by Patti Connor
Staff Writer
When Dan James long-time best friend and running buddy Pat Sher first suggested that the hairstylist take a look at a space that was coming available at 45 W. Bay St. as a possible location for his beauty salon, James’ response was both immediate and unequivocal.
“I don’t,” declared the Mandarin resident, “go downtown for nothing!”
But one look was all it took for James, 44, to change his tune.
The Henry Klutho-designed building is the former site of the first Montgomery Ward’s in Florida and now home to Daniel James Salon. With its distinctive architectural features such as interior brick walls, large skylights and graceful arched windows, it was constructed to make optimum use of the natural lighting, not only every stylist’s dream but, as James points out, a radical departure from most salons “where the client walks into an area that is completely dark except for [the] artificial lighting.”
That’s not to say that it didn’t require a good deal of effort on the part of James for the area to evolve into the aesthetically appealing space it is today.
“When I first saw this place, it was nasty. Not only was it empty, but it was hardly more than a home for the pigeons,” he said.
Undaunted, the Wisconsin native set about the formidable task of painting, tearing down “a few” walls and installing hardwood floors throughout the 1,400 square-foot space. Today, its appearance is not the only thing that’s radically changed about James’ business.
His clientele also has undergone an evolution, too.
“When I first moved down here,” he said, “it was 80 percent drivers and 20 percent walkers. Now, it’s 20 percent drivers and 80 percent walkers.” As for a geographical breakdown, “There’s really not a common denominator. My clients come from everywhere.”
If, in fact, they do come from points far and wide, one significant thing has changed, according to James: their destination once they leave.
“It used to be that women would get their hair done, then leave and go home to their husbands,” he said. “The coolest thing about working downtown is that now they get their hair done and then go back to the office. They’re a walking advertisement.”
Twice a week, on Monday and Friday, he actually begins work at 6:30 a.m.
“Women don’t want to wash and style their hair at 9 o’clock, and then come in and have me totally redo it,” he said. “This way, it’s much easier for them.”
During the five years he’s been downtown, James has had a front row seat to many changes in the city’s landscape.
“When I first moved here, City Hall wasn’t even in Hemming Plaza. Now, it’s so beautiful.”
As far as downtown growth, “In my opinion, we’re right on the horizon. It’s all just about to begin happening. Lodging, I think, will be the real catalyst. The only problem,” continued James, “is that they’re going to have to do something to address the [problem of] parking [downtown]. It’s so hard. [City Council president] Matt Carlucci talked at one point about using them as transportation to San Marco for lunch, for example. If they could do a loop like that it would be great. Then the city would become known for being user friendly.”