It doesn’t feel like long ago that K-Mart inhabited the 1400 block of Buckeye Avenue in Ames. Now, multiple retailers are overhauling the area, and one major player in the beauty industry has officially announced its coming presence in Ames.
Ulta Beauty, a nationwide beauty hub for those who want a plethora of options in every type of category, has confirmed its arrival to one of the busiest areas of the city. As far as an exact grand opening date is concerned, Vice President of Public Relations Eileen Ziesemer is confident that those details will be worked out at some point in the near future, but not right now. “We can confirm that an Ulta Beauty in Ames was slated for this year,” Ziesemer acknowledged. “Given the current climate, we cannot confirm a timeline and do not have any updates to currently share on construction.”
Ziesemer also brought up the challenges that the Coronavirus pandemic have brought to the company’s plans for grand openings and reopenings of stores that had been partially shut down. “Everything has been fluid as it relates to COVID-19, and our top priority is the safety of our guests, associates and the communities we serve,” she echoed. “We had plans to reopen many stores this year. Given COVID-19, some of those plans have delayed. Our intention is to rephase timing for grand openings. And that all changes state to state, county to county, city to city, based on regulations.”
The opening of the new location in Ames will mark the fourth Ulta Beauty to set up shop in Central Iowa, joining three others currently in the Des Moines area. It is also set to be the 11th Ulta Beauty to open in the state of Iowa.
What will one of the nations top beauty shops bring to the Ames community as a whole? Ziesemer reiterated that Ulta is excited to unleash a fresh wave of opportunities for young people to be themselves and have fun while doing it. “What differentiates Ulta is the real passion you find in our associates,” she said. “The real diversity and inclusion you find in our culture. For guests, it’s the expansive selection and the opportunity to not only look and engage, but to play and discover and really find a place where self-expression is theirs, whether that’s in the salon or in the purchases they may find.”
Speaking of the salon and other in-store services, Ziesemer concluding by reassuring Ulta enthusiasts that the company is taking proactive steps to protects its consumers and associates. “We have a phase-reopening approach, with curbside pickup at more than 700 stores, and we continue to reopen more stores,” she explained. “Obviously, certain criteria need to be made, not only on a regulatory basis, but also on a health basis. And as stores fully reopen, there will be a new set of safety standards and protocols that we’ve put in place, from facemasks to social-distancing and more.”
As customers begin to shop more and stay inside less, Ziesemer is confident that Ulta Beauty is ready to accommodate the fluidity. She also expressed the company’s excitement to open the new store in a town full of such youth and vigor. “Ames is home to Iowa State University, which welcomes thousands of students every year,” she noted. “And the Ulta brand looks forward to delivering beauty goods and services to the people in this wonderful community.”
This is a developing story. StoryCounty.News will provide more information on Ulta Beauty and its Ames grand opening in future articles as it becomes available.
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