Bamboo Spa offers traditional Filipino massage, known as hilot massage.
Bamboo Spa owners and couple Harris and Princess Abigail Loninia have lived in New Zealand for 10 years, during which time they have enjoyed success with their massage day spa business.
The Napier branch will be their 18th across the country.
“The building will be the first branch that we have in Hawke’s Bay,” Princess Abigail said.
“It is going to be a spa. It is a place for relaxation and wellness.”
Before opening, the building will undergo a renovation and fitout, including painting the exterior orange and black.
“It is an iconic bungalow, and it will be [painted] orange, because Bamboo Spa is orange – so it will be different to what people are used to.”
Princess Abigail said the venue had plenty of space, good parking, high visibility along Marine Parade, and was close to cafes and restaurants.
Harris said they had heard about the building’s impressive history, and were excited to move in and serve locals and customers.
They will get the keys next week.
The couple hail from the Philippines and wanted to introduce Filipino traditional healing massage to NZ, a different form of massage than the likes of Thai or Swedish massage.
Bamboo Spa Napier will be operated by a franchisee, who also runs the Palmerston North branch, the next closest branch.
The owners of Pacifica, chef Jeremy Rameka and sommelier Natalie Bulman, moved to King Country last year and were planning to open a new six-seat restaurant in the township of Kākahi.