After 20 years, The Hot Spot Salon & Boutique in Ironton,  expands to include fashion

Over the past year, The Hot Spot Salon and Boutique in Ironton has transformed from a hair salon and tanning parlor to a full-service salon, complete with hair and nail services, as well as a pedicure chair, and boutique filled with trendy women’s clothing, accessories, gifts and more.

Heather Montroso, owner of The Hot Spot Salon and Boutique, opened the business 20 years ago, but just this past November, had a grand re-opening of the business to show off the changes to the business, as well as updates to the building.

“This is the best decision we’ve ever made for all of us,” Montroso said. “Our business has grown a lot since we made all of the changes and added the boutique.”

Montroso said one of the reasons she wanted to go in the direction of a boutique, rather than having a tanning salon, was because of the declining interest in tanning.

“There isn’t as much of a demand for tanning as there once was,” she said.

While undergoing the updates and renovations, The Hot Spot added two hairstylists and nail technicians from the now closed, All That salon in Coal Grove.

On the boutique side, Montroso said that this summer, it will expand to include a permanent shoe section, which will include designer shoes for all seasons, and a permanent gift section, that will carry brands such as Mud Pie.

“I wanted to offer the area a place to get unique items and special gifts that you wouldn’t be able to find anywhere else,” Montroso said. “We’re also thinking about branching out into children’s clothes.”

Montroso added that since the grand re-opening, the business has seen an increase in foot traffic as well.

The staff of the Hot Spot is made up of Montroso, who is a hair stylist, Katie Cox, hair stylist and nail technician, Brenda Roach, nail technician, Kristina Johnson, hair stylist, and Montroso’s mother, Patti Roberts, who helps out                      with the business.

Montroso also said that one of the things she is looking to do in the future is have some fundraisers to raise money or items for the domestic violence shelter.

The Hot Spot Salon and Boutique is the first boutique and nail service in Ironton,Ohio, and is located at 1928 S. Third St.