Phenix Salon Suites To Open This Month In Lakewood

LAKEWOOD, OH — Nearly six months after announcing its acquisition of the former Quaker Steak and Lube space, Phenix Salon Suites is close to opening on Detroit Avenue. The company will give independent hair stylists a safe space to launch their own businesses, its management said.

Remodeling on the former restaurant site is nearly complete, with only a handful of inspections remaining before the salon opens to the public. Final inspections will take place over the next seven or so days. Company leaders said there isn't currently a grand opening planned, but one may be held in the future.

Phenix has a unique business concept and works like this: independent hair stylists can lease space within Phenix and then occupy a private, enclosed suite. Stylists build their own customer base, and keep it, and can gradually build their brand. There are 33 suites within the Lakewood Phenix, and at least five will be occupied upon opening.

"[Phenix] is a big salon, a big spa, in one sense. In another sense, it’s a very small one. You have individual salon owners that are starting their businesses, or growing their businesses. We’re fostering entrepreneurship in that sense. We’re giving people a chance to start their business in a safe space," Brian Miller, Phenix's managing partner, said.

Miller announced in mid-April that he had leased the Quaker Steak space and would remodel the location into a Phenix. He tentatively targeted September for opening, but minor construction snags pushed that date back.

"The construction process has been good. It’s been a lot of work, but nothing has been a huge surprise. There’s been good quality work done," he said. "It’s a very calm, relaxed but upscale feel to things on the interior. It leads with a pretty dramatic water feature at the entry. There are light sconces in the hallways that add to that upscale feel," Miller said. He then noted that, "individual suites can feel very different because each stylist can decorate them however they want.

Miller said that each suite has floor-to-ceiling walls, ensuring privacy for a stylist and their customer. "A lot of people have personal relationships with their stylists and this gives them that private, personal quiet setting to get their services," he said.

Happy to be close to finishing the construction process, Miller was eager to talk about what prospective customers could expect. "What they can expect is a variety of salon services. It’s everything from hair stylists to massage therapists to nail techs, to skin care, Microblading, it's full service. It’s all independent small business owners, a lot of them local to Lakewood that are starting their business with us," he said.

Phenix will open its doors before the end of the month, Miller assured Patch.

Learn more about the business on their Facebook page.

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Photo from Phenix Salon Suites