Olya Gristak and Inna Polishuk always knew that they would own a business someday. After years of working in the beauty and medical field for others, the sisters have accomplished their longtime dream of opening their own beauty and med spa.
Located at 1542 4th St. in downtown Sarasota's Rosemary District (once known as Overtown) the Twins Spa is a lifelong goal realized. The Ukrainian-born sisters landed in Sarasota nearly a decade ago, both taking job opportunities in the medical field. In 2023, the co-owners found a vacant retail space that would become the future Twins Spa.
The journey to opening took a much longer timetable than they originally thought, however the sisters are excited to welcome loyal clients and new customers into the luxe
medical and beauty spa.
Ukrainian dream gets Sarasota address
The dream started young — and far from Florida.
Growing up in Izmail, a city in southern Ukraine, the girls told their father one day they would own a spa or salon in America. Neither knew exactly what that would look like. They just knew it would be beautiful.
"We grew up in a small town in Ukraine and I remember, right before moving to America, we told our dad 'one day we will have our own spa,'" Gristak recalled. "We have just always loved anything beauty. Nails, hair, whatever. It's very much a part of our culture, being put together."
Both sisters initially worked in the medical field before pivoting to the beauty industry when they first arrived in Sarasota, working in dental and eye clinics in the area for nearly a decade.
Polishuk was first to pivot from her job in a dentistry into the beauty industry.
She took a chance on her dream and became lash certified, making a long commute to Miami before sunrise for four months of training to make it happen. In 2019, her husband Dmitry built her a private home studio in Port Charlotte with its own entrance so she could practice and build her clientele after long shifts. Years later, Dmitry continued the support for his wife and sister-in-law's dream; he designed and sourced every material inside Twins Spa — custom beds, carved ceilings, an intricate chandelier, mood lighting, and international finishes.
Their shared struggle with cystic acne as adults deepened their commitment to skincare and the clients who come to them feeling exactly as they once did — insecure and searching for answers. After hesitating to move into the beauty industry at first, Gristak followed her sister and soon earned her aesthetician license. Gristak specializes in facials and acne treatment, a skills he says she needed the most growing up.
"I would be so insecure about my skin," Gristak said. "I would have to put on so much makeup to cover it up. I spent so much money on aestheticians and skin care. I knew I could help somebody else."
The Rosemary District location was a deliberate choice. The sisters wanted luxury, not the clinical feel of a typical med spa. The proximity to downtown, arts and cultural vibe, and regular events and activities the district hosts was important for their dream space. Guests can expect mimosas after facials, hot towels at arrival, no rushing.
"We want people to come and say, wow, this feels like luxury," Gristak said. "We want them to enjoy their time."
Underneath all of it is something even bigger the women say — a debt of gratitude to parents who came to the United States from Ukraine with five children, no money, and no language in order to give the family a better life.
"Our biggest thing we want to achieve in this life is giving back to our parents," the sisters said. "They deserve that."
After three and a half years of construction delays, inspections and moments of doubt, the twins opened their doors this September to a community of clients, friends and family who watched their dream become a reality.
"There were times I thought, 'is this ever going to open?,'" Polishuk said. "My first day lashing my first client, I had to hold back tears. I'm here. We made it."
What to expect at Twins Spa
The sisters describe the experience as intentionally unhurried and elevated — expect a hot towel on arrival, a chilled beverage after your treatment, and a team that genuinely wants to take care of you.
Twins Spa is located at 1542 4th St., Unit 104, in downtown Sarasota's Rosemary District. The spa offers facials, acne treatments, lash extensions, laser hair removal and massage therapy.
Twins Spa is open Monday, Tuesday and Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Wednesday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Thursday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The spa is closed on Sundays.
Additional information and updates are available at twinsspa.com and the spa's Instagram page. Appointments can be made directly at booking.mangomint.com/thetwinsspa. Walk-ins are welcome based on availability.
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This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Sarasota sisters open the spa they dreamed of as children
