The doors to Four Winds Modern Apothecary in Boca Raton are always open, so two children ran in to choose natural lollipops in green apple and red beet flavors from jars on the front table.
“They’ve been here before,” said Claudia Rhea, as their mother followed them in to give her $1 each.
“In the evenings we’re busy,” from foot traffic in nearby restaurants on Plaza Real South. They’re just around the corner from Lemongrass Asian Bistro, across the street in Royal Palm Plaza, Suite H.
“We’re opening the path to a new lifestyle. We’re trying to combine self-healing and enjoyment,” said Rhea, the head buyer who owns the business with her husband Kenneth Rhea.
It takes time to look at their extensive natural inventory, most of which is made in small batches. They have body washes and oils, salts and scrubs, oils and creams, brushes and sponges.
“They’re quite invigorating,” she said.
There’s a skin and hair department with acne products including Zero Zits.
“Testers see how your skin reacts and people want to smell and touch,” she said.
A mother of two herself, she added, “we test everything on me and a lot of mothers come here.”
Four Winds also has a baby section with some clothing, personal hygiene products, aroma therapy and items for the home including candles and diffusers. There is even a rack of greeting cards.
The men’s section has hard-to-find natural products.
“Our best sellers are deodorants,” she said.
Her husband is a former banker. She had a fashion boutique on Worth Avenue in Palm Beach, so she’s familiar with retail. There’s a section of yoga clothes and mats that can be customized, she said. A table of natural cosmetics include nail polish and a bench to sit and try out some colors.
“We sell a portable gluten sensor that tests a small amount of food, and gives you a smiley face if you can eat it,” he said.
Four Winds also offers teas and a selection of supplements. They carry packets of healthy foods from untreated cashews to pumpkin seeds. There’s a refridgerator with cold-pressed juices and water called Celtic.
“People don’t drink enough water,” she said.
The plan was always to offer their customers wellness services, too, and three holistic professionals have joined them in private rooms behind the store.
Treatments range from pain and stress relief and a weight-loss program from a doctor licensed in oriental medicine and acupuncture.
Consults by an integrative holistic pharmacist will range from therapy and wellness to LED light treatments. An aesthetician and facialist is offering neck and eye treatments and eyebrow shaping, among other services.
Four Winds is at 101 Plaza Real South.
Customers are asked to make appointments by calling the store at 561-757-3284.
