When your business is in the business of reducing stress, you might say that opening right before the holidays is an example of perfect timing. But for U.P.’s newest business, Urban Float, its early success is due both to great timing and a great location.
Since opening last November, owner Jessie Puryear says his Urban Float in the Village at Chambers Bay has been “very busy.” The U.P. location ranks second among all Urban Float locations across the country in the number of appointments booked, a fact Puryear attributes to its location.
“We are very accessible, given our proximity to SR16, Gig Harbor, Lakewood and all of University Place,” he says.
Urban Float invites customers to weightlessly relax in private, sensory-managed float pods filled with purified water and 1,200 pounds of Epsom salt which creates a natural buoyancy. The process can reduce stress, anxiety and pain while improving mental focus.
When researching sites for his business, Puryear says he was familiar with University Place because he has family who live in Fircrest. “I knew the city was very business-focused,” he says. As he watched more and more businesses and residents move into the area, he realized the opportunity it presented. “The demographics of the area were right,” he says. “Plus, our site offers parking and is close to Bridgeport Way which is always busy.”
Thanks to U.P.’s growing reputation as a residential and retail hub, Urban Float is part of a growing number of businesses that are choosing to open throughout the city’s business corridors, including Bridgeport Way and the 27th Street Business District.
“Every new business brings opportunity to our entire city because they add to our goal of becoming a destination where people can find what they are looking for within our eight square miles,” says Mariza Craig, the City’s director of Economic Development.