WICKER PARK — The first customer of a dreadlock-focused hair salon wasn't getting dreads on the salon's opening day Tuesday, but the middle-aged balding man who traveled to the 'G Spot' from his home in West Dundee to Wicker Park was there for another reason.
"I'm proud of her," Jim Anderson said of his daughter, hair stylist Alyse Anderson, as she cut his hair, after which the salon posted a photo to its Facebook page of the elder Anderson paying for his trim and touch up.
Jim Anderson said he's traveled to several salons his daughter has worked at over the years for haircuts and think the new salon is located in "a unique space."
The small 685 square-foot salon at the southeast corner of Milwaukee Avenue and Wood Street, counts a sushi restaurant, art gallery, bar, and Divvy bike station among its neighbors.
G Spot Chicago's Wicker Park salon is outpost of an Iowa City, Iowa-based company and operated by owners Erin Green and Anderson, who live in Ukrainian Village.
The G Spot company, started in Iowa City 14 years ago, is owned by Krista Goldsberry. Both Green and Anderson worked with Goldsberry in Iowa.
Goldsberry has said she drew the inspiration for her salon's name from "G," the first letter of her last name and Green's name, Green said.
When asked about the name and its reference to an erogenous zone, Alyse Anderson said "people giggle" when they say the name and so far there's been "no negative feedback."
"People have told us they think [the name] is smart for marketing purposes," she added.
In addition to Anderson and Green, the four-chair salon also offers the services of Nina Parisi, who specializes in eyelash extensions and makeup in addition to dreads.
"When I heard they were opening my prayers were answered. Done!" Parisi said.
Parisi said she previously worked with Green at a now-defunct salon called Revive which specialized in dreads and has done "many kitchen dreads" with Green, referring to at-home parlors.
G Spot Hair Design, 1397 N. Milwaukee Ave.. Hours are 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday-Friday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday. Ph: 872-829-3859.
