The first major change in the 15 years that A Cut Above has been in business Downtown was realized last week when the hair salon moved down the hall a short distance from its original location at 1 Independent Drive to a larger space.
Brian Spikes, master barber, had his first customer on Sept. 4, 1998. As his business grew, so did the staff. When the salon moved last week, Spikes and four stylists joined two additional stylists in the new location near the Main Street entrance to Wells Fargo Center.
“We have about twice the work space and a lot more visibility. There is more traffic here and we needed the room,” Spikes said at 9 a.m. Friday morning as he cut a client’s hair.
That client, Corey Ingram, began having Spikes cut his hair four years ago because he worked in the building. Ingram got a new business address about a year ago, but still comes to the salon for his haircuts.
“Brian does a great job,” he said.
Spikes’ 9:30 a.m. appointment was another former Downtown worker who remains a client at the salon.
Sunny Montes used to work at Bank of America Tower and said she first visited the shop to use a tanning bed.
“Then I thought, ‘I need to get my hair done, too,’” Montes said.
She now manages Zeta Jax, a restaurant in Jacksonville Beach.
“I drive from the beach so Brian can do my hair,” said Montes.
Stylist Robbie Scantling has worked at A Cut Above for 12 years. She said working in a Downtown salon appealed to her because it’s a Monday-Friday schedule, which allows her to spend weekends with her family.
Scantling said about 25 percent of her clients work in the building, and about 50 percent work Downtown. Of the other half, many used to work Downtown and now make the drive for Scantling’s services.
“I have a great clientele. Some of the people who used to work at Modis still drive to me,” she said. Modis was a former anchor tenant.
Spikes said the move has its advantages.
“It was great to find the space we needed in the building where we have been for so many years. Our clients don’t have to hunt us down. A lot of people don’t like change,” he said.
Working near one of the entrances to the office tower instead of in the hallway near the copy center was another reason Spikes decided to lease his new space.
“Having so many potential clients who work in the building is a plus, but I wanted more people to know about us,” he said.
A Cut Above is open 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday with or without an appointment. Evening and Saturday appointments are available, Spikes said.
(904) 356-2466