March 5, 2025

Husband-And-Wife Franchise Owners To Open First Image Studios In Illinois At Fox River Commons In Naperville

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BALTIMORE, MD (March 5, 2025) – Husband-and-wife franchise owners Veronika and Greg Parranto plan to open the first IMAGE Studios concept in Illinois at Fox River Commons in Naperville later this month. The Parrantos signed a lease with Continental Realty Corporation (CRC) for 10,645 square feet of space at the 241,000 square foot shopping center located at 704 Illinois Road Route 59 near W. Ogden Avenue (Route 34). With this transaction, Fox River Commons is now 77 percent leased. Kristin Perry, Leasing Manager for Continental Realty Corporation, and Brooke Spinell of Mid-America Real Estate represented the landlord, and Carlie Wilmes of Reimagine CRE represented the tenant in this transaction.

IMAGE Studios, which operates nearly 100 locations throughout 22 states, is an exclusive salon suite that enables hair stylists and other beauty-care professionals to operate independently-owned private salon studios under one roof. Approximately 35 new locations are expected to open in 2025, including two in the Chicago area, with seven additional sites expected in Chicagoland by different franchise owners. The Parrantos are scouting sites for a second Chicago-area location.

The Fox River Commons location will contain 48 private salon studios for use by hair stylists, estheticians, eyebrow artists, barbers, nail technicians, make-up specialists, massage therapists, Botox providers, teeth-whitening experts, and other professionals working in the cosmetology and beauty industries. Amenities include a break room, coffee bar, free Wi-Fi, on-site laundry, maintenance, plus business, marketing, and financial coaching.

“IMAGE Studios provides a turnkey environment that provides every important tool necessary to compete and succeed, and the professionals are surrounded by likeminded business people in a format that encourages the sharing of ideas,” explained Veronika Parranto. “We provide the opportunity for beauty professionals to take control of their business, and to make decisions that suit their corporate and personal lifestyles. Individual suites are spacious, with an abundance of natural light, but also completely enclosed to provide a private and quiet space. The concept provides a community environment of individual beauty professionals, each operating their own independent business.”

Parranto said IMAGE Studio positions itself as a higher-end venue as compared to similar concepts, with an emphasis on the use of interior glass, enclosed cubicle settings where professionals have their own private spaces, extensive millwork, and high ceilings. “When the space looks best-in-class and high-end, businesses can attract a different clientele that is willing to pay more for health and beauty services,” she said. “There is nothing wrong with other concepts; I compare it to residents moving into a community with an active homeowner’s association which enforces rules to keep standards high.”

Veronika Parranto, a certified public accountant, will run IMAGE Studio’s day-to-day operations. Her husband, Greg, has spent his career in the Army and corporate America and is interested in helping small business owners succeed. The couple has two teen-aged daughters and said this new arrangement will allow them to better control their time and possibly teach their children some new business skills.

“We researched many different franchise concepts and IMAGE Studios impressed us with their overall business concept and the assistance they provide to assure individual beauty professionals’ success,” said Veronika Parranto. “When it came time to search for our first location, we immediately gravitated to Fox River Commons, based on its unique destination-style retailers, including The Picklr, the grocery store and the outstanding restaurants. It always seems as if the shopping center is vibrant and emitting high energy.

“The parking is plentiful, the center is well lit and we love the visibility from Route 59,” she added.

The Parrantos said that the IMAGE Studios concept is approximately 50 percent leased by beauty and health professionals and interest remains high for the available spaces.

More than 1.4 million beauty professionals work in personal appearance occupations in the United States, including hair stylists, nail artists, massage therapists and more. The beauty industry is expected to grow nine percent annually over the next 10 years and the beauty industry generates more than $100 billion in business each year.

Fox River Commons is anchored by International Fresh Market, Amish Furniture Gallery, Ball Factory, Habitat for Humanity’s ReStore, pickleball facility The Picklr, interactive gaming experience Activate, and restaurants such as ENTOURAGE and VAI’s Italian Inspired Kitchen + Bar.

Fox River Commons is situated at the intersection of Route 59 and W. Ogden Avenue, with more than 271,000 consumers residing within a five-mile radius of the center, and an average household income approaching $130,000. Ingress and egress are facilitated by five access points, three of which are serviced by traffic signals. Nearly 60,000 vehicles pass the site daily via Route 59, with an additional 36,000 passing via W. Ogden Avenue.

“IMAGE Studios introduces a compelling concept to Fox River Commons and, by its nature, it will attract a significant number of consumers who may not otherwise visit the center on a regular basis,” said Kristina O’Keefe, Vice President of CRC’s Commercial Division. “This studio model has proven highly successful around the country, and we are extremely confident in the abilities of Veronika and Greg Parranto to achieve immediate and long-term success. Since acquiring Fox River Commons in 2021, we have successfully retenanted the center with multiple new retailers and restaurants, in our quest to satisfy the diverse shopping needs of the greater Naperville-area community.”

Headquartered in Baltimore, Maryland and founded in 1960, Continental Realty Corporation is a full-service commercial real estate and investment company focused on acquiring and operating retail and multifamily properties. The privately held firm owns and manages a diversified portfolio of retail centers consisting of approximately eight million square feet of commercial space and more than 10,000 apartment homes across 13 states, with a portfolio value exceeding $4 billion. For additional information, visit www.crcrealty.com.