The Downtown Investment Authority board approved an $85,250 grant with a unanimous vote Aug. 20 for the relocation of a San Marco salon to the Southbank.
The nine-member board awarded the grant to the Salon on the Southbank. Owner Amanda Kelloway wants to move her location to 1038 Kings Ave. from 1034 Hendricks Ave.
The salon’s new location, according to the DIA staff report, will be twice the size of its Hendricks Avenue space.
The move will allow Kelloway to expand offerings of traditional hair styling, specialized wellness services, medical-grade treatments, retail operations, a community boutique space and walk-in services.
The salon now employs six stylists, including Kelloway, and an aesthetics and laser specialist. Moving would allow for eight to 12 full-time workers, a mix of employees and independent contractors.
The property at 1038 Kings Ave. previously housed Reddi-Arts, which sold the space in 2021. Those buildings were divided into four properties, which haven’t been occupied since.
Tavola Trattoria, an Italian restaurant planned for another space in the former Reddi-Arts property, also received incentives Aug. 20 from the DIA.
The grant for Salon on the Southbank came from the DIA’s Core Retail Enhancement Program in the form of a forgivable loan to cover a portion of the $225,125 cost of improvements to a 2,675-square-foot space. The total principal balance will be forgiven and reduced at a rate of about 33.33% per year.
At the end of 36 months, the grant will be forgiven on the condition that the business remains in operation at the Kings Avenue location, improvements are made and the premises are maintained in reasonably good condition.
According to the DIA staff report, Kelloway has worked at salons in San Marco for 25 years. She has spent the last 10 years as the staff manager at Salon on the Southbank, and bought the business from her mother in 2023.
The report says Kelloway has “an established client base and reputation for quality service.”
The grant to the Salon on Southbank will be paid out over three years, divided into equal parts, provided the company is in the location for three years.