When Clarine Knapp, owner of Studio C salon, left her former salon at 1107 Commercial St., to find another location, she took only her scissors in hopes of finding another downtown spot. She found that spot on the other end of downtown, at 317 Commercial St., Suite A.
Knapp was ready for a change, and when she was approached by Amber Williamson and Mandi Higgins, who were looking to open their own salon, the time was right. She left her salon and everything in it to the two and set out to find another spot.
Knapp has been cutting hair for 16 years. She said she works better with her hands than with her head, so cutting hair was a natural choice for her.
“I’ve always loved to do hair,” she said. “Everybody definitely has a talent whether it be up here (head) or these (hands).”
Knapp trained at Vernon’s in Emporia, she said. After receiving her training, she worked for other people for about five years and then went out on her own renting booth space. She took a few years off to stay at home with one of her children and then fell back into the business after she found the spot at 1107 Commercial St.
She loves decorating, she said, and decorated the spot to suit her tastes.
“I love to find a spot that is less appealing to people,” she said. “The more rundown the better because it’s more of a surprise to people.”
Knapp loved her spot on the north end of downtown, she said. But she was ready for a change and looked into renovating a loft above Eclectic Catering, where friends of hers are renovating the upstairs space. She decided she wanted to put her business in that space, but ran into a stumbling block when it came to zoning. The space is zoned for residential and not commercial use, and there were many hoops to jump through before she could open her business in that space. She was deterred from that space because of the difficulty of getting it rezoned to allow her business. This is something that frustrated her greatly, she said, and could deter other businesses from going downtown.
“Because of that, I gave up that spot,” she said.
She found the other spot at 317 Commercial that would fit her needs, however. Everything in the loft space had to be renovated. They stripped the floors, painted, hung new fixtures and put wallpaper on the walls. Knapp said she much prefers her space to anything new.
“You can’t build this,” she said. “You can’t get the charm. I think the best things in life are definitely worth working for. Sometimes new isn’t better. Downtown Emporia has all these old buildings. There’s no reason why we can’t be Lawrence, Kansas.”
To get up to Studio C, one has to climb a set of 24 stairs. A sign hangs in the salon that says “Studio C, it’s worth the climb.”
“I love this little spot,” Knapp said. “I’m so glad everything happened the way it did. It’s me. I wish people knew about these little lofts.”
Knapp said she had a lot of help opening up Studio C in her new location, which opened up about two weeks ago. She had help from Casey Woods at Emporia Main Street, Amy Harmon, who is renovating lofts above Eclectic Catering, business owner Becky Setterstrom, clients and many friends and family.
Knapp said she loves her new neighbors in the 300 block of Commercial as well.
“I’ve got everything down here,” she said, adding that all the businesses help Emporia. “Really there’s a lot going on at this end of Commercial.”
Knapp said a little paint and sprucing up downtown will go a long way.
“If people only knew what a little paint and a couple of flower pots would do to their business,” she said. “It’s amazing how many people poke their heads in to see what (Studio C) is.”
Studio C is growing in its new location. Knapp is adding a massage therapist, Jackie France. The salon also offers full-service hair care for the whole family as well as nails and waxing.
To reach Knapp at Studio C, call 794-4890.
zippy (anonymous) says...
Yeah Clarine! I love when people try to fix up new areas, especially south. The city stopped the improvement at the tracks even though businesses are farther down. This is north of the tracks but it is fixing & developing closer and closer. Come on Clint, send some improvement money south, please.
November 12, 2009 at 12:31 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )