Expanded Spa To Fill Former Bookshop Space in Wenham

Inside Out Health and Wellness has expanded at the same address in Wenham, moving into space that had been home to a beloved children’s bookshop that closed earlier this year.

The old space was about 500 square feet  at 162 Main St. and the new space isabout 900 square feet for Inside Out. The one big change is the addition of a wellness room that will host a variety of events and programs, ranging from lectures to spa party nights.

That’s in addition to its longstanding skin care and massage offerings.

Owner Victoria Varney has owned the business for the past eight years at the same address in the front portion of the commercial complex on Main Street. But when the space in the back opened up, she jumped at the opportunity to expand at the same address.

The space was formerly home to Banbury Cross Children’s Bookshop, which closed earlier this year after 24 years. Owner Pat Purdy said that buying habits for children book’s changed that made it difficult to survive.

Essex County Trail Association will have an office in the former Inside Out Space in the front building at 162 Main St.

The conversion to Inside Out’s new space began in September and it moved in on Monday. A grand reopening event is scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 3 at 10 a.m. with a ribbon cutting ceremony with the Wenham Board of Selectmen followed by a reception.

“We really want to be a strong force in the community,” Varney said.

With the additional space, some of the new offerings will include cundalini yoga, foam roller stretch classes, nutrition classes and weight loss classes.

Each of Inside Out’s eight employees has a different background and expertise, Varney said.

“Collectively we have a lot of knowledge about the body and healing,” she said.