March 18, 2019

Sioux Falls ophthalmologist Dr. Alison Tendler is starting her own business.

Tendler is a board-certified ophthalmologist, specializing in the treatment of eye conditions and aesthetic eyelid and skin services. She has spent the past 13 years at Vance Thompson Vision, where she also founded Artisan 57, a medical spa.

She will be moving both her eye practice, which will be called ART Vision, and the medical spa, which will be named ARTisan Skin and Laser Center, to a 5,000-square-foot space on the second floor of The Galleria, a new development under construction on the southwest corner of 69th Street and Western Avenue.

“My goal is really to follow my passion and who I feel I am,” she said. “I didn’t want my name on it, but it had ‘ART,’ which are also my initials. I think that theme will be carried through, and it’s how I see the eye side and the skin side. There’s an artistic beauty in being able to see better, and there’s artistic beauty in seeing yourself better.”

Tendler will bring a 10-person team to the space, arranged around a central hub that can serve both sides of the business.

ARTisan Skin Laser Center will offer a full line of medical spa services, including laser services, medical grade skin-care products, facials, chemical peels, injectable services, fillers and a plasma therapy for hair loss.

“Our favorite thing to do is educate,” Tendler said. “There’s so much misinformation and fear out there about even the most common skin and laser treatments. We try to get people a plan that meets their needs.”

Her vision is for a classic but contemporary space with a lot of natural light and a little edge to the design.

“I want it to be classy,” she said. “Kind of like when you go into a hotel lobby, you feel special and yet comfortable and relaxed, like you’re in someone’s home. I want people to feel special.”

She appreciates the easy access for customers and nearby shopping and dining options The Galleria will bring, she said.

“I’m really excited about the location,” Tendler said. “That little corner has its own retail community with lots of small-business owners and a fun aspect to it, so I think it has wonderful potential and could have great staying power.”

The goal is to open midsummer. Tendler’s lease fills the second floor of the building, which also is going to be the new home of Goosmann Law Firm’s Sioux Falls office.

“This is a perfect fit for the building,” said Raquel Blount of Lloyd Cos., who is leasing The Galleria.

“To have Alison is a huge win for the project. She’s an amazing businesswoman and very highly regarded in her industry. To have that level of professionalism alongside the retailers we’re working with for first floor, we just think is an ideal fit. Everything will complement each other.”

Blount is negotiating leases on almost the entire first floor, she said, including a franchise that would be new to Sioux Falls and a cocktail lounge and restaurant.

“We’re extremely excited about the mix of retailers and services. It’s really creating a galleria-boutique feel,” she said.

“People like to support retail in their neighborhood, and certainly that neighborhood lends itself well to those higher-end, boutique-style tenants.”