I wanted to do a follow up post to the previous post “Where we started” by sharing a bit about where we are currently.
SideDoor Salon was opened nearly 5yrs ago. It was born out the growing need for me to have a safe, comfortable place to work and pleasant atmosphere for clients to receive hair services. I was fortunate to find a small space around the side of an office building, Though I had only lived in Yulee about 1.5 yrs at this point, I had already created a clientele to support this new space and even had enough space to build out 2 additional suites for other industry folks looking for a more private space. We got started building out asap and turned it around in about 30 days. You See, SideDoor Salon has gone thru its own evolution of sorts which you will see thru the photos. One key detail that will always be remembered is the floor, Ohhhh that floor!
If you been with me from the start of SideDoor Salon you may know about the original disaster of the first epoxy floor. That’s right, the current floor in SideDoor is actually the second Epoxy floor. Turns out that the floor guy I hired was a scammer (welcome to Yulee), and after being contacted by a Investigator, found out he had scammed multiple other salons, business and countless homeowners. He ultimately spent 9 months in prison after many of us gave depositions, but ZERO restitutions. Buckle up, some of these pictures are wild!
I ultimately was able to find another reputable company out of Jacksonville who felt so bad all this had happened and was able to very quickly schedule a removal and pour the new floor we currently have. This meant that after working in the space for 3 days. I then had to rent a uhaul and move everything back out so Brendan could redo the floor. we moved back in and that was finally that.
Soon came the addition of Exquisite Skin, whom has now been here for 4yrs and then Southern Smooth Wax Studio for 2.5 yrs. And now we all know we cant live without them!
After the rollercoaster ride that was the pandemic, I chose to remove the second salon sink and add a washer and dryer which changed the look a bit but was necessary.
While my time at SideDoor Salon was mostly positive I would be leaving out a big part of the journey without talking about the noise disturbances. EVERYDAY AT SOME POINT WE HEAR KIDS YELLING, SCREAMING, CRYING, WALL BANGING, WINDOWS RATTLING, CRYING OUT FOR THEIR PARENTS, SLAMMING DOORS, SOME OF WHICH CARRIES TO THE PARKING LOT. I literally have hours and hours of audio of children wailing and screaming. And don’t get me started on the new parent pickup situation. Almost 2yrs after we moved in, a new business moved in next door. A behavioral heath facility with a focus on neurodivergent kiddos not in mainstream school. I never considered the impact until we realized exactly what we would be experiencing. Nor did I realize the significant impact it would make on my future health. With that said, as we come to the last days of SideDoor Salon I will look back on this experience positively and can confidently say EVOLVE Salon & Suites would not be happening if not for SideDoor Salon.
Love, Holly