by Max Marbut
Staff Writer
There’s often a story behind the name of a small business. When George Wolfe decided to open a barber shop on West Adams Street inside of The Carling, he knew exactly what it would be named.
“It’s called ‘Lucky’s Classic Cuts’ because of the way I got here,” he explained. “I was Downtown helping shoot a video for the State Attorney’s Office and I saw the shop was for sale, and here I am. I’ve always felt lucky and blessed.”
Wolfe has been a licensed barber for three years and worked at Great Hair After in Mandarin before deciding to strike out on his own and move to his own shop. He said he has been cutting hair for most of his life.
“I’ve been doing it since I was 13 years old. My friends and I used to cut each other’s hair but I’m the only one who stuck with it,” said Wolfe.
While Wolfe caters to the male market with haircuts and beard trims, Dawn Sparks specializes in hairstyles and color services for ladies. A licensed cosmetologist and registered nurse, Sparks said she took a couple of years off to work in the health care field but missed styling and coloring hair and got back in the business at Color Works at St. Johns Town Center before coming to work at Lucky’s.
Both said the neighborhood and location is perfect for what they do.
“There are lots of young professionals who work Downtown and the people who live at The Carling range from retired people to college students whose parents are putting them up here,” said Sparks.
The walls of the shop are completely covered with art from tattoo designs to t-shirts to pieces exhibited by artists for Art Walk. The Downtown event, which takes place the first Wednesday of the month, has helped the business grow since the day Wolfe first opened the door.
One of the first things that needed to be changed when the shop opened was its lack of interior decoration. Offering free gallery space to artists solved that situation immediately.
“Part of my business plan was to embrace Downtown and reach out to the community, and being part of the first Wednesday event is great,” said Wolfe. “We love Art Walk because it brings the San Marco and Riverside crowds Downtown. Dawn and I both grew up coming to the Milk Bar so Art Walk is kind of our vibe.
“It’s fun to see people who come to the shop during the day with their button-down collars and wing-tip shoes come back for Art Walk with their jeans and t-shirts and tattoos,” he added.
“We encourage local artists to bring their work to the shop so we can put it on display,” added Sparks. “We’re always looking for new artists who would like to share their work with our clients and the community.”
Wolfe said he discovered a long time ago cutting hair is a great business.
“It’s one of the few businesses that’s truly recession-proof,” he observed. “And it’s also repeat business because as soon as a client gets up out of the chair, their hair is growing toward their next cut.”
Lucky’s Classic Cuts is open 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday and Thursday and 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. Wolfe said the shop stays open until at least 9 p.m. on Art Walk nights and any evening by request. Call 798-8529 to schedule an appointment.