Article: Wichita Business Journal | bizjournals.com | by: Josh Witt
Less than a year after launching her first Utopia Modern Salon Suites location, Kristin Kienzle already has plans in the works for another.
Kienzle, who opened near 29th and Greenwich last September, says she is targeting October for a second northeast Wichita space at 10111 E. 21st St., Suite 403 in The Offices at Cranbrook.
“There is a demand for suites on the east side of Wichita,” said Kienzle, adding that her first location had 10 of its 12 suites leased by hair stylists before it even opened — and then completely filled two weeks after that. “I kept getting inquiries for suites, and we didn’t have any more, so I thought, ‘Oh my gosh, I have got to get more suites’.”
With the help of Tim and Ryan Kerr of ReeceNichols South Central Kansas, who also worked with her to land her first space at 11124 E. 28th St. North, Kienzle found a second location in Occidental Management’s Cranbrook development between Webb and Greenwich Road.
Occidental’s Charlie King represented the landlord side of the lease.
The second Utopia is around 2,500 square feet and will also have 12 suites.
Kienzle said she had to navigate a zoning update to be able to operate in her new spot, but now the design process is moving, and she expects permitting and renovations to advance from here.
TEAM Architecture is the architect, and Rock Construction has been selected as the general contractor.
Kansas-based Silver Lake Bank is financing part of the project.
In the salon suite model, stylists pay rent to the owner but are able to run their business within their own private space while also in a community of fellow professionals.
Kienzle said there are multiple ways Utopia stands out from others in the industry using the same model.
She says Utopia has an overall upscale look and feel, holds events, has a coffee bar and stylists don’t have to worry about their towel laundry — Wichita’s SaniClean ICT takes care of that.
Beyond that, Kienzle taps into her more than three decades of experience as a stylist to offer mentorship to those leasing from her who are learning the business.
“I try to offer as much business support and information as I can for the girls as far as helping them figure out the business side of it, because beauty professionals — typically we have to learn that the hard way,” she said.
Kienzle also continues to take clients herself and works to be responsive to any Utopia stylist needs that emerge.
“I’m not there just to take their rent. I want them to be doing really well,” she said.
Kienzle said she currently has some openings for stylists looking to lease at her new location.
And if all goes well with the expansion, she has a goal of turning Utopia Modern Salon Suites into a franchise.
Kienzle added that one of the biggest surprises she’s had since starting Utopia has been a positive one — everyone gets along.
“We have every age range — a lot of different women — and we have no drama,” she said. “Everybody is so kind and supportive. We just have the best group of people. There are no bad days.
“That’s my goal for the next one, as well. It’s to have 12 people as great as the people we have here. That’s huge.”