COLUMBIA — Image Studios , a luxury salon brand with locations in 25 states, will open its first Columbia location in the BullStreet District, a growing retail district in the downtown. The salon brand's business model is to have a handful of mini-salon studios that can host independent beauty professionals like hair stylists, estheticians and nail technicians in one big space. At the BullStreet location, the 5,700-square-foot space will have enough mini-studios to fit 29 business owners, according to a press release.
The studios are set to open in November in the First Base Building near Segra Park , which houses a handful of offices and Founders Federal Credit Union. The mini hubs for independent, small business owners at the salon come amid a growing trend in Columbia of pop-up businesses finding success in the midsized market. There's Soda City Market, the weekly farmer's and artisan market, which serves as an incubator for small business and Made with Cola Love, which hosts a handful of unique pop-up restaurants and events.
The pop-up style of business, with lower overhead and risk has proven increasingly popular in town. And Image Studios will open among a handful of popular national brands that've opened or planned to open in the BullStreet District — Asheville-based brunch chain Tupelo Honey is set for early 2025 and brewery chain Iron Hill Brewery and Restaurant opened in the area last year. The district, which is one of the largest redevelopment projects in the Midlands, drew the luxury salon brand, in part because of its walkability and growth, Image Studios Owner Charles Stovall said.
"The experience doesn’t necessarily begin and end at Image Studio,” Stovall said. “There are a lot of neat things clients can do within walking distance, from having lunch to shopping. It’s just going to get better as development continues.
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