News Photo By Kayla Wikaryasz On Wednesday, Bella Rose Wellness Center employees are seen at their store location downtown, located on 2nd Avenue. Bella Rose Wellness Center opened in 2015 and is celebrating its 10-year anniversary.

ALPENA — Bella Rose Wellness Center, located in downtown Alpena on 2nd Avenue, is a woman-owned business that treats each client like they are VIP, according to Dr. Jessica Bruning, founder and owner. The business opened in 2015, and it’s celebrating 10 years of providing wellness services to the community.

Bella Rose Wellness Center first opened its location on the corner of 2nd Avenue and Oldfield Street. A few years ago, Bella Rose Wellness Center moved up the street and now is nestled between Traveling Ladders, Parallel 45 Books and Gifts, and Suncatchers.

The wellness center offers a one-stop shop for many wellness treatments. Bruning said that some of the services that Bella Rose Wellness Center provides are waxing, facials, fillers, lash lifts and tints, and more.

Cait Sorensen, Bella Rose Wellness Center’s office manager, explained that the wellness center is the type of business where you come in and see what’s available because there are multiple options for what a person might want.

Sorensen said that their intense-pulsed light (IPL) therapy is a good option for individuals who are insecure about any dark spots, age spots, or broken blood vessels. This type of service is a light treatment that picks up on pigments and removes them.

Another service that Bella Rose Wellness Center offers is hormone replacement. According to Bruning, the wellness center does hormone level testing and then provides bioidentical hormone replacement therapy.

Bruning said that the inspiration behind the business began back in 2009 when she first learned how to administer Botox.

“I’ve always been into the wellness industry,” she said. “I love taking care of myself, my body. When I was doing my dermatology rotation, actually, it was that dermatology PA who taught me (to administer Botox) back when I was a medical student. And I loved it. It’s fun. The patients that you get to deal with are just so happy to come in.”

When she moved back to the area, Bruning was working at Alcona Health Center, and when she had her child, she decided she wanted a different kind of career.

“I had a baby and wanted to do something that I could go back to work but not work full time and be able to bring him with me and have that flexibility,” Bruning said. “So I did a whole bunch of extra training and then opened up Bella.”

Bruning explained that in the beginning, it was only her.

“I was answering phones, making appointments…facials…everything,” Bruning said.

The client base was also a big inspiration behind the business, according to Bruning, and those original ideas are what continue to empower Bella Rose Wellness Center’s staff.

“When I opened up Bella, I wanted to create a space where everybody felt special … like VIP, and they could come in and they would feel important,” Bruning said.

Sorensen said that no matter the patient, it is important that they feel important and that Bella Rose Wellness Center’s services are accessible to them.

“Our patients are special…when they come in here … if they’re spending $65 or $6,500…it doesn’t matter. Special,” Sorensen said.

Bruning explained that because some of the services they offer are a bit pricier, she does many giveaways and offers financing options like Cherry Payment Plans, Care Credit, and Alle Pay.

Overall, Bell Rose’s staff are passionate about the services they provide and about the clients they serve.

Ollie Matney, receptionist at Bella Rose Wellness Center, explained that her coworkers and their clients make working at Bella Rose Wellness Center special.

“The connection with the patients, like our regulars and you know, they almost feel like they’ve become family … We’re an open book,” Matney said.

Keana Gonzales, an esthetician at Bella Rose Wellness Center, explained that the wellness center has supported her and given her a job that she is proud of.

“This is the first job in a very, very long time that it’s fully functional and comfortable to come in,” Gonzales said. “I look forward to coming into work. I like my patients. I feel like I can come to (Bruning) for anything…it’s just being able to be around other strong women (that) is the most valuable thing I’ve had in a very, very long time.”

“For me, Bella is like my entire life,” Sorensen said. “I breathe botox and fillers for the most part… the thing that I like the most about my job is building connections with our clients and being able to talk to our clients and just being able to have them walk in here, feel comfortable with me, come to me, and be like, ‘Oh Cait, what do you think? What do you say?’…I like that they appreciate my knowledge.”

While being dedicated to their client base, Bella Rose Wellness Center employees also enjoy being downtown and being able to participate in the fun events such as the Alpena Ice Festival and the Flower Festival. Bruning explained that their current location gives them visibility that has supported the growth of their business.

Kayla Wikaryasz can be reached at 989-358-5688 or kwikaryasz@TheAlpenaNews.com.