Adams, the owner of Feta Candles and Massage, said she has always been fascinated by candles. She turned to her godmother, who previously operated a candle-making business, for help perfecting the craft after her first homemade attempts missed the mark.
“That was just my newfound hobby at first,” she said.
Prior to owning the business, Adams gave free homemade candles to her cleaning business clients. After working various odd jobs, refining her skills and doing the necessary schooling for massage therapy, she opened Feta Candles and Massage in August 2019.
Adams bought the business from her godmother for $200; the name Feta comes from two letters of her name and two letters of her godmother Felicia’s.
While she had family help with learning the ins and outs of candle-making, Adams taught herself to make the homemade wax melts, bath salts and all-purpose sprays offered at the shop.
After completing massage school, she trained at different chiropractors and spas and took classes to advance her knowledge of different massage types. Adams specializes in post-operative care—which she said has increased in popularity as pandemic-related surgery restrictions change—as well as sports and deep tissue massages.
The shop, located on the second floor of 1300 Bay Area Blvd., spans across four rooms, all of which are thoroughly cleaned and covered in protective equipment to abide by COVID-19-related guidelines.
“It was very challenging learning about the body,” she said of massage school. “[But] once you get out into the massage field and actually practice, that’s when you become the best.”
The greatest rewards for Adams come when clients rave about her business and the services she provides. She has invested time into learning the differences between massage types and figuring out which methods are best for which bodies, she said.
Massage add-ons include hot stones, cupping therapy and a deluxe pamper treatment. Soy-based candles and other scent products are available in store or online for delivery, a service she said has saved her business amid the pandemic.
In the future, she aims to offer massage and beard oils. She also hopes to relocate to a storefront, one not inside of an office building so customers can have an easier time coming in to experience everything the business has to offer.
“I’m like the hidden gem [where I am now],” she said.
