Shopping Centers Today is the news magazine of the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC)
Issue link: https://sct.epubxp.com/i/528948
To date, Cirque Salon has opened three stores in its hometown metro area and is poised for more growth with fran- chise sales that were set to launch as this story went to press. The first site opened in Charleston in 2008, followed by the second, in Mount Pleasant, in 2010, and then by the third, in Summerville, in 2013. "We are poised to hit the ground irque Salon STudioS iS opening new doors to independent hair stylists and salon profes- sionals. The company provides turnkey salon space to individuals who want to operate their own businesses. "We developed Cirque as a real estate business to cater to a very fractured industry of aesthetic professionals," said co-founder Beau Schweikert, head of real es- tate finance for the Charleston, S.C.–based company. Though the majority of its subtenants are hairstylists, the company also ca- ters to a wide variety of beauty-re- lated entrepreneurs, such as nail technicians, skin consultants and massage therapists. running at a pretty brisk pace," said Sch- weikert. The target goal is to reach about 125 franchise locations within the next five years, he says. Cirque Salon joins a growing niche of companies that provide shared work- spaces to the beauty industry — among them Phenix Salon Suites, Salon Plaza and Sola Salon Studios. a key distinc- tion of Cirque Salon is that it is first and foremost a real estate business: it aims to provide high-quality real estate that is also a value for operators thanks to the economies of scale and efficiencies it cre- ates with shared amenities. The typical Cirque Salon master lease comprises about 5,000 square feet in total, which is divided into roughly 30 studios. The sites include common-area space, plus a break room and laundry facilities. each suite has its own keyed C Headspace Cirque Salon StudioS provideS the SpaCe, hairdreSSerS do the reSt By Beth Mattson-Teig r e t a i l i n g t o d a y 24 S C t / J u l y 2 0 1 5