New downtown Rockford business puts a variety of salon, spa and beauty services all under one roof

April 20, 2023|By Kevin Haas|In 815 News, Rockford, Trending, Business
Demetri Waller, Michelle Waller, owner of Galaxy Hair Studio, and Karl Franzen, the city’s director of economic development, cut the ribbon on Thursday, April 20, 2023, on the new downtown studio. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
By Kevin Haas
Rock River Current
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ROCKFORD — A new downtown business puts an array of salon, spa and beauty services all in one location.

Galaxy Hair Studio celebrated its ribbon-cutting on Thursday at 120 S. First St., which is next to the Old City Hall apartments in a building owned by Urban Equity Properties.

Michelle Waller moved her business from Roscoe to downtown, nearly quadrupling its size and allowing it to serve as home to a multitude of services.

“We’re going to be able to offer all services under one roof: the nails, the barber, the stylist, the massage therapist, spray tan, aestheticians,” Waller said.

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Galaxy Hair Studio has 5,000 square feet of space with 10 stations for stylists. Four of those stations are still available for commission or rent.

Along the outside of the main salon space are suites for aestheticians, a spray tan suit, massage therapy and more. A barber suite is under construction along the north windowfront.

Galaxy Hair Studio Owner Michelle Waller poses for a photo Thursday, April 20, 2023, inside her business at 120 S. First St. in downtown Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)

Waller said they’re still looking for stylists, barbers, braiders and massage therapists to fill out the remaining space in the studio.

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“It allows somebody in the industry to come in and start commission brand new and maybe move to a rental booth and then to their own suite,” she said. “Clients don’t have to move if the stylist has to move. They’re still all under one roof and able to grow their business.”

A grand opening that rocks

Galaxy Hair Studio is placing purple rocks around downtown Rockford to celebrate its grand opening. Those who find one get a discount on their services. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)

Galaxy is marking its grand opening with a scavenger hunt of sorts. It is placing a dozen purple-colored rocks with the Galaxy logo at various downtown businesses and along the Rock River.

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If you find one, you can bring it to Galaxy for a discount off your services.

While the studio is now open for business, it is holding a grand opening celebration at 1 p.m. Saturday.

Find Galaxy Hair Studio online at galaxyhairstudio.com or on Facebook here.

Galaxy Hair Studio, 120 S. First St., celebrated its ribbon cutting on Thursday, April 20, 2023, in downtown Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)

This article is by Kevin Haas. Email him at khaas@rockrivercurrent.com or follow him on Twitter at @KevinMHaas or Instagram @thekevinhaas.