Skincare franchise GLO30 inks first Richmond-area lease in Short Pump Station

A GLO30 studio is set to hit Short Pump Station. (Photo courtesy GLO30)

Short Pump will soon have some extra glow with the first planned regional location of a national skincare studio franchise. 

GLO30, which offers a range of skincare treatments, from high-frequency facials to microdermabrasion, LED therapy and chemical peels, recently leased 1,400 square feet of space in Short Pump Station at 11301 W. Broad St.

GLO30 originated in Bethesda, Maryland, and now has 19 locations across the D.C.-Maryland-Virginia area and the greater United States, per the company website. 

GLO30 is planning to slot into Short Pump Station as the first of three locations in the region. (Jackie DiBartolomeo photo)

The local franchisees for GLO30 are John and Gabriela Houston. The husband and wife duo already own four locations of dog boarding, grooming and spa business Dogtopia in Charlottesville, Chesterfield, Midlothian and Short Pump, per John Houston’s LinkedIn.

The Houstons announced in February that they had signed a multi-franchise agreement with GLO30 to bring the skincare studios to the Richmond region. At the time, no locations had been determined, but the pair said they signed on to open three locations in the region.

The brand’s name fuses the “glo” of glowing skin with a 30 that represents the monthly basis of the membership.  

Dr. Arleen Lamba, who founded GLO30 in 2012, told BizSense that, being close by in the D.C. area, she has been looking to expand into the Richmond market for a long time

“I think [the city’s] really ripe,” Lamba said, “We’re really based and built on community, and so Richmond was wonderful for that.”

Dr. Arleen Lamba. (Photo by Tony Powell)

Lamba said she was comfortable giving the Richmond reins to the Houstons as they know how to run a franchise successfully and have their ears to the ground on what the community wants out of a skincare studio.

Lamba told BizSense back in February that the Short Pump area was of particular interest to GLO30 due to its convenience for customers.

John said in the February announcement that his wife had discovered GLO30 and liked their high-tech approach to skincare, which led the two to pursue franchises in the Richmond area. 

“I could see [Gabriela] had the same enthusiasm I had when I first learned about Dogtopia. The more she investigated the brand, the more I could feel her passion growing, and soon that passion spread to me,” he said. 

Richmond isn’t the only area GLO30 is expanding to. There are around 100 locations in the works in markets like Scottsdale, Arizona, and Atlanta, Georgia. Major Texas cities like Austin and Dallas are of particular interest to GLO30, Lamba told BizSense back in February. 

After teaming up to work with with franchise development company Fransmart in 2023, GLO30’s goal became to have 1,000 locations over the next decade, Lamba said.

Lamba did not respond to a request for further comment on the planned Short Pump location. The space was formerly home to i-Rite iPhone Screen Repair.

GLO30 has multiple membership tiers, Lamba said, including a $99 per month medical-grade facial treatment membership, a $125 per month Botox membership and a $299 per month membership that gets customers access to multiple treatments like Botox and micro-infusions. The company also offers a package for customers ages 12 to 22, specifically targeting common youth skin issues like acne.

The company launched AI-based scanner tool GLOria last summer. The scanner analyzes the tone, texture and tightness of a customer’s skin and provides tailored product recommendations. Each GLO30 studio has two GLOria scanners. 

It is not clear exactly when the GLO30 Short Pump location will open its doors, but it is likely later this year.

The new GLO30 is slotting in next to the likes of Mattress Warehouse, Ideal Image MedSpa and Gearharts Fine Chocolates. 

Short Pump Station is anchored by retailers Trader Joe’s, Ulta and PetCo. Thalhimer’s Jim Ashby handles leasing at the shopping center. 

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