The downtown Ann Arbor hair salon featured as one of
ELLE magazine's top 100 salons in the U.S. for 2009 and 2010 is getting a new 'do.
Salon Vox recently purchased the basement and first two floors of its locale at 115 W. Liberty Street. The five-year-old salon has occupied the basement and first floor of the building. With the addition of the second floor, the new footprint will be 5,400 square feet, a 50% increase in size.
The extra level means the number of styling stations will go from 12 to 24, says Jeniffer Hepler, owner of Salon Vox. Hepler also plans to open an onsite cosmetology academy for existing and new stylists. The 22-employee salon will be hiring as a result of the expansion. She declines to disclose project cost figures or an expected number of new jobs.
In a down or flat-lining economy, hairstyling is often one of the first discretionary items to be cut; however, Hepler says, business has remained unaffected throughout. The salon focuses on different equipment, updated styles, and continuing education, she says. She also attributes its success to active involvement in the Main Street Area Association and a downtown location.
"We focus on a lot of the young professionals in the area, and so they still come down for work and then are able to come get a haircut," Hepler explains. Many salons close between 5 and 7 p.m. on weekdays, but Salon Vox is open until 9 p.m. all week. Thursdays are late nights; doors are open until midnight and a DJ spins.
An 11th hour haircut!? "Oh my goodness, we're booked!" she laughs. "We've done that since we've opened, so it's been a great success."
Source: Jeniffer Hepler, owner of Salon Vox
Writer: Tanya Muzumdar
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