Not one, not two, but as many as 18 businesses could be locating in a Galesburg strip mall.
Jason Cousineau, founder of Davenport, Iowa-based The Suites, tells WGIL he will purchase a retail property at the northwest corner of Henderson and Dayton streets where he will build 18 individual salon suites that can be leased by tenants in the beauty and wellness field.
The Suites will be located at 1516 N. Henderson St., a space most recently occupied by The Mattress Station, and in the same complex as Little Caesars, Smoke Land, Cricket Wireless and Suzi’s Video Poker & Slots.
Professionals specializing in hair, massage therapy, nails, spray tans, makeup, cosmetologists are potential tenants, according to Cousineau.
The Suites, which will be located in the former Mattress Station, will feature 18 salon suites that are approximately 120 to 250 square feet in size, featuring their own plumbing. Tenants can finish customize suites with their own flooring, paint, lighting, fixtures and furniture, as needed.
“Basically, anyone in the beauty and wellness industry can rent one of our rooms to own and operate their business,” Cousineau said. “Most hair professionals are either opening up their own hair salon where they’re spending $2,000 a month plus utilities, or someone is renting a chair from a salon operator for $150 to $200 weeks, but they have to share some of their profits.
“So a salon suite basically helps them drastically reduce their overhead while giving them the space they need to provide for their customers.”
Each suite will have its own locked door. The facility as a whole will have a locked door that customers can gain entry to through a digital access system. An entrance and additional parking will be located at the rear of the building.
Cousineau has or is in the process of locating The Suites locations in Peoria; Moline; Davenport and Des Moines, Iowa; and Kansas City.
His partner in The Suites is Mike Conatser, owner of the Galesburg Little Caesars location.
“We just founded The Suites about a year and a half ago, and we’re trying to grow across the Midwest,” he said.
Salon suites will come in three or four sizes, according to Cousineau, with the standard suites leasing for approximately $800 a month. The lease includes all utilizes and wi-fi.
Cousineau expects The Suites to open in Galesburg mid to late summer.
“We love the location, being on the main retail strip in Galesburg,” Cousineau said. “There’s a great store front presence, and there isn’t a business model like this in the Galesburg market.
“I feel like there are a lot of beauty and well professionals that will find the facility very attractive.”
