GRAYSON, Ky. — What began in the basement of a family home nearly half a century ago has grown into a longtime community business offering natural health products, holistic wellness services, and a place for customers to relax and recharge.
Nature’s Health Shop Boutique & Spa in Grayson is preparing to celebrate that legacy with its fourth annual Christmas Open House on Saturday, Nov. 21, welcoming the community for a day of holiday shopping, special promotions, giveaways, and festivities.
The story of Nature’s Health Shop began with Joann and J.D. Riggs, who founded the business after experiencing their own health struggles and exploring natural approaches to wellness.
As those approaches made a meaningful difference in their lives, Joann, who later became a naturopathic doctor, felt compelled to share what she had learned with others.
“My mamaw became a naturopathic doctor, and my papaw worked faithfully alongside her, earning certifications in herbal studies and foot reflexology,” said Cassie McCall, the couple's granddaughter and one of the business's current owners.
Their original vision was simple: help friends and family discover the same approaches to wellness that had helped them. What started as a small operation in their basement eventually moved into a shop next door to their home before relocating to its current Grayson location approximately 30 years ago.
Although the business has grown considerably since those early days, McCall said the values her grandparents established remain at its core.
“My grandparents built this business on relationships, trust, and a genuine desire to help others. They cared about the people who walked through their doors, and that is something we never want to lose, regardless of how much we grow,” McCall said.
Today, Nature’s Health Shop Boutique & Spa is owned and operated by McCall, her mother, Sherrie Layne, and business partner Della Barker. McCall says each brings a different area of professional experience to the business.
Layne is a registered nurse, Barker is a Doctor of Naturopathy who studied and trained under Joann Riggs for 18 years, and McCall has been a licensed massage therapist for 15 years.
Their combined backgrounds helped inspire the next chapter of the business: expanding beyond its original retail offerings to incorporate a holistic spa and boutique.
“We wanted to build on the foundation my grandparents created while offering our community more ways to care for their overall well-being,” McCall said. “With my background in massage therapy, my mother’s nursing experience, and Della’s naturopathic knowledge, we realized we had an opportunity to bring several different approaches to wellness together under one roof.”
The expansion has transformed Nature’s Health Shop into a destination offering a combination of natural health products, boutique shopping, and a wide range of spa experiences.
Customers can browse herbs, vitamins, nutritional supplements, natural wellness products, clothing and accessories. Barker continues the naturopathic traditions established by Joann Riggs through wellness consultations and iridology, while the spa offers services ranging from relaxation, deep tissue, and prenatal massage to customized facials, dermaplaning, foot reflexology, and body treatments.
Additional offerings include a Himalayan salt cave, infrared sauna, red light therapy, oxygen bar, Shirodhara treatments, and buccal facial massage.
McCall says among the more distinctive services are Shirodhara, an Ayurvedic-inspired treatment involving a gentle stream of warm oil flowing over the forehead, and buccal facial massage, a specialized technique that works with the muscles of the face and jaw.
Despite the expanded offerings, she said the goal has remained consistent: creating an environment where customers feel comfortable, welcomed, and cared for, regardless of their familiarity with natural wellness.
“Whether you’re coming in for a bottle of vitamins, your very first massage, or an entire afternoon of relaxation, we want you to feel like you belong,” McCall said.
That commitment to personal relationships is something McCall said she and her family hope to preserve as the business continues to grow. For her, carrying on her grandparents' legacy means more than maintaining a successful business.
“For me, continuing their legacy isn’t just about keeping the doors open. It’s about preserving the values they lived by, helping people, and most importantly, keeping the Lord at the center of everything we do,” she said.
That family legacy will be part of the celebration during the upcoming Christmas Open House, which began after the current owners took over the business as a way to thank customers and bring the community together during the holiday season.
Now in its fourth year, the event will feature more than $2,000 in spa services and merchandise giveaways, local vendors, wellness demonstrations, refreshments, holiday shopping, and special promotions.
Guests will have the opportunity to explore new boutique arrivals, shop for holiday gifts, and discover the business's Christmas Spa Collection, featuring specially designed seasonal spa experiences. McCall says Christmas spa packages will be offered at 10% off during the event.
Special membership offers will also be available. She says those who sign up for a wellness membership during the open house will receive 20% off their first month and a free gift.
Additionally, one of the featured giveaways will pair a Kate Spade purse with a spa package. Guests will receive an additional giveaway entry for every $25 spent during the event. The first 20 guests will receive a special gift, exclusive discounts and five additional giveaway tickets for the Kate Spade purse and spa package.
McCall says Sweet Magnolia will also be on hand with holiday treats and festive drinks.
The event will also include a special surprise and announcement that the owners are keeping under wraps until the celebration.
The Christmas Open House will take place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 21, at Nature’s Health Shop Boutique & Spa, located at 131 B South Carol Malone Blvd. in Grayson. The event is open to the public.
For McCall and her family, the celebration is about more than holiday shopping or giveaways. It is an opportunity to recognize the generations of customers who have helped make the business what it is today.
“My mamaw never dreamed Nature’s Health Shop would grow into the business it is today. In fact, if she were here today, she would be the first to tell you that it was the Lord who grew this business,” McCall said.
As Nature’s Health Shop celebrates 44 years, the family hopes to continue building upon the foundation Joann and J.D. Riggs established while welcoming new generations of customers through its doors.
“We believe God has blessed us with an opportunity to serve our community, and we want to be good stewards of that blessing,” McCall said.
