Hand & Stone Massage and Facial Spa’s Largest Franchisee Signs 13-Unit Development Agreement

Deal will expand the operator’s footprint to more than 75 locations

July 15, 2026 // FranchisePR.com // TREVOSE, Pa. – Hand & Stone Massage and Facial Spa, the fastest-growing spa franchise in North America and a 650-plus-unit accessible luxury wellness brand, today announced that Eric Danver, owner and CEO of FGG Spa, LLC and the largest franchisee in the Hand & Stone system, has signed a new development agreement to open 13 additional locations over the next five to six years. The deal expands Danver’s current footprint of 63 spas across eight states.

The new units will be concentrated primarily in Florida, building on Danver’s existing operations across New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, Tennessee, North Carolina and Florida. The first of the new locations is expected to open within the next year, with all 13 spas developed as new construction.

“Florida has always been a great market for us, but this deal is really about my continued confidence in this brand,” said Eric Danver, owner and CEO of FGG Spa. “I’ve watched Hand & Stone grow from the inside for years – as a client, and now as a franchisee – and I keep investing because I believe in the leadership, the demand for what we offer and the runway this brand still has. This agreement is a vote of confidence in where Hand & Stone is headed.”

To support the expansion, FGG Spa is backed by a leadership team built for scale, including Chief Operating Officer Kris Smith, who joined the company in January 2025. Smith previously served as Senior Vice President of Real Estate Development for Hand & Stone for 13 years, where he helped grow the brand from 50 to more than 600 locations.

“Eric has been one of the strongest operators in our system for years, and this agreement speaks volumes about the strength of our brand,” said Matt Stanton, Chief Development Officer of Hand & Stone. “Growth like this doesn’t happen by accident. It’s a result of the trust our top franchisees have in the brand and the opportunity they see ahead. We’re excited to see FGG Spa’s continued expansion across Florida and beyond.”

For Danver, that trust has been years in the making. His journey with Hand & Stone began as a client before he became a franchisee, drawn to the brand’s leadership team and reputation. Under his leadership, FGG Spa has grown to 63 locations, more than $95 million in annual sales revenue and more than 1,800 employees, with a goal of reaching 100 locations.

“A big part of how we’ve grown is by giving our people real opportunities to lead,” said Danver. “This next chapter is about creating more of those opportunities. More spas means more careers, more leadership roles and more chances for our team to grow the way this business has grown.”

For more information on Hand & Stone franchise opportunities, please visit handandstone.com/franchise.

About Hand & Stone Massage and Facial Spa
Hand & Stone is a more than 650-unit massage and facial spa franchise with a mission to deliver premium spa services to the middle market in a professional, affordable and convenient manner. Launched in 2004, Hand & Stone now has locations across 36 states and Canada. Each spa features best-in-class massage and skincare treatment. Available for women, men and teens, a wide range of services are tailored to each individual’s needs or skin concerns. Hand & Stone facial treatments are performed by licensed estheticians, using top-of-the-line products backed by science including Dermalogica and IMAGE Skincare. The fastest-growing spa franchise in the country, Hand & Stone has been named No. 1 in the spa category by Entrepreneur Magazine in 2026, 2023, 2021 and 2020 and was ranked No. 8 on Forbes’ Best Franchises to Buy list in the high investment category.

SOURCE Hand & Stone

Media Contact:

Lauren Simo
Partner & Managing Director
C: 813-404-2693
hera-group.com