone messages I have left her.
Richelle, if you do check Unilocal and listen to customer feedback, I would appreciate a response. I am not trying to get a refund for my entire purchase price, only the $ 100 I was overcharged. This is my last request before I dispute the entire charge and do whatever I can to make everyone aware of your unsavory business practices. Please prove me wrong and show you do respect your clients.

This is a joke of a spa. Believe the reviews, it’s next to impossible to get an appointment. And that definitely isn’t because they’re so good that they’re all booked up. My experience was the worst.
They ran a deal on YouSwoop for three custom airbrush tans for $ 40. I read the bad reviews but didn’t see any for the airbrush tans so I thought, why not? It took so long to get my first appointment that my certificate expired. When I finally got someone on the phone, they said they could extend it for me. Off to a good start! I arrived for my first session and was greeted by Soroya. She led me to a small, old, outdated, and very dimly lit room. Still, I remained positive. Soroya was very pleasant and I was excited that I had likely found my new airbrush tan spot! I tipped her a full 20% of the full price if the service ($ 35) and left with a smile. That would be the end of my good experience.
I awoke the next morning and didn’t really look any different than the evening before. Maybe a shade or two… Nothing I couldn’t have done myself with a quick swipe of Jergen’s Natural Glow. So, thinking maybe she’s new to this or maybe just not accustomed to spraying in the dark, I emailed her this:
I hope you had a good weekend! I really enjoyed meeting you this past Thursday and thanks for taking the time to airbrush tan me so late in the evening. I had a concern I wanted to chat with you about. Unfortunately, the airbrush tan didn’t darken me more than just a shade or two. I waited until the following morning to shower, didn’t use a washcloth or loofah, and moisturized right after, but I definitely wasn’t tan. I love how close you are to me and as I mentioned, really enjoyed your company. I have another appointment with you this coming Friday (for a wedding on Saturday) and was wondering if there was anything more we could do to make sure the results are more noticeable this time? I want to be sure I look my best for my friend’s wedding!
I didn’t receive a response but thought maybe she didn’t receive it. I arrived at my next appointment and was met with hostility (that she was unsuccessfully trying to mask). She basically told me I was lying and rudely said ‘I spray my own black self with this so I know it’s going to show up on a white girl. I’m just giving it to you straight’. Whoa. And did I mention I was standing in front of her naked as the day I was born during this? Talk about uncomfortable. I told her it showed up a little bit but I was far from tan, only just a shade or two darker. She said that’s all that was supposed to show up and that she could go darker for an extra $ 10. What? I bought a TAN, not a shade or two. I can understand if I had even a perceptible tan, but I didn’t. I declined and she went on to say that she sprayed me as much as she sprays her other clients. She added that when her other clients say the same thing I was saying, that she tells them it’s impossible not to get any color from the spray. Wait… So I’m not the only one with this complaint? You think a whole slew of girls are trying to scam you? It’s clearly the other way around. I kept that to myself though.
She then whipped out her cell phone and began taking photos of my arms and legs (without asking me if it was OK) and condescendingly told me to send her photos of myself in the morning.
At the end, I asked her if the solution she used had a bronzer in it, because I wanted to know if I needed to rinse off before my run in the morning. She apparently didn’t understand my question and decided to patronize me, saying that some of the solution doesn’t soak into the skin and that when I run, I will sweat naturally (oh, really? I had no idea) so the excess solution will either come off that way or in the shower. All of the other airbrush tan solutions I had been subjected to had a fair amount if bronzer in them so the tech could see where the solution was going. Hers doesn’t seem to because I was able to run without staining my clothes with bronzer.
So, I decided to deliver on those photos she requested, but I’m not going to email them to her, I’ve posted them on Unilocal for you all to see for yourselves. I woke up this morning with a tie dyed tan. My hand and feet are super dark, arms are ok in places, untouched in others. Same for my legs. She can chalk that up to 1) dark working space 2) she only sprays your front and back, no other angles so only your front and back get the solution 3) I’m guessing inexperience or she just doesn’t care. Either way, I will never return to her or this spa, not even to use my last tan. I wish I had my two $ 7 tips back, she did NOT deserve them.

Please don’t make the same mistake I did.
When The Spa on Oak ran a Gilt coupon last year I bought it and had a great experience. So when I KEPT getting emails about their 5 for $ 100 deal I eventually caved.
I shouldn’t have. And now I am desperately trying to get my money back. It is unacceptable that I can’t make a simple mani/​pedi appointment after 5pm even all the way in December.
Don’t be fooled. They have grown too quickly and will never be able to fit you in. I’m very disappointed by the entire experience and the way the company has handled my complaint and multiple phone calls. I even tried this morning and it seems the number has been completely disconnected.
Bottom line? This spa is a scam.

This place should be banned as crack cocaine. First, they lure you in through incredibly sweet deals like $ 100 for 5 hours of services. Seriously? $ 20 for an hour long massage? It sounds great, until you try to figure out how much of that would go to your massage therapist. Needless to say, when it comes to therapists, it’s a revolving door. Too many clients and not nearly enough service providers. So expect your massage to be booked 3 months out at 3pm on a work day and then cancelled at the last minute. My «favorite» and LAST experience was my therapist explaining to me he got fired as I was checking in for a massage. Sweet!
The ONLY good news, is that I was able to get my money back for pre-​purchased hours. DEMAND YOUR MONEY BACK AND NEVER COME BACK!!!

Preaching to the choir on this one but please, for the love of god and all that is holy, do not give this place a dime. I am a very patient and low-​maintenance person but holy crap. I have $ 140 in spa credit left and I would rather rip my eyelids off than deal with the incompetent staff ever again.
How has the «receptionist» Erica not been fired yet?! Can’t wait for this place to shut down for good. Seriously thinking about sneaking in and letting a ferret loose or something to speed up the process.
If I could, this would be 0 stars.

Got a living social deal for a facial. Judging by how hard it is to get an appointment, I assumed this place was amazing (took over 3 months for them to fit me in). The facial was awful and a load of crock. They say they are doing ‘oxygenating’ and ‘microderm’ treatments but my face looked and felt completely the same. The oxygenating treatment that they upsold me on was literally just them blowing air on my face… Also, didn’t do any extractions like they said they would.
I ended up leaving disappointed and gave myself another facial at home (which had much better results).
Do NOT go here!

Worst experience! Bought a living social deal for mani/​pedi. Arrived 15minutes early for my appointment. The couple who came in after me also with coupons were offered champagne and cupcakes. I interjected to say I’d like champagne. The front desk woman asked for the second time which service I was waiting for.
After waiting for a total of 45 minutes, now 30 minutes after my scheduled appointment, I asked how much longer. 3 people had arrived after me and begun their services. The front desk woman asked again, what service are you waiting for?- Still a mani/​pedi!
Almost an hour after my scheduled appointment I was taken back by the technician. I explained I’ve been waiting almost an hour so I had to pay my meter soon. No apology from her about the wait, just ok pick a color.
Color selection was the most minimal I’ve ever seen including Revlon brand. Picked my colors and fiddled with massage chair remote, nothing happened. I asked if it was broken and the technician said no, you have to press certain buttons. She said this and never turned it on for me.
Following the top coat on my pedicure, the technician sent me down the street in the flimsy pedicure flip flops to pay my meter. I go to many spas in the city and if you’re meter is expired in the middle of a service, especially after the spa made you wait, someone from the salon offers to not only go to your car but pay for the meter as well.
I left to pay the meter and did not return for my manicure. Not worth another minute of the frustrating and agonizing experience.
More like Spa is a Joke!

Note: I am only writing about the massage/​customer service experience.
When this Spa was at its old location, I really liked it. It was clean and well furnished and looked nice. The new location is a suburban nightmare. Now it’s garishly colored and decorated. If I’m going to pay all that money for a spa experience, I want to feel like I’m in a classy joint, not a pastel, Italian-​restaurant-​with-​a-​hand-​painted-​fresco-​of-​the-​Sistine-​Chapel nightmare
The decoration/​furnishing isn’t the only aspect of the Spa that has gotten worse since the move. There seem to be all manner of women working the desk without customer service skills. They don’t know how to schedule appointments, they can’t answer simple questions such as «When will masseuse X be in next?» And they put you on hold for far too long.
Case in point: I called and tried to set up a massage 2 months in advance for any of the 5 days of the workweek and was told every single appointment for every masseuse was taken. Seriously? I told the confused woman on the phone I could meet anytime in the next month and was told there were no spaces. I hung up and called the next day and somehow managed to find an appointment for when I wanted it.
I don’t know what happened with the staffing/​management since they switched locations, but management at the last place (Richelle I think?) was great. They were courteous, they could answer questions properly, and they had a general clue as to what was happening. I am using up my remaining hours and probably looking for another spa, which makes me sad, cause this is a great location, and the masseuses (I hate spelling that word) are really good.

They «moved» locations… if you look up The Spa on Oak at the old address…67 E Oak St… you will see that MANY people did not like this place.
This place is a piece of crap.
I went here on a youswoop deal. I think it was $ 35 for any facial. Right there I shouldve known something was up because most of their facials on their pricing list are upwards of $ 90.
I did look on Unilocal before I purchased the deal and saw many mixed reviews so I decided to give it a whirl.
I made an apptmt via email and it was easy enough. Ok, maybe this place wasnt so bad.
I show up for my 11AM apptmt at about 1055. I sit and wait. Amber comes out and greets me at 1105. Go to the first room (not a good sign because its right by the front and I can hear everything). I get undressed and probably start the facial around 1110AM.
I was booked for an oxygen facial, however Amber quickly tried to upsell me on a microderm. However, I have a salon grade microderm at home so I passed. Next up, a chemical peel. A 35% glycolic peel for $ 20. Again, I do this at home so I was not willing to ‘upgrade’ to anything.
The facial it self was poor. She barely did any extractions. I mean, seriously 5. I will admit it. I hate them, but I love them. This is the reason I go get facials. To remove the little blackheads in the crevices of my nose and face. She did not do a good job at all. The massage/​cleansing was also very much lacking. It was not good in any way, shape or form.
Funny thing was, I was booked for the oxygen facial however, she had to go get the machine and was clanking it against everything in the room. They are very small. Not exactly a relaxing experience. After the treatment, instead of just leaving it in the room, she again wheeled it out. Knocking into about every wall on the way out.
She said we were done and I got up to get dressed. My watch said 1148AM. Nice, I just paid $ 35 for a 38 min. Not a good deal at all. Not to mention that it wasnt good. I could hear everything outside the door. I would be willing to compromise ambiance for a great facial, this was not the case.
Dont go here for a good deal because its not.
Plus, they are offering up facials right now for $ 39. Come on? I guess they are hurting that bad for business and it all makes sense now.