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SCOTTSDALE PROGRESS | WWW.SCOTTSDALE.ORG | FEBRUARY 20, 2022
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Sistr Studios a one-stop shop for beauty BY ALEX GALLAGHER Progress Staff Writer
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hen Bryanna Casey relocated from New York to the Valley a decade ago, she had a vision for creating a creative space for beauty studio artists. As a former makeup artist who worked in film and television as well as a producer for Fashion Week in New York, London, Milan and Paris, Casey had grown familiar with how agencies had created studios for hair, makeup and photography and was shocked when she did not see anything similar anywhere in the metro area. And so, Casey recalled, “I wanted to create a team of artists that could offer services, which is where I started this agency.” “With the companies and clients that
Bryanna Casey feels she has achieved her vision for a high-end studio with her opening of Sistr in Old Town. (Special to the Progress)
we worked with, people began asking for specialty services for themselves so I figured, ‘Why not make them in-house and create a full-service salon?’” Casey said. “Out here, people are always particularly looking for hair and makeup combined.” Casey also found a good niche for her artists: “We really focused on starting in the bridal aspect of things because that industry is so big out here and with the explosion of social media, we started to dabble in photography.” Casey in August leased a space on the corner of Third Avenue and Marshall way in
August, which she describes as the perfect central location. “I feel like no matter where you go within the Phoenix Metropolitan area, Old Town is quite central for everybody,” she said. Her next step was developing a name that paid homage to her family and also felt inviting to clients. “I am one of four siblings – two sisters and a brother – and I always value the relationship one has with their sister, so the name felt organic but I wanted to make it unique I dropped the ‘E,’” Casey said. “Sistr Studios flows nicely off the tongue and it has that message for me. My sisters have had such an impact on my life, decision making and perspective which I felt was a nice way to keep family in what I am doing.”
see SISTR page 26
2 hotels change hands with big plans afoot PROGRESS NEWS STAFF
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wo hotels have recently changed hands and one of them is due to be converted into an apartment building while the other is slated for an upgrade. The Scottsdale-based investment firm Sterling Real Estate Partners recently acquired Suites on Scottsdale in an offmarket transaction with plans to convert the hotel into market-rate apartments while Florida-based Driftwood Capital bought the Scottsdale Resort at McCormick Ranch with plans for a multi-million-dollar renovation. Originally built in 1996, the 114-room extended stay Suites at Scottsdale, at the corner of Scottsdale and Mountain View roads, will be transformed into a luxury, 85-unit apartment community – the sec-
Scottsdale Resort at McCormick Ranch is scheduled for a multi-million-dollar renovation by its new owner, Driftwood Capital of Florida. (Special to the Progress)
ond Sterling adaptive reuse project. “The location of this property could not be better. There are not many corner locations at prominent intersections on Scottsdale Road,” said David Zeff, President of Sterling Real Estate Partners. “We are excited about the value proposition. We will be delivering essentially new product at a significant discount to replacement cost.” This is also Sterling’s fifth acquisition in the last six months, totaling more than $60 million. Sterling had the Suites at Scottsdale under contract since December 2020 while it processed a change in use from hospitality to residential. “We took a risk during COVID and are delivering value to our partners,” Zeff
see HOTELS page 26
