Proprietor Vena Hudgins celebrated another year of service to her clients by hosting a special pre-holiday open house this past week at her downtown Riverbank salon, Vena’s Secrets Skin Care Studio.

Held on Wednesday, Nov. 20, Hudgins celebrated by offering her clients special prices on treatments and products, as well as ‘swag bags’ to accompany all purchases, along with food and music to round out the party.

It was her 22nd annual pre-holiday event, the first held in her current downtown location. She has been at 6622 Third St., Riverbank, since June of this year, but before that was in another historic building on Santa Fe that was built early in the 20th century, as a drug store. She left that site to downsize to a one-woman operation, with a handful of other specialists coming in from time to time.

Hudgins came to downtown Riverbank more than five years ago from a salon in Oakdale.

Hudgins said she learned about advanced skin care in Canada and ever since has lectured and trained others on it. She said this is her fifth and final studio that she will own, and has plans on retiring in three years.

At this location, there are two beauty professionals including her daughter who will custom blend makeup for individuals at the studio. Marcy Villaverde, RN, stops by once a month to administer any injections like Botox or Juvederm that are needed.

Diana Pearson, Hudgins’ mother, makes the trip from Oklahoma each year to take part in the Open House festivities as well as lending moral support.