The Bath Junkie Girl

The only thing bubblier in the Bath Junkie store is the girl working behind the counter. Mary Elizabeth Fair, 21, is the blonde, fair, and colorfully dressed “bath junkie girl” as many around town have come to calling her. With a smile and an electric laugh that never stops Fair says, “I have made so many friends from just working here and seeing customers out who stop me to say oh my gosh! You’re the bath junkie girl!” Fair is sure to keep that title now that she is moving into the apartment located on top of the store.
So what is Bath Junkie? Located on the corner of Spanish Street and Hypolita Street in historic downtown Saint Augustine, it is not hard to spot the shop with its windows lined with dozens of bath time yellow rubber ducks. “We customize everything for you here. You pick the scents, colors, and type of bath product. We have over 120 different choices. The only things we pre make here in the store are some of the bar soaps and the candles”, says Fair. When asked what she likes most about working at the store Fair described the interesting and unique people that she meets every day. “My favorite is when the biker men and women are in town. They always come in and chat with me and buy things like our soft scrub and just go on about how much they can’t get enough of our products”, laughs Fair. Between the tourists and the locals Fair says that everyone has a cool story to tell. The store in the past year has always received some famous guests. Fair mentions that Nicole Richie and Joel Madden, member of the band Good Charlotte, recently came into the store leaving with their own combinations of bath junkie products.
However there are more than just bubbles in the head of this former pageant girl from Mississippi. Fair is a senior at Flagler College and a communications major focusing on broadcast, journalism, and cinema. Fair has interned at the Cannes Film Festival in France and has travelled to many places such as Costa Rica and Jamaica on various mission trips. When Fair was just a senior in high school she won the Good Will Student of The Year for her volunteer work throughout the country and abroad. When she is not working in the shop or attending classes Fair’s greatest passion lies in her photography. In addition to taking photos for the Flagler College Gargoyle, she takes photos for her friend and local business owner Cassandra Helton. Helton is the owner of The Closet a very popular clothing store nearby. Fair says, “I take photos of Cassandra’s models wearing all her new looks and styles so she can use them for things like flyers, advertisements, or we put them up online.”
Due to today’s economy, like many other stores downtown, Bath Junkie is not doing as well as it has done in previous years. Fair hopes that because of its unique products and loyal customers Bath Junkie, which is owned by her cousins, will continue to stay afloat and be successful. Fair also credits the stores success to its use of no harmful products and its great central location. With one last infectious grin Fair says, “Come visit the Bath Junkie girl! I’ll make you smell nice and try to make you laugh.”