Dayton-based salon to cater to men in new shop: “We wanted them to feel valued like everyone else”

Guys deserve their own space, so says the co-owner of a beauty empire founded in downtown Dayton.

Square One Salon and Day Spa will launch Square One Men at its Columbus salon at 6 p.m. Friday during a free grand opening party.

If things go well, co-owner Doug Henderson says similar shops could be launched for the company's other salons, including those in Dayton.

“We are really testing it here because of the access,” Henderson said. He noted that 40 percent of the Columbus location’s clients are male.

>> Square One Salon to open sixth location in Dayton

The men’s shop will be located in an unused space in the main salon, located at 275 S. Fourth St. in downtown Columbus.

While men do not mind using the regular salon space, Henderson said Square One wanted to kick it to another level with the new masculine space.

"We are giving them their own space," he said. "We did it because we wanted them to feel valued like everyone else."

The new men's shop will have shoe shining stalls from the 1930s1940s barber chairs and whiskey lockers for regular clients.

“They can come in and pour themselves a glass,” Henderson said.

>> When Josh Stucky and Brent Johnson of Square One were Daytonians of the Week

Clients will be able to use an app to check wait times and schedule appointments. The shop will offer haircuts, mini facials and neck and beard detail work.

“We wanted to celebrate them and give them their own space,” Henderson said.

Credit: Lisa Powell

Credit: Lisa Powell

Customers will have access to salon services like manicures and pedicure from the main salon.

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The company has grown by leaps and bounds. Henderson, Josh Stucky and Brent Johnson opened the first Square One locations in 1999 in a renovated space at 506 E. Third St. in the Cannery building in downtown Dayton.

In addition to the Columbus and Cannery building locations, Square One also has shops at 5485 New Albany Rd. W in New Albany, at 1132 Brown St. near the University of Dayton, 1 N. Main Street in Centerville and at 1030 Miamisburg Centerville Road in  Washington Township.

Credit: BILL REINKE

Credit: BILL REINKE

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