Interview by Kelly Postiglione
Meet Mark Fekete, owner of Elevate Tanning Wellness Retreat in Mamaroneck, where clients can enjoy a unique blend of tanning, red light therapy, weight loss treatments, and wellness services designed to help them look and feel their best. We spoke with Mark to learn more about his journey, the benefits of Elevate’s services, and his passion for supporting the local community.
Where are you originally from and where do you live now?
I originally grew up in northern New Jersey, just a few miles from Giants Stadium! I was born in Jersey City, NJ, and grew up a few miles from there in a small town called Kearny. I went to grammar school and high school locally, and after high school, I went to college in South Jersey at Rider College, which is now Rider University. I now live in New Rochelle, NY!
What is your professional background, and what inspired you to open Elevate Tanning Wellness Retreat?
After I graduated college, I quickly realized that I was not cut out for a 9-to-5 job. My father worked in finance off Wall Street, and my brother followed suit. I tried working in an office during college and shortly after I graduated, but I immediately knew it wasn’t for me. I needed to be more active. I took a job at a local restaurant and soon worked my way up to management, which eventually led to the opportunity to become a partner in a restaurant in Manhattan. This turned into a 20+ year career as a restaurateur.
As I got older, I realized the toll that working on my feet every day was taking on my body. I had a friend and business partner in one of our restaurants who had owned several Beach Bum Tanning salons in Westchester. He had sold some of them due to the decline in UV tanning, but I saw potential in one of his locations. I noticed that several customers were coming in regularly, and I thought, If we could incorporate wellness services like Red Light Therapy, weight loss treatments, and saunas along with tanning and airbrush services, we could create a lasting, successful business.
I purchased the salon from him and, after a few years, moved it a few blocks away to our current location. We officially opened the doors of Elevate Tanning Wellness Retreat on January 20, 2020. We just celebrated our five-year anniversary! We have been proudly serving the Westchester community for over five years now.
Elevate offers an amazing range of services! Can you tell us more about them?
At Elevate Tanning Wellness Retreat, we offer a wide variety of services. Yes, we provide traditional sunbed tanning as well as airbrush/spray tanning, but we also offer an array of weight loss and light therapy services.
Red Light Therapy
Red Light Therapy has become very popular over the past five years. We offer Red Light in several different ways:
- A 360° Red Light machine that allows you to lay down and receive full-body treatment.
- A Red Light mask that specifically targets your face and neck.
Red Light Therapy is incredibly rejuvenating, helping with collagen production, fine lines, wrinkles, stretch marks, cellulite, anti-aging, and overall skin tightening/conditioning. Instead of deteriorating, our collagen actually hibernates as we age. Red Light Therapy reactivates it, helping restore your skin’s natural condition and firmness. Say goodbye to crow’s feet, fine lines, wrinkles, cellulite, and stretch marks!
Infrared Sauna & Weight Loss Therapy
For weight loss, we offer an incredible Fitness Pod—an infrared sauna you lay in, rather than sit in like a conventional sauna.
- The sauna’s cushioned lounge vibrates and massages you during your sweat session.
- You can burn up to 300 calories per session while benefiting from the Red Light Therapy lining the sauna.
- Pink Himalayan salt is infused into the air, improving respiration and overall skin conditioning.
This infrared fitness pod is called the Cocoon, offering the perfect blend of relaxation, weight loss, and skin benefits.
Sculpt Light Therapy
After your infrared sauna session, we recommend using our near Red Light service called Sculpt Light.
- This treatment directly applies Red Light to areas needing skin tightening, such as stretch marks and fine lines.
- It’s especially effective for those who have experienced weight loss, aging, or post-pregnancy skin changes.
- Using our Cocoon Sauna and Sculpt Light Therapy together, you can lose weight and shrink 3 to 4 inches around the waist in just 8 sessions!
Sunbed Tanning
We offer traditional ultraviolet sunbed tanning, along with both booth and hand-applied airbrush tanning.
- Our state-of-the-art tanning beds are regulated by the New York State Health Department for the safest experience.
- We also carry a variety of tanning products, including tanning lotions, body moisturizers, Red Light Therapy mists and lotions, and protective eyewear.
Airbrush/Spray Tanning
When it comes to Airbrush or Spray Tanning, we offer:
- Custom Hand Airbrushing: A trained and certified technician provides a personalized tan, helping you choose the best color and application for your needs. Perfect for events like weddings or special occasions!
- Mystic HD Booth Tan: A robotic booth that automatically sprays you for a consistent and convenient glow—ideal for those who prefer privacy or are short on time.
Our expert Alena, a trained and certified esthetician, is our custom Airbrush artist and does an amazing job!
Teeth Whitening
At Elevate, we offer the Brite White teeth whitening system.
- In just a 15-minute session, you can whiten your teeth by a minimum of 3 to 4 shades!
What are some of the most noticeable benefits clients experience after using Elevate’s wellness services?
Many of these benefits were covered in the previous section! Clients notice improvements in skin texture, weight loss, relaxation, and an overall sense of well-being.
What would you say to someone who has never tried wellness services before and is curious about Elevate?
For anyone interested in our services, I highly recommend visiting our salon. If you can’t visit in person, feel free to call during business hours for a full lineup of our services, pricing, and what to expect. You can also find us online:
Website: elevate-westchester.com
Instagram: @elevate_tw
Facebook: Elevate Tanning & Wellness
If you have the opportunity to visit our salon, please call us—we would love to give you a tour! Each service can be explained in detail by me, the salon owner, or one of our trained and certified technicians. We’d be happy to answer any questions you may have! Phone: (914) 381-9700.
What has been the most rewarding aspect of running Elevate?
Being part of the community has been the most rewarding experience of owning Elevate. We only offer services that our community and clients ask for. Over the past five years, I have connected with thousands of people in the community, as well as their families. Meeting and building relationships with clients, fellow small business owners, and local schools has been the most fulfilling part of this journey.
We love to support local! What are your favorite spots in the Sound Shore area?
As a small business owner, I love supporting other local businesses. Since my business is located in the Village of Mamaroneck, I spend most of my free time on Mamaroneck Avenue visiting the local movie theater, Dunkin’ Donuts, bakeries, delis, pizzerias, and restaurants. I also service my car at the local garage, get my tires at Mavis, and wash my car at Diamond Car Wash or Splash. I get my hair cut in Scarsdale and do as much shopping as possible at local boutiques.
With so much commerce shifting online, I make a conscious effort to connect with and support local businesses. At Elevate, we encourage our clients who own small businesses to bring in their marketing materials and promotional items to be displayed in our salon. We love promoting them to our clients and fostering a strong local business community!
We’re incredibly grateful for our amazing community and the wonderful people and places that make it so special. Explore our Blog page for features that spotlight local businesses and more. Looking for something to do in the Sound Shore area? Check out our Local Guides and Calendar pages to discover what’s happening locally and follow along on Instagram for more!