The Chair overhauls a building on Washington square

When Kendra Rickey opened The Chair in Washington in early 2022, it was only after months of extensive renovations to the building that previously housed Simply Spa.

“It was Aug. 13 that I signed the papers, and I came here and started ripping carpet off the wall,” Rickey said. “I thought, ‘Let’s just knock some walls out,’ … I went to replace ceiling panels and saw the original tin was still up, and there’s no way you can cover up original tin, so I took down the dropped ceiling.”

Much of that work was done by Rickey herself, with help from around the community.

“I had someone come and show me how to do flooring and he leveled the whole floor for me … I had a friend that came and did my electricity,” she said. “I met my boyfriend in the middle of it, it was me, my boyfriend and my dad, and our second date was restoring the ceiling. It was a lot.”

With interior design out of the way, she opened the salon in January. Now, Rickey faces a new challenge: finding employees.

The Chair has a wide variety of cosmetology equipment: barber chairs, airbrush makeup, pedicure and manicure stations, a setup in the back for massages and spray tans. For the first several months in business, her services were limited as the only employee, though she added a massage person in late September.

"I’m looking to hire more hair people, nail people,“ she said. ”Right now, it is kind of a one-woman show, but I hope soon, we can add a little team to this place. I would just like to have it filled with a team where the team kind of becomes more family and everyone gets along.“

That’s not to say business is slow. The opposite, in fact, is true, thanks to the highly visible location on the square and a network of references from around the community.

“It’s awesome, I get a lot of walk-ins, and people want to see the remodeled space,” Rickey said. “Other cosmetologists in town … they send so many people my way, it’s so great. If I’m busy, or since I don’t have anyone to do nails for people next door or down the street, I give them names and tell them to check out those people.”

Rickey said the shop was a longtime dream. She fell in love with the trade during a string of mini internships before she went to cosmetology school.

“I came home one day, it was after I was at A Cut Above, I remember putting down my school bag, and I looked at my mom and I said, ‘Mom, I don’t see myself anywhere else but behind the chair,’” she said. “That’s also how I got the name for this place, the Chair.”

The hours, however, are long. The Chair is open Monday through Thursday, 9-5. Coupled with her other jobs at two bars in the area, Rickey has little extra time in the day.

“I think some of my friends forget that I have like, a little more responsibility,” she said. “My days are really tied up here … I don’t get a lot of free time.”

Even so, Rickey frequently returns outside of those hours for scheduled appointments.

“I will take any requests, I’ll still do Friday, Saturday, Sunday, or I’ll stay after five o’clock,” she said. “I just want to stay flexible, because I know a lot of people work 9-5, so if I have to be here later in the night, I’m more than happy to do that.”

Comments: Kalen.McCain@southeastiowaunion.com