Over the past five years we have had unbelievable success at our current location in Chevy Chase.  We have gone from a four chair salon, with three of us, to a seven chair shop with nine of us.  In terms of salons, that doesn’t seem all that big.  However, when you are operating in an 800 square foot shop it gets a little crowded.  We have a solution and darn it.  We are super excited about it!

As of August 1st, we will be moving five minutes down the road to a new location at 527 South Upper Street.  It’s right down the street from Mellow Mushroom on the corner of South Upper and Cedar.  We will have much more space to work in, and we can offer a service we have wanted to offer for quite sometime.  Inside of our new spot, we will have a traditional barber shop!  We will be offering hot lather straight razor shaves along with several other services for our men guests.

As with any change we are sure you have questions.  Let’s answer a few.

Is this a second location or is the whole shop moving?

We are packing it all up and moving to a new location.  We love Chevy Chase.  We just found a better spot for Cha Cha’s.

Is there convenient parking?

Well, we think so.  We are not going to have a parking lot right outside like we do now, but we do have 12 spots behind our new shop.  There is also street parking along Cedar and South Upper (It is free after 4:00) and there is public parking in the Pazzo’s lot across the street.  Directly across the street is a UK parking lot and we have been told it is free after 3:00 and all weekend.  

Now that you are in a larger space, are you going to hire 3000 more stylists and turn Cha Cha’s into a hair factory full of people that don’t remember my name, and treat me like a number not a person?

Nope.  Same crew.  Same attitude.  Same philosophy.  Our friend Stacia (Joshua’s wife) will be joining us for a few days a week, and of course, we will have barbers.  We just need a little more elbow-room, y’all.

Where exactly is this new shop?

The exact address is 527 South Upper Street Lexington, KY 40508.  You can click here for directions.

Is your phone number or contact information changing?

No. The shop’s number is and always will be (859)268-0333

When will the barber shop be taking appointments?

Right now!

Will you guys still be the coolest, most awesome, bada%&, hairdressers in the whole wide world?

Yes, but we can’t do it without you.

We are excited about our new joint.  We know you are going to love it. If you have any questions give us a shout.  We can not wait for you to see the new place.

Love, peace, and hair grease,

The Gang at Cha Cha’s

If you are familiar with our salon, you already know about former apprentices Hayley (affectionately called Hay-Hay) who has been tearing it up on the floor now for the past few months. And Maggie (also known as Maggie Mayhem), our first apprentice, who has become one of our seasoned pros behind the chair.  Well for those of you who didn’t know, there is another apprentice in the salon family. Her name is Mackenzie Layne, this blonde beauty comes from Jessamine County. Our latest fresh face took a moment to step into our questionnaire chamber (otherwise known as the swank leather couch in the Cha Cha’s waiting area).  We talk about Jennifer Lawrence, teleporting, and where she thinks you need to visit here in Lexington. 

T- When did you first know you wanted to be a hairstylist?

M- When I was in high school, I was in plays and dance…and I was always the one doing everyone’s hair and make up.  So people would always tell me I should go into that field.  Then I went into my first semester at UK for elementary education, and I soon learned that wasn’t for me! (laughs) So I went to Paul Mitchell and signed up for classes! 

T- If you could have one super power what would it be?

M- I would teleport! (no hesitation on answering that one, I think she’s been thinking about this one) Go anywhere…anytime…that would be awesome!

T-You are having a party, and you can invite any five guests, living or dead…go! 

M- Wow! 

T- We do make some allowances for groups or bands to be included as “one”

M- Okay (laughs) good! I would say, Jennifer Lawrence, because every girl in America wants to be her best friend, my grandfather—he’s one of the best men I know, my mom’s birth mother—we never really got to know her, Jesus—of course!, and one more?! Oh man…(she’s really contemplating the fifth and final guest) I want it to be somebody really fun, ya know? 

T- Funniest person you know?

M- Probably my best friend from high school, her name is Jypsee, she’s definitely one of the funniest people I know! 

T- Awesome…Now what is one thing you can’t live without? Rapid fire! Go!

M- AH! My phone (i-Phone, naturally) 

T- Okay our last question, where is one place you would tell someone to go see here in Lexington? A must see Lexington landmark….

M- Hmm, I would say downtown, like Rupp Arena! 

 Meet Miss Mackenzie…and be sure to stop in and say hello if you haven’t had a chance to do so!   trish :)

If you love cajun food, you must know about Bourbon n’ Toulouse here in Chevy Chase. The atmosphere is friendly no matter if it is your first time there, or a regular face to feed.  If you are looking for a restaurant that truly embodies southern hospitality, it is found here! The staff from cashier to owner greets you with a smile, and there is always fresh tasty food being made that day.  And when you look around you will see such an eclectic group of patrons: young and old, hipster or preppy, families, friends, dates, office lunches.  Nothing brings people together like good food and some ice cold Ale-8-1.  Kevin Heathcoat is one of the co-owners for BNT, and he was gracious enough to take a few moments to answer our Cha Cha’s questionnaire! There was laughter, good food, and more laughter.

T: When did you know you wanted to own a restaurant?

K: There are many days I wonder about that…(laughs) Well I was an elementary school teacher. 

T: Really? 

K: Yes, it was a four month career. 

(laughter)

T: What school?

K: It was a school in the middle of a corn field in Indiana (where I’m from).  I was filling in for a teacher that was on maternity leave.  And it was awful. I however still draw 18 cents from the teacher’s retirement fund.  (laughter) I’m saving up for a Snickers. (laughter) 

T: I’m totally writing that down….

K: (laughs) Everything is on the record for sure…no matter what shit I say…

T: Done! So why Lexington? What brought you here? 

K: My business partner, Will is from here…We met when I moved to Indianapolis to see if I wanted to continue being a teacher.  I ended up working at the this irish pub waiting tables…you know how it is [because I am a waitress at Shamrock Bar & Grille] staying at work till 4am was cutting into my social life…(laughs) So I started working for this guy Joe from New Orleans at a place called Yats, that was pretty much like this place.  I worked for him about two years, by then Will and I were like his top guys.  One day he took me across the street, over chicken wings and beer, and said, “Kevin, you’re fired.” (makes a shocked face) I was like, “What?!” He told me, “you and Will are going to go on and open your own restaurant, doing this…I don’t care what city it’s in.” And then he told Will the same thing, but told him he could work up until he had to leave because he had a family to support.  He was set on Kentucky because both sets of grandparents were here for their baby. Me? I was 25 and single with not a care in the world…and said “Sure! Let’s go!”

T: That’s awesome! I love it! 

K: It wasn’t our idea, it was decided for us…really stupidity got us this far! We just knew how to cook! Yeah, Will was like “You gotta go visit Lexington first man!” I was set to go, but we decided to visit anyway in the middle of February.  We came down from Indiana, had a great time, and on our way back there was a snow storm.  We ended up wrecking the car into a ditch on the side of the interstate! And I was like, “See?! I told you we shouldn’t have come down to visit!” (laughs) 

T: If you could have one super power, what would it be?

K: One super power?! (Yes, only one) See! I told you these were hard questions! (laughs) I would not want to see the future but want to be able to see the past.  So I could go back to the first four years and relive the drunken haze that was Bourbon n’ Toulouse. (laughs) It was a good time (from what I remember)

T: You are having a party, what five guests would you invite? They can be dead or alive…go!

K: Wow! Um, definitely Maggie Mayhem [also known as our technicolor tressed Maggie Blankenship] because I feel like she probably has a few stories to tell (Yes, Maggie likes to have a good time! I have a few stories I could tell ya…) (laughter) Bob Ross, because behind all those happy trees, that guy has to have a good time (by one substance or another). Will, my business partner, because we’re kind of attached at the hip…and when we get together its like we form one brain. Nelson Mandela, I met him when I was about 12, and wasn’t impressed (laughs) but now I think I would be! (laughs) And one more? I would invite my mother (she passed away) I would fill her in on what has happened…although I might be a little embarrassed to tell her some of it. (laughs) That’s quite a bunch, huh? 

T: What is one thing you can’t live without? First thing that comes to mind is…

K: My wife and kid. Definitely. 

T: What is one place you think is a Lexington landmark? Like if someone was coming here, this is where they would need to go…

K: I would say a bar and dining tour…starting at CCI (Chevy Chase Inn for those who don’t know), shots at Charlie Brown’s, stop as Stella’s for lunch, burgers and car bombs at Sidebar…and in the early days of BNT we would break in here and have more drinks and hit up the microwave…(laughs) just depends on what era you wanna focus on….

***Don’t forget Fat Tuesday is coming up on February 12th and Bourbon n’ Toulouse will be hosting festivities! Stop by, get filled up on drinks and the best cajun food! And we hear that Kevin’s wife won’t allow him to come home on that night, so if you wanna offer him a place to stay…I’m sure he would appreciate that! 

-trish:)

Santa, baby…put a little gift from Cha Cha’s under the tree…We have some items for the gal or guy that loves their hair! For the ladies, we’ve got Kevin Murphy gift sets (shampoo, conditioner, and spray) or Evo gift sets.  Both sets can be swapped out for a product you love from that line.  (Might I recommend buying Kevin Murphy’s Hair Resort for any lady on your list. Hands down my favorite product.) And for the stylish gents on your list, we have a box from J.S. Sloane that has everything he will need to keep his hair in check! If that isn’t enough to get you excited about gift giving, we are offering gift certificates to spread the word about Cha Cha’s.  What says you care more than the gift of beauty?  Support your local beauty shop and buy local this year for the holidays! 

-trish