ASHTABULA — It’s possible to put some sunshine in any Ashtabula day at the new Mia Bella Tanning Salon at 854 Lake Ave. in the Harbor Plaza. The sea shells and bright, cheerful pictures hint at stepping into a summer day before one even reaches the tanning booth.

“We have been fortunate to enjoy traveling around the world and have seen so many beautiful places. This inspired us to bring a little piece of all our experiences back to Ashtabula and give people a beautiful place to escape to, even if it's only for a few minutes of indoor sunshine,” said Nick Bonar, who runs the family-owned business along with his wife, Lyndee, and Manny and B.J. Massi, all of Ashtabula.

A plaque hangs on the wall in memory of their late aunt, Louise Chuch.

Bodnar said that Chuch was very supportive of their decision to open the salon and even helped them paint.

“We would like to thank all our family and friends who helped us on the long journey to opening day, especially our late Aunt Louise,” he said.

To realize their goal of opening the tanning salon, the couples located state-of-the-art tanning beds and put together a business plan. Lyndee said that they put much time into finding and building out the space. They were happy to obtain the Ashtabula Harbor location because of the good traffic. Also, there was no tanning salon in the Harbor. To honor the Massies’ Italian heritage, the name “Mia Bella,”  which translates into “my beautiful,” was then chosen.

“Our equipment is state-of-the-art, our atmosphere is unmatched, and our family-run style is one that every customer can enjoy. We have a vanity bar where you can freshen up after tanning with complimentary lotion, body spray, hair spray, and deodorant,” said Bodnar.

There are also several luxurious lotions that may be purchased at the tanning salon. The lotions are formulated to enhance bronzing, cool your skin while tanning and moisturize afterward.

The salon offers eleven tanning beds as well as an automatic mystic spray booth. Guests can lie down or stand up in the booths, which are thoroughly cleaned after each use.

Lyndee said that the individual’s skin type will determine per session exposure, which helps ensure building up to nice looking tan without burning. The Mystic Spray is for those who desire a beautiful bronze color without exposure to tanning lights. The easy, private procedure takes only two minutes. Customers choose a light, medium or dark tone. Then they simply press a button to achieve a natural suntanned look from top to bottom.

A licensed massage therapist, Ryne Miggo, will soon become part of at the Mia Bella salon experience as well.

“We designed our salon to feel like you are on vacation, in a classy setting that allows you to escape the everyday grind. Indoor tanning is a great way to jump-start your tan after a long northeast Ohio winter,” Bodnar said. “Our customers not only look better but they actually start to feel better after only a few sessions. We try to make the customer feel like they are in paradise. Even if it is only 10 minutes a day, it really makes them feel good.”

Mia Bella Tanning Salon is located at 854 Lake Avenue in the Harbor Plaza. The salon is open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. No appointment is necessary. More information is available by calling 440-536-4964 or visiting Mia Bella Tan on Facebook.