This month we celebrated a special milestone for Cloud 9 Foot Spa at Houston Medical Center—our 10-year anniversary. Reflecting on this journey fills my heart with pride, and I’d like to share how this spa came to be and how it has flourished over the years, growing into the family-friendly haven it is today.

It all started in 2013 with a phone call. At the time, I was immersed in our sporting goods business, shipping container loads from China and selling them online. But that call was urgent.

“Sean, you need to come to Houston right away,” our manager said.

“What’s going on?” I asked.

“We’ve got a container, and we can’t open it. We’ve tried everything.”

I laughed and urged them to try harder. “Burn it or cut it open if you have to.”

Half an hour later, the phone rang again. “No luck. You need to come here ASAP!”

Without hesitation, I booked a same-day flight on United Airlines. The ticket was only $5, and while I thought it must be too good to be true, it wasn’t. After landing, I was expecting someone would come to me to collect airfare, but I was under fire and needed to race to the warehouse, not because I wanted to escape the agent requesting the payment. Later I learned United had a system glitch resulted the abnormal ticket pricing and they still honored the price. After resolving the container issue, I was driving back to my hotel when something caught my eye—a For Lease sign on a two-story building with a faded “Darque Tan” logo.

With our successful spas in Burlingame and Half Moon Bay (California) already gaining popularity among families, I saw potential in this Houston location. Situated at the edge of the bustling medical center and near the affluent Rice Village, I knew this could be the perfect spot for another Cloud 9 Foot Spa.

After a month of negotiations, we signed the lease. The space was 3,100 square feet. Luckily, it required minimal tenant improvements, as the layout already had the rooms we needed. After a few months of preparation, we opened our doors in February 2014.

A Chance Encounter That Changed Everything

Just days before our grand opening, we were still short on front desk staff. One evening, I walked into Goode Restaurant Seafood, a charming restaurant only five minutes from the spa. A young lady greeted us with such grace and confidence that she immediately stood out. She was Asian American, and carried herself with a blend of elegance and self-assurance.

I turned to Caroline, our manager at the time, and said, “I need to talk to her about a job.”

Caroline felt a bit embarrassed but didn’t stop me. As the young woman walked by again, I introduced myself.

“Hi, my name is Sean. We’re opening a spa nearby. Are you interested in another job?”

She smiled, took my number, and a few days later, Angela Black walked into our spa for an interview—despite the remodeling chaos still underway. Little did I know at that moment that Angela would go on to lead Cloud 9 Houston to incredible heights.

Angela was studying nursing full-time while juggling four jobs to support herself. Recently moving from South Korea, she drove a beat-up Honda Civic with broken AC through Houston’s heat! She would wash up in restrooms and apply makeup quickly before her shifts. But beyond her resilience, Angela had a sharp mind. She asked questions that challenged me and always brought valuable ideas to the table.

When our manager left almost two years later, I offered the position to Angela. She hesitated, needing to calculate how the shift would impact her income, but eventually agreed under one condition that I laid out: she would focus solely on Cloud 9.

At just 23 years old, Angela took over as manager. Under her leadership, Cloud 9 Houston doubled its revenue within six months. She led a team of therapists—some twice her age—with skill and determination, sometimes even staying late to repaint rooms herself to save on cost, without saying a word. Her work ethic was undeniable.

I believed in Angela’s potential so much that I convinced her to switch her major from nursing to business—and she did. Over the next decade, Cloud 9 Foot Spa thrived, becoming a beloved sanctuary for families across Houston’s Medical Center and beyond.

Building a Family Legacy

Scarlett Arguello now our manager has been with Cloud 9 for 9 years. Angela’s leadership, alongside Scarlet’s remarkable work ethic, has shaped Cloud 9 Houston into what it is today. Together with caring front desk and therapists team, they’ve created a space where families come not just to relax but to build lasting traditions. Children who started visiting the spa at six years old now return as young adults, continuing a family ritual of foot massages after long days of sports and studies.

The loyalty within Cloud 9’s Houston team is unmatched. Long-serving members like Amy (10 years), Wayne (10), William (10), Jenny (9), and Anna (8) have been part of this journey for nearly a decade, thanks to Angela and Scarlet’s inspiring leadership. Their commitment to creating a supportive, uplifting culture sets Cloud 9 apart from the rest.

Even during the tough times, like the COVID-19 pandemic in 2019, the Cloud 9 team remained strong. Despite being forced to temporarily close, not a single therapist or front desk member was lost. Upon reopening, the strength of their brand was clear—nearly 90% of search keywords used were “Cloud 9 spa,” a testament to the community’s trust and love for their services.

As I look back on the past decade, I’m overwhelmed by the growth and success of Cloud 9 Foot Spa in Houston. From our humble beginnings, we’ve established ourselves as the premier family-friendly spa in Greater Houston, expanded to Pearland, and acquired another spa in Sugarland. As we celebrate this milestone, we’re also looking ahead to our continued growth, including a new location opening soon in Dallas.

Our weekly meetings and quarterly goals keep us striving for excellence. At our 10-year anniversary celebration, we reflected on the journey with a sense of pride. As I said then,

“We come together as if it’s destiny. It is our mission to introduce this great family-friendly spa concept to all Americans across the United States.”

Over the last decade, we’ve shared laughter, challenges, and countless stories of families bonding in our spa. As Angela once said,

“We’re bonded so closely. No matter where you go, you’re part of the Cloud 9 family.”

As I reflect on the past decade, countless memories flood my heart. Over the years, we’ve been fortunate to work alongside so many incredible team members—therapists who joined Cloud 9 and our sister brand, Oceanic (soon to be rebranded under Cloud 9). These therapists are true warriors, showing up every day with dedication and care. Their hard work has helped strengthen family bonds, unite communities, and elevate the wellness journeys of so many people. We have numerous stories from these 10-year journeys, many of which will be shared in upcoming articles. What is truly remarkable is how many of our therapists have realized their American dream along the way—forming families, sending children off to college, and buying homes. They have flourished alongside Cloud 9. It’s rare to see such loyalty, with some therapists staying with us for as long as 12 years. At our recent 10-year anniversary celebration in San Jose, Michael became emotional, his eyes welling up as he said, “We’ve been here for 10 years because we trust you and we love our team. We can make money anywhere, but this is our home.” Amy, one of our longest-serving therapists, shared something with me for the first time: “Sean, when I first came to Cloud 9, I made half of what I used to earn, but I stayed because I believed in your system and the family concept.” True to her word, she has never complained. Jenny even brought her husband, Steven, into the Cloud 9 family so they could work together—it must be a special place for a couple to work side by side, day in and day out. And then there’s Anna, who introduced us to Nina, the former owner of Massage Remedy, and brought her spa into the Cloud 9 family. These stories are a testament to the heart and soul of our team.

A Bright Future Ahead – Penguin can fly

One evening over dinner, the Karaoke TV played the iconic Chinese song “Journey to the West,” a tale of the legendary Monkey King Wukong who embarks on a mission to protect the monk Tang Sanzang as they journey westward in search of sacred scriptures. Along the way, the Monkey King leads his team through countless challenges, overcoming fierce enemies and obstacles to reach their destination. As the music played, Angela listened intently before nodding and saying, “That Monkey King is just like me.” Her words touched me deeply. Like the Monkey King, Angela has faced countless challenges, yet she remains a fearless warrior, leading Cloud 9 through one milestone after another. To honor that spirit, we want to conclude this story with an illustration of the Monkey King leading a team of Penguin angels, symbolizing Cloud 9’s unwavering dedication and mission. Our Penguin mascot represents the heart of Cloud 9, and we envision these Penguin angels flying across America, settling in cities everywhere to serve millions of families.

We have a dream, and in that dream, Penguins can fly—carrying Cloud 9’s spirit of wellness and family-centered values to homes all across the nation.

Sean Peng
Founder, Cloud 9 Foot Spa, Cloud 9 Franchise