Recoop Spa, Bellevue: A Modern Day Spa Built on Community, Craft, and Coming Home
Recoop Spa has been a fixture of downtown Bellevue's wellness scene since 2014, earning mentions in Seattle Mag, 425 Magazine, and The Zoe Report through the experience of actually being there.
In May 2026, the spa marks its twelfth birthday under new ownership: Marie Fitzpatrick-Villavicencio, a Filipino-American nail technician, former assistant manager, and the person who, by her own admission, never wanted to leave!
From Nail Tech To Owner
Marie's path into the beauty industry wasn't a straight line. After graduating high school in 2016 and spending a semester in graphic design school, it was her friends who nudged her toward beauty and a nail technician program that finally felt like the right fit.
She graduated and received her license in 2018, but finding work wasn't easy. Salons liked that she was young and new to the industry, yet hesitated to take a chance on someone without experience.
Rather than waiting for an opening to appear on a hiring platform, she looked up every nail salon near her and sent her resume out cold.
Recoop Spa got back to her. They weren't actively hiring at the time, but the spa manager gave her an interview anyway and then hired her. That decision changed the course of everything.
“That same person is one of the biggest reasons that Recoop Spa felt like home to me. I knew immediately that I had zero intentions of leaving unless I was told to.”
Over the next five years, she built her clientele in the nail room, was appointed lead nail technician, and later became assistant manager. When circumstances led her to walk away towards the end of 2023, she kept coming back as a client, and each visit made it harder to stay away. The spa she'd loved didn't feel like itself anymore. So she did something most people would consider a long shot: she reached out to the owner and asked if they'd be open to selling.
Mid-April 2025, Marie officially returned. This time, as owner and director.
“I like to tell people that while the spa has been around since 2014, right now it’s a baby, it’s my baby.”
Rebuilding from the Inside Out
Taking over a business you once worked in comes with its own particular challenges. Marie knew the day-to-day operations well, but stepping into the owner role meant learning an entirely different layer of the business - the things that happen deep behind the scenes. It also meant returning to a place that had drifted from its original identity.
“It became a place of just business, not a place of community.”
Her first priority was the people. She reached out to former team members who had left, and most of them came back. From there, the focus turned to the menu, expanding it to bring in a new generation of clients while enhancing what was already there. Early additions included gel-x nail extensions, an alternative method for applying nail enhancements, and three new membership tiers alongside the existing one. The spa, Marie says, is always changing and always working toward the best version of itself.
Recoop is currently in the middle of an aesthetic transition too, with a refreshed look taking shape across the space. The calm atmosphere, the thoughtful details, and the complimentary snacks and drinks waiting for guests on arrival are very much still there.
What Makes Recoop Different?
Full-service spas are not uncommon in the Bellevue area, but Recoop has carved out a specific niche. The nail room is one place that sets it apart immediately: Recoop doesn't offer acrylics or dip powder, which means none of the sharp chemical smells follow you, in the way they do out of a traditional nail salon. This sounds small, but for clients with allergies or sensitivities to strong scents, it makes a real difference!
The facial menu is another point of difference. Rather than a single signature treatment, Recoop offers a wide range of options designed to target specific skin concerns, and even the most classic facial on the menu is heavily customisable, tailored to individual skin types.
Alongside facials and nail services, the spa offers multiple massage options and full-body scrubs for those who simply need to reset.
The space itself is well-suited to a proper day out. There are two massage rooms, dedicated facial rooms, a relaxation room where guests can unwind before or between services, and a shower room specifically for body scrub treatments. Near the entrance, a small retail area and a Philippines flag - a quiet but visible nod to Marie's heritage - greet guests as they arrive.
Marie is deliberate about the fact that Recoop's staff is diverse across ethnicity, age, background, gender and expertise, because the goal is for every client who comes through the door to find someone who can give them exactly what they need.
The spa has a zero-hate policy and is transparent about it. Clients are encouraged to be themselves, and the warm dynamic between staff and clients is something regulars notice and come back for.
“We want our spa to be a welcoming space for anyone and everyone. That they can not only get the treatment they want, but can find the community they deserve.”
Proudly AAPI and Women-Owned
May is AAPI Heritage Month, and for Marie, that timing alongside Recoop's twelfth birthday feels significant. As a Filipina-American woman and business owner, she's thought a lot about what it means to be visible in that space.
It wasn't always something she embraced easily. Growing up, she found it hard to feel connected to her heritage, in part because her surname, Villavicencio, was something other kids made fun of. The difficulty people had pronouncing it made her feel like she didn't belong.
“It caused me to feel like I didn’t belong with the others, and it started to alienate me from my history and heritage”
That began to shift in early adolescence, when her father told her more about their family history, specifically about her third great-grandmother, Gliceria Marella de Villavicencio.
Gliceria contributed her funds, time, and even her home to the Philippines Revolution, leaving enough of a mark to appear in history books. Learning about her strength and conviction changed Marie's relationship to her own name entirely.
“Understanding her strength and resilience for the love of her name, family and country is my driving force to become something more. My name doesn’t just make me different, it makes me strong.”
That sense of purpose now runs through how she leads Recoop. She wants young Filipina-American and AAPI women to see themselves reflected in what she's building - proof that visibility and impact are possible.
A Space Where You Can Just Be Yourself
At its core, Recoop Spa is built around a simple idea: wellness should feel accessible to everyone, and walking into a spa shouldn't come with the pressure of being anyone other than yourself.
That philosophy shapes how the team operates internally too. Marie emphasises open communication across all staff levels and actively encourages honest feedback in both directions, from the team and from clients. The result, she says, is something guests can feel when they walk in.
“Our clients see it, and our hope is that it provides room for them to simply be themselves, relax, and have fun.”
It's working. Recent reviews note the warmth of the welcome, the seamlessness of first-time visits, and the personal connections people have built with their service providers. The feedback Marie says she never gets tired of hearing? "I can't wait to come back."
Looking further ahead, Marie hopes to see Recoop grow as an active participant in the wider Bellevue community, through food drives, local events, and outreach. A sister location with a focus on medspa services is on the longer-term wish list. But for now, the focus is on the community already walking through the door.
“Recoop Spa is like a home to me. My dream is for others to see it the same way in every capacity. They aren’t just coming back for a service, but coming back to see friends and family.”
Plan Your Visit
Recoop Spa is located at 925 Bellevue Way NE, Bellevue, WA 98004, a short walk from Bellevue Square. Parking is available in the Avalon Towers Garage, validated for up to two hours. The garage entrance is accessed via an alleyway off NE 10th Street, between CorePower Yoga and Overlake Urgent Care. Look for the third garage door on the left. Both levels have signage directing you to the foyer entrance on Bellevue Way NE, and Recoop is the first business on the right.
Open Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday 10am–7pm, Friday and Saturday 10am–8pm, and Sunday 10am–6pm. Closed Tuesdays.
Membership options are available for regular visitors. May is Recoop's birthday month - follow along on Instagram at @recoopspa and on TikTok for birthday promotions, events, and updates.
Book online at recoopspa.com or call (425) 429-3323.
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