After nearly a decade building a successful lash business in New York, Brittany Payton
came home to New Jersey, looked around Newark, and came to a realization:
“The city is growing rapidly — there’s incredible energy downtown — and I felt there
was room for a space that combined self-care, connection and wellness under one
roof,” she said.
That space is Aulo Spa, which celebrated its grand opening Saturday at One Theater
Square, directly across from NJPAC.
Payton and her mother, Gladys Payton, describe it as Newark’s first beauty and
wellness social club.
The distinction matters to them. Aulo, they said, is not a transactional spa where you get
a service and leave.
“Most beauty services are very transactional — you come in, get your service, and
leave,” Brittany Payton said. “I wanted to create something that felt more intentional and
community-driven.”
***
Aulo offers massages, facials, lashes, nails and other services, but it also has a lounge
area, a coffee and juice bar, wellness programming and plans for events built around
self-care and connection.
The idea is that a visit to Aulo feels less like an appointment and more like an
experience — one designed for Newark residents, professionals and visitors who want
to invest in themselves in a space that feels like it belongs to them.
The business works, in large part, because the Paytons bring different skillsets.
Brittany is the visionary — a licensed esthetician who understands the beauty industry,
customer experience and what today’s wellness consumer is looking for. She thinks
about growth, partnerships and the client experience.
Gladys brings a background in business operations, grant writing, finance and
community development. She handles the financial management, bookkeeping,
systems and infrastructure that keep the business running behind the scenes.
“Having both perspectives at the table has been invaluable,” Gladys Payton said,
“because a successful business needs both vision and execution.”
And time.
Because the Paytons built Aulo from scratch, construction took more than a year. But
they got help along the way.
***
The Paytons built Aulo while simultaneously completing YWCA Northern New Jersey’s
WE360° Business Essentials Program — an entrepreneurship training program that
both women credit with helping them navigate the uncertainty of launching a business
mid-build.
“Launching a business comes with constant decisions, challenges and uncertainty,”
they said. “The program provided both practical tools and a supportive community.”
The sessions on AI were particularly useful, they said, because they introduced tools
that help small businesses operate more efficiently.
The peer network — other entrepreneurs navigating similar pressures — gave them a
place to be honest about both the struggles and the wins.
More than anything, they say it gives them something to say to other women
entrepreneurs.
Gladys: Don’t be afraid to ask for help.
“Programs like WE360° exist for a reason,” she said. “You don’t have to figure
everything out alone.”
Brittany: Trust your vision, even when the timeline stretches.
“There will always be obstacles, but every challenge teaches you something,” she said.
“Remember that success is also about creating something meaningful that serves your
community.”
No one knows that better than the Paytons. They turned an empty shell into something
Newark didn’t know it was missing.
