Page 22 - FebMarHER

Story by Rebeca Rector, photography by Grace Brown
After years of experience owning and successfully expanding a thriving business at Chrysalis Day Spa in Cornerstone Shopping Center, local entrepreneur Cathy Caver sought out another ambitious venture and began preparations for a second spa — one that came with a few hoops to jump through prior to opening up shop.
After Caver discovered an oppor- tune and thriving location for her new up-and-coming oasis of relaxation at 325 Ouachita Ave., the California na- tive encountered some minor obsta- cles due to the layout of the structure and had to plan accordingly.
While in the midst of her latest undertaking and the prolonged res- toration of Caver’s recent endeavor, a new notion took flight approximately eight months ago and one of Hot Springs’ newest hot spots, Splash Wine Bar, has brought new life to the heart of Hot Springs.
“I bought this building with the intention of opening nothing but a spa, like a second location (for Chrys- alis),” Caver said. The section of the building now known as Splash Wine Bar “was going to be the waiting room of the spa, but there is a foot and a half step-down, and I’m going to have to have handicap ramps in-between the two buildings. So, it inspired me to think about what else I can do with this besides (a spa), and I thought you know what, ‘Hot Springs does not have a true wine bar.’”
Upon restoring the iconic down- town structure, a building once home to a tile and plumbing business orig- inally built in 1903, Caver oversaw a complete remodel of the edifice
while maintaining the nostalgia of the dwelling by preserving the orig- inal pressed-tin ceilings and exposed brick.
Originally from the Golden State, Cathy spent her childhood close to California’s wine country region, thus influencing her interest and apprecia-
tion for good wine.
“I grew up in northern California
and was kind of near wine country my whole life ... and so, I thought, ‘Let’s
22 FEB/MAR 2020 ¯ HER MAGAZINE